Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on Brazil

Brazil are the first South American team to qualify for 2010 World Cup. This is the Brazilian squad I believe has the best chance of winning the World Cup in South Africa next June and July.

First 11

GK. Julio Cesar, Club- Inter Milan, (AWC) 3o.

RB. Maicon, Club- Inter Milan, (AWC) 28.

CB. Juan, Club- Roma, (AWC) 31.

CB. Lucio, Club- Inter Milan, (AWC) 32.

LB. Maxwell, Club- Barcelona, (AWC) 28.

CDM. Feilipe Melo, Club- Juventus, (AWC) 26.

CDM. Ze Roberto, Club- Hamburg, (AWC) 35.

CAM. Kaka, Club- Real Madrid, (AWC) 28.

CAM. Diego, Club- Juventus, (AWC) 25.

ST. Luis Fabiano, Club- Sevilla, (AWC) 29.

ST. Robinho, Club- Manchester City, (AWC) 26.

Subs

GK. Heurelho Gomes, Club- Tottenham Hotspur, (AWC) 29.

GK. Doni, Club- Roma, (AWC) 30.

RB. Dani Alves, Club- Barcelona, (AWC) 27.

CB. Alex, Club- Chelsea, (AWC) 27.

CB. Thiago Silva, Club- AC Milan, (AWC) 25.

LWB. Filipe, Club- Deportivo Le Coruna, (AWC) 24.

CDM. Gilberto Silva, Club- Panathinaikos, (AWC) 33.

RW. Rodrigo Taddei, Club- Roma, (AWC) 30.

LW. Ronaldinho, Club- AC Milan, (AWC) 30.

CAM. Julio Baptista, Club- Roma, (AWC) 28.

ST. Nilmar, Club- Villarreal, (AWC) 25.

ST. Alexandre Pato, Club- AC Milan, (AWC) 20.

The Coach

Inexperienced Brazilian Dunga is the Brazil coach, coaching the Brazilian national team is Dunga's first experience of coaching at the professional level. Under Dunga Brazil play more conservatively then they have in the past and have become very dangerous on the counter attack.

Brazil's strengths.

In Julio Cesar Brazil have one of arguably the best half a dozen goalkeepers in the world at the moment. Maicon and Daniel Alves are two of the best right backs in the world unfortunately Brazil can only play one at a time. Lucio and Kaka are amongst the best players in the world in their respective positions.

Brazil's weakness

For a side expecting to in the World Cup Brazil have a few problem areas, at left-back no player has yet emerged to adequately replace retired great Cafu, theirs a worrying lack of quality or depth for the centre of midfield position and a lack of depth for the striking positions.