Can Brazil Respond to their Favoritism at the 2018 World Cup Odds?

Can Brazil Respond to their Favoritism at the 2018 World Cup?

Written by on May 31, 2018

After coming up agonizingly short on their quest to win the 2014 World Cup in their home country, the Brazilian national team has one goal in mind and one goal only heading into the 2018 World Cup. Victory – or death! Okay, okay, While I’m clearly taking Brazil’s World Cup expectation to extremes a bit, you get the idea about the prohibitive 2018 World Cup Odds favorite! Brazil is looking for nothing less than a World Cup title – and rightfully so – seeing as how they are completely brimming with young, hungry talent, a requisite superstar and a boatload of World Cup history and experience. Based on the latest MyBookie Sportsbook odds to win it all in Russia, let’s get the breakdown on Brazil!

Can Brazil Respond to their Favoritism at the 2018 World Cup Odds?

  • Captain: Neymar
  • Manager: Tite
  • Nickname: Canarinho
  • FIFA Ranking: 2
  • 2018 World Cup Odds to Win: +330

World Cup History

There’s no sense in beating around the bush. Brazil is undeniably the most successful team in FIFA World Cup history with five titles – 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. They are the only country to have played in every single tournament without missing one or needing any playoff shenanigans in order to qualify. All jokes aside, Brazil has reached the semifinals a whopping 11 times. From 1958 – 1970, they won three of four World Cups and the 1970 squad, led by the legendary Pele, is considered the best World Cup squad of all-time. The 1970 final win against Italy also saw arguably the greatest goal in World Cup history when right-back Carlos Alberto blasted a one-timer into the net to close the deal on a 4-1 win.

How they qualified

Brazil achieved an impressive feat in booking an early ticket to Russia considering the strength of the South American qualifying section, and the tough away games at high altitude. They sealed the deal on March 28 with a 3-0 win at home to Paraguay with goals from Neymar Jr. and Philippe Coutinho. With four games remaining in the qualifying round, coach Tite will now have the chance to rotate his team and encourage them to fight for places at the main event, safe in the knowledge that his team is assured of a place in Russia next year.

23-man final squad

  • Alisson
  • Ederson
  • Cassio
  • Danilo
  • Fagner
  • Marcelo
  • Filipe Luis
  • Thiago Silva
  • Marquinhos
  • Miranda
  • Pedro Geromel
  • Casemiro
  • Fernandinho
  • Paulinho
  • Fred
  • Renato Augusto
  • Philippe Coutinho
  • Willian
  • Douglas Costa
  • Neymar
  • Taison
  • Gabriel Jesus
  • Roberto Firmino

Group E Schedule

June 17

  • Costa Rica vs. Serbia
  • Brazil vs. Switzerland

22 de Junio

  • Brazil vs. Costa Rica
  • Serbia vs. Switzerland

27 de Junio

  • Serbia vs. Brazil
  • Switzerland vs. Costa Rica

The Outlook

Sure, Brazil got completely embarrassed in their humbling 7-1 loss to Germany that dispatched them out of the 2014 World Cup, but that was then and this is now – and now, Brazil is looking scary as hell to be quite honest about it. Not only do they have a flat-out superstar of the highest order in the incomparable Neymar, but now, the Brazilians have a ton of young, fast, gifted and hungry talent that is waiting to make their mark on the international stage. Brazil remains at the top of the 2018 World Cup Odds to Win It All. While veterans like Dani Alves and Marcelo are still relevant players for Brazil, the top-ranked nation in this year’s World Cup can now turn to super-gifted younger stars like Casemiro and Gabriel Alves to do more than just provide support for Neymar. No, Brazil’s young stars could lift them to heights they haven’t seen in the World Cup in over a decade. Brazil is also expecting big things out of David Luiz, who, just four years ago, was one of the most criticized players on the national team following their loss to Germany in 2014, but is now one of the best defensive players in the world after excelling in his first season back at Chelsea after transferring from Paris Saint-Germain. Brazil might be expecting even bigger things out of 20-year-old striker Gabriel Jesus, a supremely gifted young star that scored five goals in his first six caps and tore it up for Manchester City, scoring seven goals in 10 league appearances since joining them in January 2017. Neymar hasn’t played since February, but he is undoubtedly the best player on the world’s top-ranked team and everyone wants to see him play, as he’s one of the reasons for them to be at the top of the 2018 World Cup Odds.