Adenor Leonardo Bacchi aka Tite's Brazil will go as one of the favorites into the tournament like every tournament they have played. With 5 World Cup Trophies, they are the most decorated nation, with 3 of them coming from the legendary GOAT, Pele himself. They last won the World Cup in 2002 under the brilliance of Ronaldo Nazario, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Cafu, Lucio, Roberto Carlos, Dida, Juninho, and many more names who etched their names in the history books as legends. They scored 18 goals across the tournament, one of the highest tally, with Hungary's 27 Goals in the 1954 World Cup still being the highest. Ronaldo Nazario won Adidas Golden Boot & Silver Ball alongside Rivaldo who won the Silver Shoe. Since then, they have twice finished as Quarter Finalist in 2006, 2010, and 2018 World Cup, and Fourth Placed finish in the 2014 edition. They would like to forget the 2014 edition where they were the host, and one of the absolute favorites before getting defeated in the Semi-Finals against eventual winners Germany 7-1. Their last piece of silverware was the 2019 Copa-America, and they Runners-up in the 2021 Copa America. They have so far been undefeated in the last 14 games with 11 wins and 3 draws.
In this tournament, Tite's men have been placed in what can be called an easier group with the European duo of Serbia and Switzerland, alongside African powerhouse Cameroon. While Cameroon and Switzerland have been known to cause upsets, this time might not likely be the case with both teams lacking effective names in their squad like in the past. Nevertheless, with their given choices ahead of the coming tournament, we think this would be most likely their Squad of 26 for the 2022 World Cup:
Goalkeeper:
Our Pick: Alisson Becker
One of the easier choices than the rest of the Squad is Liverpool's, Alisson Becker. He has been in fine form for both club and the country. While Liverpool is going through what can effectively be called Klopp's 7th Season Syndrome, as far as the individual game goes, he hasn't been ineffective. Alisson Becker has appeared in 13 matches this season in Premier League, playing a total of 1170 minutes. Alisson Becker concedes an average of 1.23 goals for every 90 minutes that the player is on the pitch. Their Clean Sheets ratio is currently at 31%. That means Alisson Becker has kept a Clean Sheet in 4 matches out of the 13 that the player has played in. He is a ball-playing Goalkeeper who also has himself a few assists over his career which would be beneficial for Brazil who is more attack-minded than defensive. He also has 57 caps for the national team, and at just 30 years old, as Goalkeeper, he will be going to the tournament in his prime.
His depute without a doubt would be Manchester City's Ederson and Palmerias' Weverton. Ederson has appeared in 13 matches this season in Premier League, playing a total of 1170 minutes. Ederson concedes an average of 0.85 goals for every 90 minutes that the player is on the pitch. Their Clean Sheets ratio is currently at 46%. That means Ederson has kept a Clean Sheet in 6 matches out of the 13 that the player has played in. With 18 caps, just 29 years old, and also a ball-playing goalkeeper for Pep's Manchester City, he is one of the unluckiest players. Given his performances, and quality, he will slide into any national team but his competition isn't just another average Joe keeping him ineffectively at the bench. Weverton Pereira da Silva has appeared in 33 matches this season in Serie A, playing a total of 2970 minutes. Weverton Pereira da Silva concedes an average of 0.7 goals for every 90 minutes that the player is on the pitch. Their Clean Sheets ratio is currently at 48%. That means Weverton Pereira da Silva has kept a Clean Sheet in 16 matches out of the 33 that the player has played in. At 34 years of age, he is on the older side of the mix while bringing in his experience, and safe hand if needed in the worst of the situation which Tite will be hoping won't become the case.
3 Backup names who surely won't be cutting are Brazil's Serie A trio of Everson, Santos, and Gabriel Grando. While all 3 of them are best for their respective side, they have 0 caps, and with the given performances of the above 3 names, I don't think they will be cutting any time soon. Especially with both Everson and Santos being 32 years of age, while at just 22, Gabriel Grando might have a chance to impress Tite or some big European club in hope of making the next edition.
Defender:
Our Pick: Dani Alves, Éder Militão, Thiago Silva, Alex Telles
The combined age of these 4 would be 130 years, with an average of 32.5, which is more than the age of Alex Telles, Eder, Marquinhos, Bremer, and Danilo who also makes our team. One of the oldest, yet one of the most decorated defenses of this World Cup would surely want these old legs to be at their best. With 47 career trophies, at 39 years of age, Dani Alves is one of the oldest players at the World Cup. But, even at this age would give many a run for their position in the squad. 6 La Liga, 3 UCL, 1 Serie A & Ligue 1, and several more major trophies with his club career playing with Bahia, Sevilla, Barcelona, Juventus, PSG, Sao Paulo, and UNAM. With the national team, he made his debut 16 years ago aged only 23 years old as a backup to the legendary full-back Cafu. While those were some big boots to fill, he has placed himself on an even higher pedestal on the legendary list when compared to his predecessor. 7 out of 10 Football journalists, and Analysts would pick him up in their All-Time World XI, and 10 out of 10 would pick him if it was an All-Time South American, Barcelona, or La Liga XI. This will be his 4th World Cup. He has 124 caps for the country, making him the third highest with just 2 caps before he overtakes Roberto Carlos for 2nd Spot. On the other side would be Alex Telles, often called one of the best-attacking full-backs with the defensive qualities of an attacker. On his day, he can make a cross from one wing directly into the goal making most the spectator go WOW, but sadly, with the club in recent years, he has been ineffective. He signed with English club Manchester United as a backup to then out-of-form Luke Shaw hoping to bring in the same performance and promise he showed at FC Porto, but he failed to live up to the name and now plays on loan for La Liga side Sevilla playing 12 games with registering just 1 assist. At 29 years old, he will be hoping to find some form and hit his prime which most analysts thought he could. He surely would be a choice for Free Kicks, as that's one of his specialties, especially from his halves.
The Centre Back duo will be of the Veteran and Captain, Thiago Silva alongside youngster Éder Militão. At 38 years of age, Silva is the second oldest player behind Dani Alves in the squad representing Brazil in his 4th World Cup as well. Silva is heralded as one of the fastest defenders in European football and has been described as a strong defender with good aerial ability. He combines these physical gifts with phenomenal tactical intelligence, discipline, and knowledge of the game, as well as an excellent positional sense, which allows him to excel in one on one situations. Thanks to his abilities, he excels at reading the game and at anticipating plays, and he is excellent at closing down and tackling opposing players in possession of the ball. Silva has been recognized as a complete defender by his peers and critics. He has been described as a consistent defender, without any flaws, and someone who can lead any defense. A leader from the back, Silva's play has led him to be compared to legendary Italian defender Franco Baresi. Baresi, regarded as one of the greatest defenders in football history, has gone on record to state that Silva is the defender who most resembles him, and said in June 2012 that Silva was his "heir". Currently playing in England for Chelsea as a regular starter shows a testament to his longevity & consistency who started his career back in 2002 before going on to play for AC Milan, PSG, and now Chelsea winning UCL with his current club. With 107 caps for the country, he is the fifth highest on the list and 3rd highest active player only behind Dani Alves and Neymar. The last one in the back 4 would be Real Madrid's Éder Militão. Militão became the first signing of Zinedine Zidane’s second spell at the Bernabéu, but it was after the Frenchman’s departure in May 2021 that Militão’s status and importance at the club grew most. In the same summer that Zidane left, Real’s two most senior center-backs, Sergio Ramos and Raphaël Varane, departed for Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, respectively, and in doing so, left a gaping hole in the defence. Carlo Ancelotti came in as manager, and it was time for Militão to step up as a first-choice pick at the heart of the Real back line. In keeping with the rest of his career, Militão quickly became one of the first names on Ancelotti’s teamsheet. Militão is at his best and most comfortable when playing in central defense, but he is versatile and can also play at right-back, as he did when he first broke through at São Paulo and for a period at Porto. The fact he can be moved around defense meant that at both clubs he could develop relationships with teammates from right-back before being shifted to center-back at a young age. Standing at 186cm, he isn’t particularly tall for a central defender, but he makes up for any lack of height with an impressive leap and the strength to hold off an opponent. He is adept at proactively attacking the ball himself but is comfortable playing the role of the center-back that sweeps up, and often benefits from playing alongside a central defensive partner who is more dominant than him in the air.
Other names we see going to World Cup are PSG's Marquinhos, and Juventus Trio of Bremer, Danilo, and Alex Sandro. Marquinhos will likely be the starter alongside Thiago Silva, as the pair is quite known to each other since Silva's days in Paris, but in our opinion, Eder is in his best form right now and would complement Silva more. Another backup Centre Back will be Turin's new arrival of Bremer who is given the role to replace outgoing club legend Giorgio Chiellini similar to Eder, he is only 25 years old, and if he keeps up his performances could be Brazil's favorite pairing for the next decade. For a full-back role, we have the Juventus duo of Alex Sandro and Danilo who in our opinion aren't the best options, and if the starting pair picks up a red card or injury, Brazil could be in a problem.
While the names who won't be making the team given the limited number of slots are Arsenal's Gabriel who would biggest snub given his performances with the club, Nottingham Forest's Renan Lodi who is playing for the newly promoted side on loan from Atletico Madrid's who certainly a better choice than Danilo but Tite prefer the experience, and Lodi haven't been impressive either to change any minds. Spurs' Emerson Royal and Roma's Roger Ibanez are the last two names we are snubbing from the squad.
Midfielders:
Our Pick: Casemiro, Fred, Lucas Paqueta
Leave Casemiro out of the Equation, and those names won't seem the most impressive, certainly not Lucas Paqueta currently playing for David Moyes' West Ham United but when they don the national colors, they form one of the best and most exciting midfield partnerships.
5 UEFA Champions League, 3 La Liga, 3 UEFA Super Cup, 3 FIFA Club World Cup, 1 Copa America, 519 club games, and 65 Caps for Brazil might sound like describing a legend because we are. Carlos Henrique Casimiro popularly known as Casemiro, is a legend of the game already, at least in every Real Madrid fan' book. Currently, aged 30, playing for Manchester United in England formed one of the best partnerships with Toni Kroos & Luka Modric under Zinedine Zidane which helped them win back to back to back UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid adding two more under Carlo Ancelotti. Casemiro mainly plays as a defensive midfielder, although he has also been deployed in a box-to-box role in the center of the pitch, or even as a center-back on occasion. While he is not particularly talented or skillful from a technical standpoint, Casemiro is an intelligent, physically strong, mobile, aggressive, and hard-tackling midfielder, with an extremely high work rate. While he is mainly known for his ability to provide balance to his teams by supporting his more offensive-minded teammates defensively and distributing the ball to them accurately after winning back possession, he is also a well-rounded midfielder, who possesses a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, and reliable distribution, as well as an ability to get forward with his runs off the ball or start attacks with his passing. These characteristics also enable him to contribute offensively, or even score goals, in addition to breaking up plays. Rival club manager Diego Simeone once said, "For the balance of the team, he is without a doubt [Real Madrid's] most important player ... He has changed the face of Madrid." While another club & Brazil's legend Marcelo once said, "Ahhh, Casimiro. He saved my life. I might play until I'm 45 with this guy by my side." Showing you the fear, respect, and appreciation from his peers and rivals alike.
He will be partnered with his Manchester United compatriot Fred. The less we say is better is the case for Fred. On and Off is the statement that can describe his form in recent years in England. When he is at his best, he is the best player in the squad and when he is not, Roy Keane is ready waiting with a baseball bat to unalive him. For Brazil, that hasn't been the case. He is no Ronaldinho or Juninho but he has managed to give a 7 and above type of game every time he played often making Mancunians scratch their heads wondering why. Fred has proven at his best when selected in a double pivot, or as the single pivot, at the base midfield. When the ball is at his feet he favors simplicity, and if contributing to attempts to build possession he seeks to position himself behind the opposition's attacking line to draw an opposing midfielder out of position and create space for those in front of him. He provides a consistent central option during build-up phases and, when the ball is advanced further forwards, he continues to offer support behind it as a recycle point, and to protect against potential counters (below). That positioning – he also impresses when making diagonal movements away from central midfield to towards the nearest full-back to draw opponents from midfield and to create two-on-ones with that full-back – encourages his more creative teammates to advance further forwards and the full-backs alongside him to provide width.
At the helm of the midfield three would be Lucas Paquetá unless Neymar plays the No. 10 role which is highly unlikely for us to consider, but given the choices Tite has, it's possible, but anyhow, we will have 4-3-3 for our considerations. Anyhow, the samba dancer and ever-present & energetic Lucas Paquetá will be our No. 10 who has the ability and skills to make the defenders dance to his tunes.
His main position is the right-sided half-space as a No.10 in a three-man midfield. The left-footed attacking midfielder prefers to line up in the No.10 position but has been used across the midfield and even as a striker the last term. He is an all-action player, comfortable in multiple roles which provide his manager with great tactical flexibility. His primary duties on the pitch are to serve as a creator for his teammates as well as to keep the ball rolling in the middle of the park. He has emerged as one of Europe’s finest in the creative role behind the striker. Just 25 years of age, he has a lot of room for growth under David Moyes, and can certainly become one of the most exciting midfielders.
Other names excluding Neymar in the midfield role are Liverpool's Fabinho, Newcastle United's Bruno Guimarães, and Flamengo's Éverton Ribeiro. While Fabinho might seem 35-year-old veteran playing for decades now, he is only 29 years old in reality. He received his first call-up to the Brazilian side under former manager Dunga at age of 23, and so far has amassed 28 caps for the national side. Since his move to Merseyside in 2018 from AS Monaco after winning the Ligue 1, he immediately became a regular member of Klopp's Liverpool which went on to win EPL after 30 years and played 2 UCL finals winning in 2018-19 against Spurs in his first season at the club. He started his career in his native Brazil with Fluminense before joining Real Madrid on loan playing for their reserve Castilla side, and making 1 La Liga appearance for the senior side, before joining AS Monaco on loan and later on a permanent deal. Fabinho is regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, with Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United player Gary Neville saying, "Fabinho, for me, is the best." He is a robust, agile player who is valued for his ability to win back the ball in the midfield and recycle possession quickly.
Newcastle United's new signing Bruno Guimarães has been making headlines for his impressive game in recent weeks. Following the Magpies' Saudi takeover Guimarães alongside Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, and Chris Wood what is now called the start of the new big club. Unlike Man City, this team which boasts finances even stronger than PSG & Man City's owners, started slow and smartly to which it played well. Since his arrival, in 28 games he has played, he has had 8 goals and 3 assists in EPL from a defensive midfield role. Even thou he was also eligible to represent Spain through bloodline, he chose the country of his birth. Guimarães is right-footed and can play as a deep-lying midfielder or higher up in a central-midfield two or three. He stands out most for passing range, and in particular his forward passing. He breaks lines with his passing into more advanced teammates and progresses play forwards in a variety of ways.
Their last name is Éverton Ribeiro, who can essentially be called a senior player in the side at 33 years of age playing for Flamengo would be the backup No. 10 to Lucas Paqueta. If you don't know his name, or confusing him with 10 other Everton, we won't blame you. He has spent his whole career in his native Brazil playing for teams like Corinthians, São Caetano, Coritiba, Cruzeiro in Brazil, and Al-Ahli in UAE Pro League amassing 553 career games scoring 90 goals and registering 105 assists in his career. What he brings to the team is experienced, capped 21 times scoring 3 goals, and he could be your useful last-minute super-sub. He has won 20 trophies in his club career alongside several individual awards and played in 2015 and 2021 Copa America. The fleet of foot and sharp of mind, Everton is a menace running at defenders from his post on the right. He enjoys cutting inside onto his favored left foot to pick out a through ball, darting forward for a one-two, or nipping in on goal to shoot. About a decade ago after winning Player of the Year, he was linked with a move to Europe with Manchester United and Liverpool trying to sign him which eventually failed to make some question his luck and ability, nevertheless, he might turn around a few things for him at age of 33 in Qatar.
The names I guess that Tite will be snubbing are Aston Villa's Philippe Coutinho who if I would've said 5 years ago won't be making it into the World Cup team at age of 30, some people would've crucifix me but that's the case of the downfall of the Magician. Alongside him are Liverpool's Arthur who is injured, but even if the fit wouldn't have made the squad, Marseille's Gerson, young Palmeiras midfielder Danilo, and Internacional's Edenílson.
Forward
Our Pick: Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Antony
One of the hardest choices we had to make was to decide on the front 3 of Brazil. Not only it shows you the power, but also the depth of Brazil going into the World Cup, and the next decade. Where the defense's combined age was of 130 years, the front 3 is just 77 with an avg. of 25.6. Even if we take avg. of all Brazil's front lines, it will be 24. The oldest one is Neymar, and the youngest is Rodrygo and Martinelli at just 21. with 4 players at 25, and 2 at just 22, they have a squad set for the next decade.
On the left side in the battle between Vini. Jr. and Neymar, we would always go with Neymar with Gabriel Martinelli being the backup. Often considered to be the 3rd best player of this generation behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been unlucky to be of this generation. Overshadowed by Lionel Messi at Barcelona and now Kylian Mbappe at PSG, his luck haven't been at his side. At the 2014 World Cup which many thought would be his first, he suffered a nasty back injury against Colombia in Quarter Finals, and then another defeat in Quarter Finals against Belgium in the last edition where he scored 3 goals. At only 30 years of age, he has 121 caps and 75 goals for Brazil. Only 4th behind Cafu, Roberto Carlos, and Dani Alves while 2nd behind Pele with just 3 goals, before he overtakes his record which he will be eyeing at this World Cup. While playing in France with Paris St. Germain currently after his World record transfer from Barcelona, he has been consistently under the radar and shadow of his teammates. He has played 572 career games scoring 357 goals and 183 assists. In this season so far, in 19 games he has 15 goals and 12 assists creating one of the deadliest trios alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. The only factor is that he has played a majority of his game as a No. 10 for the Club this season. If we do consider the possibility of that, Vinicius Jr. starts for the team without the competition.
At just 22 years of age, Vini. Jr. already has the world at his feet. He has already won La Liga, and UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, and would be eyeing his first World Cup as well. Similarly to Neymar, he is also the name often called the third-best player behind Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, but unlike Neymar, we do think he can win the Ballon d'Or. A versatile player, although he is usually deployed on the left flank, he is capable of playing anywhere along the front line and has also been used on the right or in the center. Possesses explosive acceleration, and excellent pace, agility, balance, technique, flair, dribbling skills, and close control at speed, as well as significant power, physical strength, and trickery on the ball, despite his slender build, he is known for his movement, energy, ability to run at defenses, change direction quickly, and beat opponents in one on one situations while in possession of the ball. In 264 career games for Flamengo, Real Madrid Castilla, and Real Madrid, he has scored 65 goals and 53 assists. In this season alone, in 20 games so far he has scored 10 goals and registered 5 assists. With Brazil, he has already earned 16 caps scoring once.
On the right side, it's another battle between Antony and Rapinha while Rodrygo will see the bench waiting for his eventual chance. Two new signings for their respective clubs, both powerhouse of Europe, Manchester United and FC Barcelona respectively, post World Cup, both will meet for the UEFA Europa League Knockout Round which is somewhat of a rivalry between the two clubs. Before that, it is a competition for the starting spot.
Antony is an inventive and intelligent player. With 3 goals in 6 premier leagues and 2 goals and 1 assist in games back with Ajax before making his transfer, there is unlikely to be a better rookie in the English top-flight this season. Antony has taken to life excellently at Manchester United and has his gifted left foot to thank. Much of the time, Antony enjoys hanging wide on the right so he can gain momentum after picking up the ball by driving inwards. His acceleration from a standing start is explosive; his elite balance and lower body strength allow him to remain on his feet even under heavy pressure – he is a worker with great endeavor, the type of player to clean up his mess.
On the contrary, Raphinha who is also a left-footed right winger like Antony likes to keep his width hugging the right touchline. This then allows him to cut inside onto his left foot but also, he does have the ability to carry the ball down the touchline. Rapinha is extremely fast and has a great burst of speed to get away from defenders, but he also shows great touch and finesse when dribbling the ball, using small touches to keep the ball close and allowing him to take it away from a defender in an instant. In 13 games so far, he has 2 goals and 2 assists in La Liga and 2 assists in 5 UCL matches for Barcelona.
Both might have a similar yet contrasting profile, we would prefer Antony because of his inventive and Brazilian style of game, where he can use his dribbling skills and long shots alongside Neymar to create chaos for the opponent team.
Through the middle, it is rather an easier choice with Gabriel Jesus. With Richarlison currently injured after picking up a calf injury back in October against Everton, his deputy could be Liverpool's Roberto Firmino and Flamengo's Pedro. Even if Richarlison wasn't injured, with just 2 assists in 9 games for his new side Tottenham Hotspurs, it would be highly controversial to pick him over in-form Liverpool no. 9, Roberto Firimino.
In 18 games for Arsenal, Jesus has 5 goals and 7 assists reviving his career after the stump at Manchester City. A talented and versatile forward, Jesus is capable of playing in several attacking positions: he has been deployed as a center forward, as an out-and-out striker, as a false 9, as an inside forward, as a winger, or as an attacking midfielder. Jesus is renowned for his pace, technical skills, dribbling ability, creativity, finishing, movement, and work ethic. Former Brazilian striker Ronaldo has praised Jesus and touted him for future success with the Brazilian national team. In October 2019, Jesus said he was open to switching to a winger role at Manchester City in the hope of getting more playing time, though he acknowledged that there was still intense competition in the team for a starting spot out on the wing. Upon joining Arsenal, Jesus has been placed up-front as a striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
As for Roberto Firmino, he has seen a downward spiral in his career at Merseyside after the arrival of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez. Even thou highly influential during the 2017-18 season scoring 27 goals followed by 16 and 12 goals in the next two which saw him lift 7 trophies during his career at Liverpool. So far this season with Darwin Nunez's inability to fit with the pacey English league, and injury plague, he has seen a resurgence. In 12 EPL games, he has scored 6 goals and registered 3 assists while an additional 2 goals and an assist in UEFA Champions League. Bringing his total to 8 goals and 4 assists in just 1,277 minutes. Firmino uses his speed, close control, and vision wherever he is deployed. Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo referred to him as "a true Liverpool number nine", whose "numbers are up there with Harry Kane and Sergio Agüero."
Pedro is quite a common name for Brazilian players but not to be confused with the Spanish one. It is so common of a name that when you search his name on Google with Brazil, the first 3 suggestions of Brazil's King Pedro 1, an infamous serial killer Pedro, and King Pedro II before his name pops up. At 25 years of age, he has tasted both success and disappointment in Europe with ACF Fiorentina. After a good season with Flamengo scoring 19 goals in 40 games, he secured an €11 million move to ACF Fiorentina in Italian Serie A where he managed only 57 minutes scoring 0 goals due to a torn ACL injury before booking a flight back home to Flamengo. Even with that record, he is only 25 years of age, and has scored 29 goals and registered 10 assists in 59 games for Flamengo in the recently concluded Brazilian campaign where he won Copa Libertadores, and managed 12 goals and 5 assists in 49 games a season before. Pedro isn't in the mold of the typical Brazilian striker - a Romario, Bebeto, or Ronaldo - but is more akin to a classic center forward who knows how to use his stature and physical presence to benefit his team and torment opposition defenders. He can hold the ball up, play with his back to goal, and links play well, acting as a focal point in attack. He shines in the penalty box, however, with great touch and timing and an ability to finish with either foot.
Players we will be snubbing are Atletico Madrid's Matheus Cunha and Flamengo's Gabriel Barbosa. While Cunha hasn't been firing as much for consideration, we do think given the option Tite has with the squad, the Copa Libertadores winner Gabriel Barbosa scoring 29 goals and 5 assists in 62 games won't cut. While a solid center forward option as a backup, with Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus, Pedro, and even Richarlison, he won't cut.
While Tite has some headaches with choosing his team of 26, we still think that defense might be their weakest link in the terms of backup fullback. Nevertheless, we do predict a lot of Samba, and they will be our favorites going into the tournament.
Update:
Tite has announced his official team of 26 which is as follows. While we were on point, we feel the snubbing of Roberto Firmino in the favor of Richarlison might cost them.
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