5 reasons why Brazil will win the World Cup 2018

When a team wins, it is only natural to hype them up as the eventual winners – especially if it is a team like Brazil. After today’s win against Mexico, however, there is a good – no, excellent – chance for the Brazilians to win the World Cup for the sixth time.

No, this is not a knee-jerk reaction after watching Brazil slowly and steadily eviscerate Mexico. Today’s match against the Mexicans was a win that proves the mental strength of this Brazilian team.

Three big-names left the World Cup from the first four games of the round of 16. The giant-killing tendency at the World Cup meant that many expected Brazil to be stunned by the Mexicans, who did the same against Germany.

But in the end, they won and showed their big-team characteristic. They overcame the psychological barrier to beat Mexico and consolidate their position as the favourites.

With just three more games to win to lift the glorious World Cup trophy, here are five reasons why the Brazilians are going to win the World Cup this year.

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#5 Strong defence

There is a saying that attack wins you games and defence wins you titles. It is perhaps the truest saying there ever was. Spain conceded only two goals in 7 games in the 2010 World Cup and Germany let only four goals in their World Cup-winning campaign in 2014.

In 2006, Italy conceded only twice as the campaign was solely based around a strong defence. So far in this tournament, Brazil have conceded only one goal and that was in their first game against Switzerland.

Thiago Silva and Miranda have formed an excellent centre-back pairing while Fagner has actually been a better right-back for Brazil than Danilo. Marcelo missed out against Mexico but was good in the matches that he played.

Even though he left his position often to attack, his zone was well covered by Casemiro (more on him later). And when Marcelo had to miss out against Mexico, Felipe Luis came in and filled the role beautifully.

This only shows how good Brazil are defensively but also their…

#4 Immense bench strength

Firmino is a game-changer

There are so many match-winners in this team that it transcends beyond the playing XI. They are covered in every area – be it in front of the goal or across the field in attack.

Brazil’s second goalkeeper is the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of football: Ederson. The Manchester City shot-stopper was an essential cog in Pep Guardiola’s league-winning Manchester City and someone like him has to wait on the bench as back up.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Champions League finalist forward Roberto Firmino can’t find a place in the team due to the presence of Gabriel Jesus. This is a guy who is a pure match-winner that can turn the game around after appearing from the bench.

Marquinhos, Douglas Costa, Fernandinho… the list goes on and on. This just gives Brazil the extra dimension needed to win the tournament. On top of that…

#3 Peak years for all players

Coutinho is at his peak right now

Each and every player in the Brazil squad are enjoying their peak years as footballers. Neymar was only 22 in the last World Cup. This time around, he is 26. Meanwhile, Thiago Silva and Miranda are in the final stages of their best years – both are 33 – as defenders always hit their peak between 30 and 34.

Marcelo is precisely 30, which means that this is his last World Cup in his optimum speed and agility. The same can be said for Fagner, who is 29-years-old. In attack, Coutinho is 26 – which is the best age for an attacking midfielder – while Willian is 29.

The only relatively inexperienced player here is Gabriel Jesus, who is only 21-years-old, but it doesn’t really matter because 95% of the team are enjoying their best players and Brazil are only just a sub away from bringing in Firmino, who is 26 and has hit his best after being coached by Jurgen Klopp.

#2 Someone always takes up responsibility

Willian was at his best today

The previous slide is exactly why this happens. Since every player is enjoying his best years, someone or the other always takes the mantle to do well. Brazil, to be fair, haven’t yet played as cohesively as they would have liked – and yet they have been winning matches with relative ease.

It is because of the fact that at least one player takes up the responsibility to ensure that the team finishes the match with a win. In the first match against Switzerland, Coutinho’s goal ensured that they left the pitch with a point.

Coutinho once again turned up against Costa Rica and against Serbia, it was Paulinho and Thiago Silva who scored the goals to get the win and progress to the second round.

And today against Mexico, Willian came up with his A-game to help Brazil reach the quarter-final.

#1 Elite holding midfielder

Brazil's unsung hero

And perhaps the most underrated aspect of the game: the holding midfielder. Every great team of this millennium had a superb holding midfielder that kept everything together.

In 2002, Brazil had Edmilson shielding the defence. The tenacious madman Gennaro Gattuso did the same for Italy in 2006. The mercurial Sergio Busquets AND Xabi Alonso (although he was also the playmaker) formed a double-pivot while the same happened with Germany in 2014 with the presence Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger in front of the defence.

And this time, Brazil have the elite presence of Casemiro. This is a player that has overseen Madrid win three Champions League titles in a row with him shielding the often porous Madrid defence.

For Brazil, he looks further disciplined as his superb positioning and covering sense has helped Brazil’s defence to stick together. His absence in the quarter-final is a big concern for Brazil but his team’s chances of winning the match with him on the pitch are always high.

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