A squad has been announced for the Brazilian World Cup 2022 – and the big news is that Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino has not been included in the team. After a friendly match against the Czech Republic in March 2019, Brazil has not taken on European opposition since then. Before the 1954 World Cup, they did not meet any European rivals during this period, which was the last time they did.

Questions have been raised at nearly every press conference regarding the anomaly, and for a while, it served to downplay the team’s record-breaking qualifying record with the media. With 40 goals scored and only five goals conceded, the Brazilian national team won 14 of 17 games played (the match against Argentina, which was abandoned because of COVID-19 shenanigans, was subsequently canceled).

Brazil is in such a state of excitement now that the mood has changed drastically. It is Europe’s loss that the fixture list quirk exists. It is unknown to them what is going to happen to them. Brazil looked like a pragmatic outfit before the Qatar World Cup 2022, lacking their traditional flair and charisma and relying too heavily on Neymar’s eight goals. Manager Tite refers to these players as “perninhas rapidas” (short little legs) in mid-2021. It may have been the first time since 2006 that fans believe the Selecao can win a World Cup thanks to Raphinha, Antony, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Gabriel Martinelli.

Over the past four years, the backline of Alisson, Thiago Silva, and Marquinhos has been almost impregnable, which explains the hype. Brazil is better prepared this year than they were last year. When Tite took control of Brazil’s squad midway through qualifying in June 2016, it almost did not qualify for Russia 2018. The team then struggled after injuries to Neymar, Dani Alves, and Renato Augusto. The world has changed since then.

It’s even akin to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City when the full-backs move into central midfield when they have possession of the five-time world champions. With a good glug of the squad plying their trade in the Premier League together, Brazil hopes to win the first World Cup since 2002. They’ll match their longest drought by going at least 24 years between trophy lifts (1970 to 1994).

This is the 26-man final Brazil squad for the 2022 World Cup:

1. GK: Alisson Becker (Liverpool)
2. GK: Ederson (Manchester City)
3. GK: Weverton (Palmeiras)
4. DF: Dani Alves (UNAM)
5. DF: Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
6. DF: Marquinhos (PSG)
7. DF: Danilo (Juventus) 
8. DF: Alex Telles (Sevilla)
9. DF: Alex Sandro (Juventus)
10. DF: Eder Militao (Real Madrid)
11. DF: Bremer (Juventus)
12. MF: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle)
13. MF: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
14. MF: Lucas Paqueta (Lyon)
15. MF: Fabinho (Liverpool)
16. MF: Fred (Manchester United)
17. MF: Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo)
18. FW: Neymar (PSG)
19. FW: Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
20. FW: Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
21. FW: Antony (Manchester United)
22. FW: Richarlison (Tottenham)
23. FW: Raphinha (Barcelona)
24. FW: Rodrygo (Real Madrid) 
25. FW: Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)

What is the name of Brazil’s World Cup 2022 manager?

The charismatic Tite, whose appearance and language at times resemble the way a priest would dress and speak, has already announced that he will leave his post after the World Cup due to other commitments. Having lost 7-1 to Gotterdammerung in 2014 and exited in the Copa America group stages two years later, he has transformed the team under his leadership. It won’t be easy to replace someone like him.

The Group Of The Brazil World Cup

There are three other teams in Group G: Switzerland, Cameroon, and Serbia. In 2022, the Selecao will be a strong contender for the top spot in Group G after only failing to escape a World Cup group twice (1930 and 1966). Those four teams are Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, and South Korea, respectively, so they would face the runner-up from Group H in Round 16.