World Cup 2014 - Already decided?

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Brazil are a country that are more than familiar on the global football stage. For decades they have been among the elite of International teams, Germany, Spain, Argentina, Brazil. The team representing Brazil in the 1970 world cup in Mexico have long been thought of as the greatest international team of all time. After Spain's three successive major international tournament victories, this title may be shadowed by some doubt. This does not, however, dismiss the fact that Brazil have long been producers of some of the greatest talent to grace the world of football. If asked to name the best footballer in the world currently, most would refer to the Argentine Lionel Messi, or the Portuguese Christiano Ronaldo. If asked to name the greatest footballer of all time, many would say the Brazilian Pelé, present in the aforementioned 1970 squad. 

Since then, Brazil have produced many world class talents, the likes of Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho and Kaká incredibly familiar names to many football fans. But it does not even remotely stop there. Brazil first hosted the World Cup way back in 1950, and will host the next competition in 2014. Considered the greatest tournament on the planet, and the best way for football players to represent their nationality, the World Cup has been coveted by all those who have entered it since it's inception. Brazil have won the most world cups in history, lifting the trophy no less than five times. They could quite possibly make it six in just a few years time. 

While host countries are not always automatically considered favourites for the win, a strong team enriched with history in the competition like Brazil would always be right up there, regardless of the locale. With them themselves also hosting the competition, they are surely in the forefront to win. And not without reason, either.

The most recent international competition Brazil were involved in was the 2012 Great Britain Olympic Games. They made it all the way to the finals, as was expected, but succumbed to an unexpected defeat against Mexico. The Brazil Olympic team was considered by many as a "warm up" for the impending world cup. And while met with disappointment, that's not to mean it wasn't a complete failure. Some of the younger members of the Brazilian squad got their chance to strut their stuff on the world stage, and further prove that they are good enough to compete, and to win, the World Cup 2014. 

One of the brightest talents to come out of Brazil, who currently still plays for Brazilian club Sao Paulo, is young striker Neymar. The incredibly talented twenty year old is already coveted by the biggest clubs in world football, with a move to Barcelona seeming ever more likely. A phenomenal talented young man, even at his tender age, he is already considered the brightest talent of his era, and touted by many to be one of the best players in the world. And the forward, who has score 13 goals in 23 appearances for his country, is just the start. 

Lucas Moura, himself only just turned twenty, is a much vaunted midfielder, who unlike his compatriot Neymar, has already agreed to make the crossing into European football. Whilst chased by English Giants Manchester United for much of the summer, Moura ended up agreeing to move to oil-rich Paris Saint Germain for a fee rumoured to be around the £35m mark. The player himself won't join up with his new team until January 2013, but his move has already generated much excitement about what this kind of player can do in European football. An attacking midfielder, Lucas Moura can play effectively behind the striker and on the wing, and likely as the front man himself. Truly a mouth watering prospect for fans of PSG, he will join up with fellow Brazilian Thiago Silva, arguably one of the best centre backs in the world.

Neymar and Moura are just the tip of Brazil's attacking threat. Add to that A.C Milan's  Alexandre Pato, who at 23 years old has already made 143 appearances for the Rossoneri, scoring 61 goals in the process.  Leandro Damiao, also only 23, is yet another goal getter that could cause a threat to any nation that tries to win in Brazil's own backyard. Someone to really watch out for though is for Chelsea's newest Brazilian arrival, creative playmaker Oscar. The player has less than ten international caps to his name, yet has already marked his arrival on the European stage with two fantastic goals in his first start for Chelsea, in a 2-2 Champions League draw with Serie A champions Juventus. Oscar still seems somewhat raw in comparison to more seasoned Brazilians, such as the aforementioned Pato or FC Porto's star forward Hulk. Yet he does have the next two years at the European Champions Chelsea to develop to his full potential in time for the World Cup.

Thiago Silva, Alexandre Pato, Lucas Moura, Hulk - all names that are known in world football, and all names that are more than likely to be announced in many starting lineups during the 2014 campaign. There is no question that Brazil will have a very strong, if somewhat young, squad going into the World Cup - adding to that the home advantage gives them a keen edge in what will be a tightly contested competition. Whether or not that means that they will have what it takes to beat off the likes of Spain, Germany, Italy and any other challengers is any one's guess. What can be said for sure, is that it's going to be a very exciting competition. With England out in the quarter finals. On penalties.