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Brazil are etched into football history as five-time winners of the World Cup, but they have not held the famous trophy aloft since 2002.
The Selecao have only made it past the quarter-finals in one of the last four World Cups and on the occasion that they did so, they were thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the semi-final on home soil in 2014.
But with less than two months to go until the start of this year’s tournament in Qatar, Brazil have emerged as the favourites to go all the way and add a sixth star above their badge.
Brazil have emerged as the favourites to lift the trophy at the World Cup in Qatar this winter
Tite’s side face Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G and are expected to comfortably progress to the knockout stages.
Ahead of the Samba Boys’ friendlies against Ghana and Tunisia over the next week, Sportsmail takes a look at what the current team has to offer.
A Premier League core
Times have changed since Brazil last won the World Cup in 2002, when 13 of their 23-man squad played their club football in their homeland and none starred in the Premier League.
20 years on, the shift is clear to see. Only three of the 26-man squad for this month’s friendlies play in Brazil, while 12 are on the books of English clubs. That is more representation than any other country.
Four members of the current squad arrived in the Premier League this summer – Manchester United pair Casemiro and Antony, West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta and Nottingham Forest full-back Renan Lodi.
Casemiro and Antony added to the Brazilian representation in the Premier League this summer
The Premier League representation runs all the way through the team. Ederson and Alisson battle for the no 1 shirt, Thiago Silva is still going strong in defence at 37 years old, Fabinho, Fred and Bruno Guimaraes can form a midfield three and Richarlison and Roberto Firmino offer options upfront.
There are also the English-based players who were not picked this month but…
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Source : dailymail
