Dignitaries from all over the world will gather in Brazil in early December for the FIFA World Cup draw as the field of teams is divided into groups for next summer’s festivities. As part of its “32 teams in 32 days” series, sportsnet.ca will profile each of the nations set to compete at Brazil, leading up to the draw on Dec. 6.
Redemption time is drawing near. Despite the ongoing civil unrest among the population and daily protests staged around the country against the government’s tunnel vision for hosting the World Cup, the Selecao are eagerly anticipating the chance to erase the everlasting memories of “Maracanzo” (the Maracana blow). It’s been 64 years, yet that infamous night (defeated 2-1 by Uruguay at the 1950 World Cup) has forever lingered in the hearts and minds of all Brazilians, a national day of mourning. The stage is set, but will they be the ones walking away victorious next summer? Last year’s Confederation Cup triumph gave a glimpse into the determination from the team. Luiz Felipe Scolari has put together an impressive record since taking over at the start of 2013—losing just two out of 20 matches—and racking up some confidence-inducing victories along the way. The five-time champions are a capable collective with incredible depth. Each player has a chance to etch their name into history and be forever remembered. The opportunity to play a part in winning the World Cup on home soil runs deep. It’s the ultimate dream of every Brazilian boy who kicked a football barefoot in the streets.
Programming alert: Watch the World Cup draw from Brazil on Dec. 6 live on all four main Sportsnet channels. Coverage begins at 10:30 am ET/7:30 am PT | TV schedule
How they got here: On Oct. 30, 2007, FIFA president Sepp Blatter confirmed Brazil’s entry by awarding them the 2014 World Cup. Preparations—on and off the field—have been underway ever since.
Star player: Plenty of options from a star-studded collection of talent, but is there any doubt as to which player has the weight of a nation on his slender shoulders? Neymar has proven the hype is real, first by his performances at the Confederations Cup—winning the Golden Ball and scoring four goals—and now with Barcelona, where the 21-year-old has become an integral figure in manager Gerardo Martino’s first team. What can be said about Neymar that hasn’t already been mentioned? At his current form, Brazil will be a freight train fuelled by the force of a population of over 200 million countrymen.
Player on the bubble: With only 12 international caps, Liverpool’s defensive-minded midfielder Lucas Leiva has struggled to breakthrough into the Selecao set-up since receiving his first call-up in 2006. Lucas is not your traditional Brazilian footballer, and pretty much a non-factor heading towards goal. Paulinho and Ramires are typically preferred over Lucas, given they also provide an offensive threat. Lucas might be a one-dimensional player, but he does that job extremely well—sitting in front of the back four, closing the passing lanes and limiting space.
Team strengths: Let’s point out the obvious. Creativity, speed, technical brilliance. Practically every position presents an impact player. Few teams possess half of these qualities—only Spain and Germany can be considered superior, and that’s based purely on experience. However, the one element that could tip the scale in Brazil’s favour is the home support—the added push of the twelfth-man is a dangerous weapon if harnessed correctly. It’s an advantage the Selecao must exploit to achieve their dream scenario.
Team weaknesses: Anything less than a trophy raise at the Maracana of July 13 will be deemed a complete failure. Let that reverberate within your psyche for a moment. Imagine having that kind of power over the emotions of an entire country. It takes a collective of strong characters to withstand the immense pressure and distractions that will ultimately arise throughout the tournament. That’s the price that comes with success, and every Selecao generation relishes the responsibility and understands the stakes. The usual expectation has been amplified, as the opportunity to win in your own backyard only comes around once every half-century. It’s been 12 long years since Brazil were crowned champions, and the natives have become restless and itching to add a record sixth star to their famous yellow shirt. Brazil showed their class last year, riding the wave of momentum, tuning out all the nay-sayers and fearlessly overcoming all challengers—helping to restore their divine reputation as the titans of football. However, winning the World Cup is an entirely different beast.
World Cup record:
1930—First round
1934—First round
1938—Semifinals (third place)
1950—Runners-up
1954—Quarter-finals
1958—Champions
1962—Champions
1966—First round
1970—Champions
1974—Fourth place
1978—Third place
1982—Quarter-finals
1986—Quarter-finals
1990—Second round
1994—Champions
1998—Runners-up
2002—Champions
2006—Quarter-finals
2010—Quarter-finals
Team profiles: Algeria | Argentina | Australia | Belgium | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Brazil | Cameroon | Chile | Costa Rica | Colombia | Croatia | Ecuador | England| France | Germany | Ghana | Greece | Honduras | Iran | Italy | Ivory Coast | Japan | Mexico | The Netherlands | Nigeria | Portugal | Russia | South Korea | Spain | Switzerland | United States | Uruguay