Brazil World Cup profile: Guide to record, squad list, path to final, team news, latest odds and star man

VETERANS of every World Cup, Brazil are aiming to secure a sixth title in Russia this summer.

With world class stars all over the pitch and their Samba swagger back following that dark 7-1 defeat to Germany, they're the worthy favourites to lift the trophy on July 15.

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Here's all you need to know about the Group E stars.

In a nutshell: Five-time winners whose stab at a sixth title came unstuck in that 7-1 mauling against Germany in the semi-final on home soil last time around.

They are the only team to have appeared in each and every World Cup finals.

Flag: With a green background and yellow rhombus, the Bandeiro do Brasil also features a blue circle wrapped in a band with the national motto, Ordem e Progresso, (Order and Progress) emblazoned on it, neither of which are particularly apparent in the way Brazil play.

Population: 207.7 million

Nickname: Try these on for size (and then take them back and get a refund): Canarinho (Little Canary), A Seleção (The Selection) and Verde-Amarela (The Green and Yellow).

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Manager: Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, more commonly known as Tite, never played for Brazil but did find success as coach of Corinthians.
 He took them to the Copa Libertadores de America title and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2012, where they beat Chelsea in the final.

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Captain: It’s subject to change but last time out it was the ageless Dani Alves. His PSG colleague Thiago also skippers the side from time to time too and with Alves ruled out of the tournament he looks a main contender for the armband.

Star Man: PSG’s Neymar, although it’s still touch and go as to whether he’ll make the finals after breaking a toe recently.

With 53 goals in just 83 games for his country, they’ll certainly miss him if he doesn’t recover.

Rising star: Gabriel Jesus. OK, so he’s not exactly unknown to football fans in the UK but this is the Manchester City striker’s first chance to show the world the talent that’s taken him to seven goals in his first 13 caps.

Expect him to deliver.

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Most caps: The World Cup-winning skipper Cafu (142).

All-time top scorer: The one, the only, Pele (77).

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Nice kit? You know what you’re getting with the Brazil kit. Simple yellow shirt with green trim, blue shorts and white socks. Classic.

Still not a patch on the 1970 model though.

Most offensive haircut? David Luiz is still sniffing round the squad and Neymar’s hairstyle changes quicker than Watford’s manager, but we’ll take our hat off to the glorious barnet of Marcelo… and then ask him to put it on and cover it up.

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Any names we can laugh at like kids? There are a bunch of old men’s names in the current squad (Fred, Arthur, etc) and we chose not to pronounce the coach’s name like a juvenile, OK?

And we can’t wait till Miranda’s through in a one-on- one with Joe Hart.

Rivals? Argentina. The rivalry is so intense that they didn’t play each other for ten years after a game in 1946 had to be stopped as the players were fighting with each other – and the police.

National anthem: Hino Nacional Brasileiro.

Sample lyric:
In thy bosom
O freedom
Our chest defy death itself!

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National dish: Tuck into feijoada. It’s a heady stew of beans with beef and pork. Bread optional.

National drink: Show me the person that doesn’t like a Caipirinha and I’ll show you a liar. Or a teetotaller, obviously.

World Cup Finals Record: P104 W70 D17 L17 F221 A102

World Cup Win Ratio: 67.3%

World Cup Wins: 5 – 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002

FIFA World Ranking: 2

Path to final: Brazil will expect to win their group and then face a second round match against any one of Mexico, Sweden or South Korea.

If they qualify for the quarter-finals, the likes of England, Belgium and Colombia are waiting before a probable semi-final with bogey team France or European champions Portugal.