To no one’s surprise, Brazil is the team to beat at the 2022 World Cup. Although Brazil has not won the World Cup since 2002, there is no country with more overall talent than the five-time champions. If Brazil was able to field a ‘B Team’ of the best players that didn’t make the 26-man roster in Qatar, that second squad would still be seen as one of the seven or eight best teams at this competition. Brazil has made it out of the Group Stage of every World Cup since 1966, and the Brazilians are expected to cruise to a Round of 16 berth in a group that includes Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon. We saw Brazil top a group that included Serbia, Switzerland, and Costa Rica at the 2018 World Cup, so there is a good amount of familiarity between these countries.
Brazil Odds at the 2022 World Cup
Brazil Odds to Win the 2022 World Cup +475
Brazil Odds to Win Group G -300
Brazil Odds to Qualify for the Round of 16 -900
Brazil was absolutely dominant in CONMEBOL qualifying for the World Cup. The Canarinho were one of the first teams to punch their ticket to Qatar as they made the cut with several games still left to play against other teams in South America. They finished with a record of 14-3-0 and notched 40 goals while conceding just five goals. Their draws were on the road against Argentina, Ecuador, and Colombia, and they only surrendered one goal at home.
Recent Form
It’s been more than a year since Brazil lost a match. Brazil lost the 2021 Copa America Final to Argentina last summer, but the national team is 10-3-0 since that defeat. Most of those games were World Cup qualifiers, but we did see Brazil head to Asia to take on South Korea and Japan in June.
South Korea was no match for Brazil as Richarlison scored early to lead the Canarinho to a 5-1 win. Neymar slotted home two penalties, and Philippe Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus also found the back of the net. Brazil had 25 shots compared to 7 for South Korea, as the field was tilted in its favor throughout the game.
However, Japan was able to keep the final score respectable with the help of the weather. Brazil was only able to knock off Japan 1-0 thanks to a late Neymar penalty on a rainy night in Tokyo. The final score could have been much worse as Brazil had 21 shots to Japan’s 7, and the Japanese did not have a single shot on frame.
Roster
Neymar is one of the most talented players in the world and the best player on Brazil. His antics have not made him a lot of friends outside of Brazil, but there is no denying his immense talent as he has netted 74 goals in 119 appearances with the national team. He will be flanked by two supremely talented 25-year-olds in Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus, and those three players have the potential to break down any defense. Vinicius Junior will be one of the most watched players at this competition too although he has just one goal for Brazil to this point. Roberto Firmino would start for virtually any other team in the world, but he will likely come off the bench for Brazil in Qatar.
The midfield is led by Lucas Paqueta, Philippe Coutinho, and Casemiro. Paqueta and Coutinho constantly press the attack and help find soft spots in the defense, while Casemiro is more defensive minded and helps break up attacks.
It’s not quite an Achilles’ heel, but the defense is definitely the weak link of this team. Marquinhos is an elite defender in the prime of his career, but there are questions surrounding the other probable starters. Dani Alves is 39 and now plays professionally for Liga MX side UNAM. Thiago Silva is still playing for an elite club in Chelsea, but he will be 38 in Qatar, so stamina and fresh legs could be a concern for both players. Eder Militao has the potential to shine, but he is still young and relatively inexperienced, while Danilo and Alex Sandro have not lived up to their promise.
Alisson is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and Brazil also has an elite backup in Ederson. They can make extremely athletic plays, and their good instincts bail out dodgy defensive efforts at times.
Prediction
Brazil will make it out of the Group Stage and into the knockout rounds. The Canarinho should not struggle against either Group H team in the Round of 16, but they have had trouble with elite European teams in the quarterfinals and semifinals. They could face Belgium, Spain, or Germany in the quarterfinals, and all three of those teams are formidable foes.
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