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Brazil is the epitome of stylish football. Anything less than winning the World Cup is considered as a failure. The five-time World Champions will be looking to turn their fortune after a dismantling end to the last campaign where they were baffled by a resolute German side in a 7-1 defeat.
The Canarinhos, however, has undergone a complete squad overhaul since Adenor Leonardo Bacchi took the responsibilities for the national side. Only Neymar, Marcelo, Thiago Silva, Fernandinho, Paulinho, and Willian have found their place from Scolari's 2014 team. Tite has revived European style of play. But he has managed to maintain the traditional flair that is Brazil famous for.
The Latin American giants will heavily depend on Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar and the team is centred around him. Dada Maravilha, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 1970, has showered his praise for the former Barcelona man.
He has said that Neymar is 50 percent of the Brazil squad. And there is no one who can argue with this fact. Neymar has already scored 55 goals for Brazil in only 85 appearances. With only Pele and Ronaldo ahead of him, he could soon become the all-time top scorer for his country. Being the most expensive player in the world, the whole world will be eager to see him play in the greatest of all stages.
Neymar has won the 2013 Confederation Cup and 2016 Olympic gold with Brazil, but he would like to etch his name as one of the legends of Brazil Football by winning the World Cup.
But the World Cup is a different ball game. Individual brilliance can win you matches, but to win the tournament of this magnitude you need your whole squad to chip in. If we analyse Brazil's squad, we can see there are players who can play a pivotal role alongside their talisman, Neymar.
Brazil will be going to Russia as clear favourites to lift the title and if the squad can click in right time, there will be no one who could stop Tite and his men from claiming the World Cup for a record sixth time.
Let's find the players, other than Neymar, who can be crucial in Brazil's surge for glory.
#5 Gabriel Jesus
Brazil lacked star names in front goals in 2014. But this time Tite has found players to slot into the No 9 position. The 21-year old, Gabriel Jesus, will be in the race of winning the golden boot in the tournament.
The Palmeiras prodigy has been turned to a ruthless finisher. His technical ability, finishing, dribbling skill, and movement off the ball have been praised by all and sundry. He has scored 13 goals for Manchester City in their title-winning campaign. It was his goal, deep into the injury time, on the final match day that ensured Pep Guardiola's men to become the first English Club to register 100 points in a single season.
Tite has always praised the young centre-forward. Jesus is likely to start over Roberto Firmino. He was the top scorer in the CONMEBOL qualifiers where he scored 7 goals. He has also scored against Germany in March and also registered his name on the scoresheet against the recently concluded friendly against Austria.
Certainly, he will be hoping to form a strong partnership with Neymar. This duo can prove themselves as the best-attacking partnership in the tournament and the Selecao would want to see a lot from this talented young forward.
#4 Marcelo
The Real Madrid man is the best-attacking full-back in the world right now. He loves to go forward time and again and deliver into the box. He has improved his defensive abilities as well. He will be an obvious choice in the left back position over Atletico's Filipe Luis.
Marcelo will be one of the key players for many reasons. Apart from his surging runs down the flank and defensive quality, he will open up space for Neymar to cut into the box. Marcelo is well known for taking shots from long ranges and he will surely try his luck to find the back of the net. But most importantly he has to keep many big names quiet when their opponents will try to go forward down the right wing.
Marcelo was an integral part of Real Madrid as they won three consecutive Champions League title. His cross set up the astonishing overhead kick of Gareth Bale in the final against Liverpool. Marcelo has assisted 11 times in this season and will be looking forward to continue his magical run of form in the World Cup.
Roberto Carlos, another Real Madrid left-back, won it for Brazil in 2002. This is the time for Marcelo to follow his predecessor.
#3 Coutinho
It was Ronaldo who scored 8 goals when Brazil won the World Cup in 2002. But the most important player for them was Rivaldo. Their World Cup winning coach, Scolari, also emphasised on this. Everyone knows the importance of a playmaker in the team. It could be seen time and again that the playmakers create all the difference.
Brazil has one of the finest midfielders in the world with them. Coutinho will be a crucial player in Brazil's road to success. Furthermore, he can control the tempo of the game with his subtle dribbling skills, darting runs into the box and ability to score goals. He scored 41 goals for Liverpool in his 3 seasons before moving to Barcelona for a fee around £142 million. Coutinho struck 4 goals in the qualifiers including a blistering strike in the Superclasico against Argentina.
Coutinho will be the key player for Brazil in the heart of midfield and he has to dictate the game. The expectations will lie heavily on his shoulders.
#2 Alisson Becker
Julius Cesar's inspiring saves from the spot against Chile took Brazil to the Quarterfinal in 2014. The goalkeeper is one of the vital positions in the team. A single mistake from them could cost havoc for their team. It leaves them with a very little room to make an error.
Brazil, though, has one of the most dependable custodians in the world. The Roma No 1 has been in the form of his life of late. He has secured an 80% save accuracy in Serie A this season. Alisson made it into the international squad under Dunga in 2016. He has cemented his place since then as the undisputed No 1 for the Selecaos. He conceded only 11 goals in the qualifiers. Alisson produced some magical performances against Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in this year's UEFA Champions League.
Tite has sidelined all the possibilities of Ederson making into the first team. He has stated that Alisson will start under the bar for Brazil in the World Cup.
The dependable goalkeeper has to be on his toes to keep their hope of winning the title alive.
#1 Casemiro
Carlos Casemiro is going to be the most important player in this World Cup for Brazil. The Real Madrid defensive midfielder is heavily trusted by Tite. It was Casemiro who nullified Lionel Messi in the Superclasico and Brazil went on to win the match by a 3-0 margin.
Casemiro is going to create the difference in the squad. He will bring new dynamics to the side. With his excellent hold-up play and distribution, he will be the anchor between the defence and the attack. He will allow Marcelo and Danilo to go forward as he will drop down to support Thiago Silva and Miranda and will create a 3-man defence. He will, again, create a defensive screen, letting Paulinho move forward. His crunching tackles and excellent game-reading will give their opponents very little room to move forward.
Casemiro has made 48 appearances with Real Madrid and won the UEFA Champions League and will be eager to win the World Cup with his national side as well.
