Brazil World Cup 2014 Profile: Neymar to Carry Hopes of Football-Crazy Hosts for Glory

Manager: Luiz Felipe Scolari

World Ranking: 3

World Cup Best: Winners; 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002.

How they qualified: As hosts.

Fixtures: Group A - Croatia (12 June), Mexico (17 June), Cameroon (23 June)

Squad

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar, Jefferson, Victor

Defenders: Marcelo, Daniel Alves, Maicon, Maxwell, Thiago Silva, David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante, Henrique

Midfielders: Paulinho, Ramires, Willian, Oscar, Hernanes, Luiz Gustavo, Fernandinho

Forwards: Bernard , Neymar, Fred, Jo , Hulk

Expectations: The pressure as favourites and hosts is a heavy burden but apart from that they have everything going for them. They host the tournament, they know how to adapt to the humid weather and they have a squad dripping with talent.

While Neymar is simply magical, Thiago Silva, Luis Gustavo, Fernandinho and David Luiz are as solid as a rock.

Star man: Thiago Silva – Neymar is probably one of the best young prospects around the world –if not the best- but other players like the Paris Saint Germain star need to do the dirty work of mopping up at the back.

Silva is the leader of the Brazil back-line and also one of the best defenders in the world.

Prediction: Final – Anything less than reaching the final will not be sufficient for a football crazy country, and a huge disappointment for the hosts. With Argentina, Germany and Spain they are the big favourites to win the title on home soil.