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Brazil Pick Their 23 Man Squad For The World Cup

Brazil Pick Their 23 Man Squad For The World Cup

The Selecao will be looking to avenge what happened at their home World Cup four years ago

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

It's time to get the Neymar shirts out lads, hold them up high, sing the national anthem and shed a tear...oh wait he's actually in the squad, we can just enjoy Brazil play instead then.

Four years ago in Brazil the World Cup's home team crumpled. First they lost their talisman to an unfortunate and dreadful injury, then they got far too emotional about it and then they capitulated in embarrassing and shocking fashion in the semi-final.

It was supposed to be a World Cup of redemption to make up for losing the 1950 tournament on home soil in what was effectively a final but technically wasn't as the final was a three team group.

Instead Brazil couldn't get over the injury that Neymar picked up in their quarter final against Colombia and went into their semi-final against Germany trying to play on emotion and as some sort of weird tribute to the then Barcelona forward, acting as if he'd died.

They were smashed 7-1 in one of football's most shocking games and also lost the subsequent third and fourth place play-off to the Netherlands.

Four years later and they will be really looking for redemption but again Neymar's part in the tournament has been under question after he missed the second half of the season with injury. The PSG man is however in their World Cup squad:

Chelsea defender David Luiz, who was one of the most criticised players after the thrashing by eventual champions Germany, misses out after a season in which he fell out of favour with Antonio Conte.

Juventus full back Alex Sandro, who is currently being coveted by Manchester United, is also not in the 23 man squad heading to Russia.

Far too emotion from Luiz before a terrible performance. Image: PA Images
Far too emotion from Luiz before a terrible performance. Image: PA Images

Tite has got Brazil back into form after the fall out from the tournament four years ago and the Selecao go into the tournament as one of the favourites having topped South American qualifying.

Neymar will be the key man if they are to be successful. The 26 year old has scored 53 goals in 83 appearances and helped lead his country to Olympic success two years ago.

They will be desperate for him to get back to full fitness in time for their first game against Switzerland.

Can Brazil win it?

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Topics: Football News, Russia 2018, Chelsea, PSG, Neymar, david luiz, World Cup, Brazil