By: Colin Reese
OPINION:
Every Brazilian has their own opinion of who should start for the legendary Seleção, and the Brazilian national team is also the most popular soccer team in the world.
All true soccer fans love to watch Brazil play, and with so many ridiculously talented Brazilian footballers, picking just 23 also results in criminal snubs.
Club form somewhat becomes irrelevant when a Brazilian footballer puts on the Yellow Jersey because wearing the jersey of the Seleção is instant motivation for a Brazilian player to play out of their mind. A poor performance wearing that jersey is social suicide in Brazil.
Felipão has become famous for saying in his press conferences that he doesn’t comment on players that weren’t selected, but this article isn’t about who Felipão would pick, although his picks are essentially flawless as he is a Brazilian master coach.
Here is World Soccer Source’s Preferred Seleção 23 for the World Cup:
GOLEIROS: Julio CESAR (Toronto FC), JEFFERSON (Botafogo), RAFAEL (Napoli).
ZAGUEIROS: Thiago SILVA (Paris Saint-Germain), David LUIZ (Chelsea), DANTE (Bayern Munich), DEDÉ (Cruzeiro)
LATERAIS: Daniel ALVES (Barcelona), MARCELO (Real Madrid), MAICON (Roma), DODÔ (Roma)
VOLANTES: Luiz GUSTAVO (Wolfsburg), PAULINHO (Tottenham), FERNANDINHO (Machester City), RAMIRES (Chelsea).
MEIAS: OSCAR (Chelsea), RONALDINHO (Atlético Mineiro), WILLIAN (Chelsea), ROBINHO (Milan).
ATACANTES: NEYMAR (Barcelona), FRED (Fluminense), PATO (São Paulo), LUCAS (Paris Saint-Germain).
Explanation:
-The roster above contains three goalkeepers, four center backs, two right backs, two left backs, two defensive midfielders, two box-to-box midfielders, two playmakers, three wingers, two first strikers, and one Neymar.
-Center Backs: Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Dedé, Dante
-Right Backs: Daniel Alves, Maicon
-Left Backs: Marcelo, Dodô
-Defensive Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo, Fernandinho
-Box-To-Box Midfielders: Paulinho, Ramires
-Playmakers: Oscar, Ronaldinho
-Wingers: Robinho, Willian, Lucas
-Strikers: Fred, Pato
– Neymar is Neymar. NeyMaster doesn’t fit into any category except that he’s an attacker.
Who would World Soccer Source start?
JULIO CESAR; MAICON, THIAGO SILVA, DAVID LUIZ, MARCELO; LUIZ GUSTAVO, PAULINHO; WILLIAN, OSCAR, NEYMAR; PATO.