Brazil Team Page
Squad
Coach: Nelson Rodrigues
Roster
Goalkeepers: Cassio, Felipe, Muriel
Defenders: Amaral, Carlao, David, Edson, Eduardo, Luizao, Marcelo, David Marinho
Midfielders: Renato Augusto, Carlos Eduardo, Leandro Lima, Lucas, Ji Parana, Roberto, Willian
Forwards: Luiz Adriano, Jo, Alexandre Pato
Scouting Report
Strengths: What can you say about Brazil? The South American powerhouse has won this tournament four times, it went undefeated in winning the 2007 South American Youth Championship, and boasts several players who are starters for their teams in Brazil. This is a team with quality at every position: Cassio (goalkeeper), defence (Marcelo), midfield ( Lucas) and attack (Luiz). The pick of the bunch is Internacional forward Alexandre Pato, who many expect to be the breakout star of the tournament.
Weaknesses: Brazil has a tendency to get off to a slow start, and that could cost them dearly in Canada, as they've been drawn into a difficult group with Poland, the United States and South Korea. Most of the media attention has been focused on Pato, which could lead to tension in the Brazilian locker-room. You also have to wonder how much the expectations of victory amongst Brazilian fans will weigh on the minds of the players.
Player to watch: If there's one player to keep an eye on in this tournament, it's Alexandre Pato. The youngster, who many are calling the next Ronaldo, is a star at Brazilian club Internacional and has already been tagged as the most exciting and promising Brazilian player to emerge since Ronaldinho. An explosive goal scorer, the baby-faced Brazilian also boasts superior technical ability, intelligence and strength in the air. Helped Internacional upset European champions FC Barcelona in last year's FIFA World Club Cup final and is being scouted by Chelsea, AC Milan, Juventus, and Inter Milan.
Prognosis: As four-time winners, Brazil has to be considered, alongside Argentina, as the favourite. Brazil absolutely oozes class and has the ability to rip opposing teams to shreds with its lethal attack – hardly a surprise when you consider most of the Brazilian players see regular action for their pro clubs. Alexandre Pato is still a teenager, but the Internacional forward plays with a maturity well beyond his years. The young superstar in the making will score with alarming regularity in Canada. Brazil's group isn't a walkover (the U.S., Poland and South Korea should pose a bit of resistance), but the South Americans should have little trouble winning the group. With Brazil's depth of quality talent, anything less than appearance in the final would be a major shock. Provided it doesn't meet Argentina in the early elimination rounds, Brazil should lift its fifth world title when the dust settles.
ROAD TO THE U-20 WORLD CUP
2007 qualification route: Brazil won the 2007 South American Youth Championship.
Qualifying record: 9 games played, 6 wins, 0 losses, 3 draws
Goals for: 20 Goals against: 9
Top goal-scorer in qualifying: Alexandre Pato (5)
Qualifying results:
Group stage – all group games in Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay (Group A)
Jan. 7, 2007 – Brazil 4, Chile 2
Jan. 9, 2007 – Brazil 2, Peru 1
Jan. 13, 2007 – Brazil 3, Bolivia 0
Jan. 15, 2007 – Paraguay 1, Brazil 1
Final round (all games in Asuncion, Paraguay)
Jan. 19, 2007 – Brazil 2, Argentina 2
Jan. 21, 2007 – Brazil 2, Chile 2
Jan. 23, 2007 – Brazil 3, Uruguay 1
Jan. 25, 2007 – Paraguay 0, Brazil 1
Jan. 28, 2007 – Brazil 2, Columbia 0
U-20 World Cup 1st round matches (all times local)
June 30 vs. Poland in Montreal (Olympic Stadium) at 14:15
July 3 vs. South Korea in Montreal (Olympic Stadium) at 19:45
July 6 vs. USA in Ottawa (Frank Clair Stadium) at 19:45
U-20 WORLD CUP HISTORY
Brazil is a U-20 World Cup titan, having won the world crown four times. It also has two second-place finishes and finished third on three occasions. Brazil has only missed one U-20 World Cup, in 1979.
Number of previous U-20 World Cup Appearances: 14
All-time record: 77 games played, 56 wins, 8 draws, 13 losses
Goals for: 175 Goals against: 48
Biggest victory: 10-0 vs. Belgium in 1997
Biggest defeat: 0-2 vs. Argentina in 1995 and 1997, 0-2 vs. Spain in 1999
Hosted the U-20 World Cup: never
1977 – Semifinals (3rd place)
1979 – Did not qualify
1981 – Quarter-finals
1983 – Champions
1985 – Champions
1987 – Quarter-finals
1989 – Semifinals (3rd place)
1991 – Runner-up
1993 - Champions
1995 – Runner-up
1997 – Quarter-finals
1999 – Quarter-finals
2001 – Quarter-finals
2003 – Champions
2005 – Semifinals (3rd place)
