World Cup 2010: Brazil Squad

Five World Cup wins means that there is something about this footballing nation that the rest of the world haven't quite figured out yet. And like every time, Brazil enter the tournament as one of the strongest contenders to pick it up an astounding sixth time. Can Brazil do it at the World Cup 2010? Here's the squad traveling to South Africa with their eyes on that famous Jules Rimet trophy...

It's a pretty new look Brazil attack for this World Cup with the original Ronaldo not being able to make the cut for the first time since the 1994 edition. Also, Ronaldinho too will be one of the bigger absentees at the World Cup as the Brazil coach deems other candidates better to spearhead the Brazilian strike. The candidates which Dunga prefers are Robinho, having sulked his way out of Manchester City and is currently dancing over the ball for Santos. Also in the squad is Sevilla's excellent Luis Fabiano who makes the cut on the back of a very productive season. Villareal's Nilmar and Wolfsburg's Grafite also make the cut, as Brazil enter the World Cup 2010 with only four strikers.

But the attack WILL be backed up by Real Madrid's Kaka who seems to be coming back into form in the friendlies after being injury hit followed by being woefully out of form and confidence at the Santiago Bernabue. Ex-Arsenal ace Gilberto Silva who is currently plying his trade at Greek club Panathinaikos will play in the heart of the Brazilian midfield, with presumably Juventus' last season's horror show Felipe Melo. Ramires of Benfica will probably run around somewhere in his vague outside right position while where Roma's Julio Baptista plays remains to be seen.

The defense too is a pretty new look one here with Cafu and Roberto Carlos absent from their respective full back positions, and their places will most probably be picked up by Inter Milan's Maicon and Lyon's Michel Bastos respectively. Brazil enter the World Cup 2010 possibly for the first time ever in the history of their singing, dancing and jugglery-based style of football stronger at the center of the defense rather than at the other end, as the two remaining center back spots will be fought over between captain Lucio of Inter Milan, Luisao of Benfica and AC Milan's Thiago Silva. Whether and where Barcelona's pretty-darn-good Dani Alves fits into this tight, thrifty defense line is a question neither you nor I can answer.

The goalkeeper will, with a little doubt be Julio Cesar of Inter Milan as long as he can recover from an injury he suffered a couple of days back. If not him, he has able back up in the form of Doni from AS Roma and Heurelho Gomes of Tottenham Hotspur.

Final Squad of 23 for the World Cup 2010

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Doni (AS Roma), Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (Roma), Luisao (Roma), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Michel Bastos (Lyon)

Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Josue (Wolfsburg), Elano (Galatasaray), Ramires (Benfica), Kleberson (Flamengo), Kaka (Real Madrid), Julio Baptista (Roma)

Strikers: Robinho (Santos), Nilmar (Villarreal), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Grafite (Wolfsburg)

Coach: Dunga

Perhaps a little weaker in the attack than they were in their glittering World Cup history, Brazil still enter the World Cup 2010 as one of the staunch favorites to clinch it! Stay tuned for the latest updates on the World Cup 2010, right here...