Brazil will again be amongst the favourites to win the World Cup come the summer, but what does Tite’s squad look like?
Brazil qualified for the 2018 Russia World Cup without any major difficulty but have some way to go if they are to claim their sixth trophy.
The draw was relatively kind to the Selecao, placing them in a group with Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia for the finals, and manager Tite will be confident in bettering their finish of fourth on home soil in 2014.
The former Corinthians coach has been tasked with injecting the Brazilian national team with the creativity it was once synonymous with and has been largely successful in doing so since taking over in 2016, but the World Cup presents him with the ultimate opportunity.
Goal takes a look at what his squad for Russia looks like ahead of his biggest test yet.
Who made the final 23-man Brazil squad?
Tite wasted little time in naming his final squad, announcing the panel mid-way through May.
The goalkeepers that Brazil are taking to Russia are Roma’s Alisson , who is expected to continue his role as number one, with Man City shot-stopper Ederson and Corinthians’ Cassio serving as back-up options.
In defence, the Selecao are equipped with the experience of Thiago Silva , Marcelo and Miranda , with the likes of Marquinhos and Danilo bringing a relatively youthful dimension, while Atletico Madrid full-back Filipe Luis made a timely recovery from injury to convince Tite he was worthy of inclusion.
Gremio’s Pedro Geromel and Corinthians’ Fagner are inexperienced at international level but did enough to earn their place in the panel.
Real Madrid enforcer Casemiro will hope to anchor the midfield, but he faces a battle with Man City star Fernandinho for that role. Barcelona duo Paulinho and Philippe Coutinho will hope to replicate their club form after making the cut. Renato Augusto , Fred and Willian complete the midfield line-up.
There had been serious concerns over the fitness of Neymar , but the PSG star has made a full recovery from a foot injury sustained in winter, handing Tite a massive boost. The former Barcelona man will be aided in attack by the likes of Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus , as well as Taison and Douglas Costa .
Who didn’t make the Brazil squad?
Brazil were dealt a huge blow when Dani Alves suffered an injury at the conclusion of the season, which brought and end to his hopes of making the final cut, while another veteran, David Luiz , was omitted after an injury ravaged campaign.
Juventus full-back Alex Sandro may be highly sought after in Europe but his international career has fallen well short of his club success to date. Sandro made his full Brazil debut in 2011 but has just 10 caps to his name going into the summer. He has been selected by Tite on a number of occasions, but he hasn’t done enough to earn a place.
Fenerbahce midfielder Giuliano did not make the cut, bringing the number up to 21. The 27-year-old was heavily involved throughout 2016 and has since been an option off the bench for Tite while playing in the friendly games.
Like Renato Augusto, Hulk has been playing in the Chinese Super League, but the 31-year-old has fallen out of favour in recent years. Monaco’s Jemerson was an outside shot having featured prominently for the Ligue 1 holders this season, but failed to make the squad.
Brazil’s World Cup 2018 squad in full
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Roma), Ederson (Man City), Cassio (Corinthians)
Defenders: Thiago Silva (PSG), Miranda (Inter), Marquinhos (PSG), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Fagner (Corinthians), Pedro Geromel (Gremio), Danilo (Man City)
Midfielders: Paulinho (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Sinobo Guoan), Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk), Fernandinho (Man City), Willian (Chelsea)
Forwards: Neymar (PSG), Douglas Costa (Juventus), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Taison (Shakhtar Donetsk)