Neymar, Vinicius, Casemiro: Brazil's squad ahead of World Cup is terrifying | OneFootball

Brazil will be eyeing up a record-breaking sixth World Cup in Qatar this winter.

Ever since the Selecao last conquered the globe in 2002 with a star-studded team featuring Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, they have defaulted into something of a ‘sleeping giant’ role.

Quarter-final exits in the 2006, 2010 and 2018 tournaments, as well as the humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany on home soil in 2014, means that South America’s largest nation has now gone 20 years without lifting that most famous of trophies.

Brazil ahead of Qatar 2022

It’s the longest drought that Brazil have been on since the gap between Pele inspiring the nation to victory in 1970 and Romario firing the Selecao back to the throne in 1994.

However, there is certainly optimism that Brazil will nip their barren spell in the bud this year because boy do they have the ammunition to go all the way in November and December.

While it’s practically something of a tradition at this point that Brazil are named by the bookies as pre-tournament favourites, there’s a real feeling this time around that it’s a warranted position.

Tite’s side might have come up short to Argentina in last year’s Copa America, but their squad is just so stacked right now that you’d be mad not to fancy their chances in Qatar.

Brazil’s terrifying squad depth

Besides, take a look for yourself because the final Brazil squad to be named before the World Cup run-up itself was unveiled on Friday and there were top-class players here, there and everywhere amongst the picks.

So many top-class players, in fact, that an extraordinary amount of high performers familiar to Premier League audiences in particular were not called up for international duties.

But before we truly underline the strength in depth of Brazil’s latest squad by highlighting those absentees, be sure to check out who was given the nod by Tite by looking at the squad below:

Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Gleison Bremer (Juventus), Alex Telles (Sevilla), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain) and Roger Ibaez (Roma)

Midfielders: Casemiro (Manchester United), Fred (Manchester United), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United), Bruno Guimares (Newcastle United) and Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo)

Forwards: Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Richarlison (Tottenham), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Antony (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Matheus Cunha (Atletico Madrid) and Pedro (Flamengo)

High-profile absentees

Goodness me. There’s an embarrassment of riches and then there’s that squad.

Now, you might have noticed the absentees that we were alluding to there because such is Brazil’s strength in depth that the Arsenal trio of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes all missed out.

Despite the trio having played a pivotal role in Arsenal sitting atop the Premier League table, they have not been called up for the September friendlies against Ghana and Tunisia.

Philippe Coutinho, Dani Alves and recent Liverpool signing Arthur Melo were other high-profile exclusions from the squad.

According to the Daily Mail, Tite said when directly asked about Jesus’ absence: “This squad is to give opportunities to others to show themselves. He is competing for spot and he is in a big moment.”

So, sure, it’s not necessarily a case that players like Jesus are at risk of not making the World Cup squad, but it is nevertheless quite the show of strength from Tite to be able to play around with his options so much.

And if nothing else, it most certainly underlines why Brazil are favourites to go all the way in Qatar.