Brazil World Cup 2018
Brazil, the most successful team in World Cup history, were the first team to book their place at the 2018 finals via qualification. The five-time winners topped the CONMEBOL regions qualifying group, ensuring they maintained their record of appearing at every World Cup finals since its inception in 1930.
History at the World Cup
Brazil have been a permanent fixture in the World Cup, appearing at every finals tournament since the first in 1930. They were runners-up at their fourth attempt, in 1950, but had to wait until 1958 before winning the tournament for the first time. The great Pele played a major part in securing the trophy, scoring six goals in the tournament. These included two in a 5-2 victory over Sweden in the final that year. A second World Cup trophy followed four years later, and they secured a third in 1970.
A quiet period followed, with just one Quarter Final reached during the next five tournaments. This barren spell ended at USA 1994, when Italy were beaten via a penalty shoot-out in the final. In 1998, they looked destined to lift the trophy again but were totally outplayed by France in the final and finished runners-up. The Brazilians were back on top of the world in 2002 though, with Ronaldo netting eight goals to lead them to a fifth World Cup win in Japan and South Korea. They come into this tournament having not made it to a final in the previous three tournaments. As the hosts in 2014, they were tipped to go all the way but were beaten 7-1 in the Semi Final by eventual champions Germany.
- World Cup Finals Appearances – 20
- Best Performance – Winners (5 Times)
How they qualified
Brazil started their CONMEBOL qualification campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Chile, leading to some critics writing off their chances of making it to the finals.
They bounced back a few days later, beating Venezuela 3-1 to kick start a seventeen-match unbeaten run.
This unbeaten run included twelve wins and five draws as they topped their group with ease, finishing ten points ahead of their nearest challengers.
They were clinical in-front of goal, scoring a total of forty-one in their eighteen matches. Gabriel Jesus top-scored for Brazil with seven goals, and he was closely followed by both Neymar and Paulinho (6 goals apiece).
Qualification was secured on 28th March 2017, after a 3-0 victory over Paraguay on matchday 14.
Coach/Manager
Tite will lead Brazil to the World Cup finals in Russia, in what will be his 28th year in football management.
After a relatively unremarkable playing career was ended by a severe knee injury at the age of twenty-seven, Tite began his management career at Guarani in 1990.
Over the next twenty-six years, he would go on to manage thirteen different clubs. This included three separate spells at Corinthians, where he led them to several titles, including two Brazilian league championships and a Club World Cup in 2012.
Tite was appointed national team coach in 2016, replacing Dunga six matches into the 2018 World Cup qualification process.
In those six matches, Brazil had won just two, drawing three, and losing once.
His first match in charge was a 3-0 win at Ecuador, the first in a run of nine consecutive qualifying victories which ended after their place in the finals was already secured.
Star Players
It would probably be easier, and quicker, to mention players in the Brazilian squad who aren’t worldwide stars.
The entire squad is filled with super-talented players.
These include the world’s most expensive player, Neymar, who made headlines with a record-breaking €222 million move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in August. He has continued to make headlines with several stand-out performances for the French club this season.
Neymar will be one of the main attacking threats for the Brazilians at this World Cup, although the entire squad is littered with match winners who play for the best teams in the best leagues around the world.
When Brazil played England recently, seven players in the squad ply their trade in the Premier League, with top-scorer in qualifying Gabriel Jesus being one of four Manchester City players.
Brazil World Cup 2018: Assessing their Chances & Odds
Most bookmakers price Brazil as joint favourites with Germany, or second favourites, with odds of 5/1 widely available.
Drawn in Group E, Brazil will face Switzerland, Costa Rica, and Serbia in the group stages.
Looking at their head to head records against these three teams, the Brazilians should make it through quite comfortably as group winners.
Switzerland are the only team in the group to have beaten them, in a friendly back in 2013. Their only previous World Cup meeting came in 1950 and ended in a 2-2 draw.
They have 100% winning records over the other two teams, beating Costa Rica six times and Serbia once.
The bookmakers tend to agree that Brazil will not face much resistance, with Sky Bet pricing them at 2/7 to top the group.
If Brazil do indeed win their group, they will face the runners-up of the group containing Germany, Sweden, Mexico, and South Korea. That could be followed by a Quarter Final against Belgium or England, then a possible Semi Final against European champions Portugal, Spain, or France.
There are no easy games at the World Cup finals but Brazil must be hotly tipped to reach at least the last eight, which is priced at 1/2 at most bookmakers, and possibly go on to win the whole thing.
Our Brazil World Cup Prediction
It’s impossible to not list Brazil as a likely winner of the 2018 World Cup. They face what should be a relatively easy group, that they should top with no problem. A likely second round tie with Mexico will be tougher, but they should still make it through that. We are going to stick on the safe side and predict that Brazil will reach at least the Quarter Final. However, our opinion is that they will then brush aside either Belgium or England, and then whoever they end up facing in the last four, to make the Final. Find more under: https://www.apuestasdeportivas24.org