keep the same players Tata Martino and Alejandro Sabella looked to over the past six years. The big question is if this group of extraordinary players such as Gonzalo Higuaín, Ángel Di María, Sergio Agüero, Javier Mascherano and Messi can finally become world champions after losing three major finals in the past three years (Brazil 2014, Copa América in Chile in 2015 and again in the US in 2016). Juan Carlos Pasman.

Possible breakthrough at Russia 2018 Mauro Icardi (Internazionale).

World ranking 1.

Odds to win World Cup 8-1.

Next match Chile, 23 March.

Brazil

What a difference eight months make. Last summer Brazil did not even get out of their group at the Copa América. The team were, admittedly, on the receiving end of an almighty refereeing blunder in the final game againstPeru but it was an unimaginative team that had made very little progress, or even regressed, under Carlos Dunga. In came a new head coach, Tite, and he has transformed the team. There were always good players in the team but Tite has made them work as a collective in a 4-1-4-1 system. Neymar is undoubtedly the leader of the new generation but there is a good mix between youth and experience with players such as Philippe Coutinho, Douglas Costa, Gabriel Jésus, Casemiro and Dani Alves key members of the squad. The side should be stronger than in 2014 but it is worth pointing out they have not played any of the top European teams for a long time and there is only one friendly, against Germany in