2022 FIFA World Cup: Hot Favourite Brazil Announces Its 26-Man Official Squad. Who Did Not Make It?
Brazil going into this year's World Cup in Qatar as one of the clear favourites to win it all and looks forward to lifting its sixth World Cup trophy and reclaiming its status as the best football nation in the globe two decades after its fifth triumphant moment in 2002. Earlier today, Brazil has announced its final 26-man World Cup squad that will take on the likes of Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon from Group G, leaving those who are selected enticing and those who are not disappointed.
Brazil has been spoiled with the rich options in its player pool, especially in the attacking end; Reducing it to a 26-player team must have been painful and a headache to its coach Tite and his staff. Let us take a look at the players who have been selected now.
Brazil's World Cup squad is in 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/8mLdulkRSF
— GOAL (@goal) November 7, 2022
Alisson or Ederson to Guard the Goal?
At shot stoppers, Brazil has selected Alisson, Ederson and Weverton. Debates have always been sparked between spectators on who is a better goalkeeper, Alisson from Liverpool or Ederson from Manchester City? The older Alisson is the preferred option for Tite to start in goal but given the form Liverpool is in at the moment, we might see Ederson being deployed as the first-choice goalkeeper for the Canarihno.
Dani Alves, the Oldest Player to Play for Brazil in the World Cup
It is no surprise that Militao, Marquinhos and Thiago Silva are selected for the World Cup this time around as they have been the main core of Brazil's defence for an extensive period of time, but Dani Alves' inclusion to the team has been surprising as the player is about to hit his forties soon and this might signal a weak link for Brazil in this edition.
Premier League Stars Filling the Midfield
Five players from four Premier League clubs fill the spots for Tite's midfield options in Qatar, with Manchester United duo Casemiro and Fred leading the way with Fabinho, Guimaraes and Paqueta. Guimaraes' selection has come a long way, knowing how much effort he has made to push the Magpies into a top 3 position in this Premier League season.
Firmino the Biggest Snub
There will be both joy and tears for Brazilian players who play at the front as the squad is abundant of fully fledged forwards and wingers. Neymar, Antony, Jesus, Raphinha, Rodrygo, Richarlison, Vinicius Jr, etc. have all been selected for Qatar this year. The only question many asked is whether Martinelli should be selected ahead of Roberto Firmino, who already has 55 caps for Brazil under his belt.
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Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)
Defenders: Dani Alves (UNAM), Danilo (Juventus), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Alex Telles (Sevilla), Bremer (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Casemiro (Manchester United), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham)
Forwards: Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar (PSG), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid).
Notable Absentees:
Matheus Cunha (Atlético Madrid), Gabriel Barbosa Almeida (Flamengo), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
(Photo Credits: Sporting News)