Brazil face Switzerland on Monday afternoon in the second of what the team hopes – and the public demands – will be seven matches this winter.
The Seleçao have gone 20 years since last winning the World Cup – or even a semi-final. But a convincing victory against Serbia in the last first-round match has bolstered already lofty expectations of a sixth world title, the “Hexa”.
Here’s the lineup Tite may deploy to continue Brazil’s charge towards a burning ambition.
GK: Alisson – Liverpool’s number one hasn’t lost a competitive match for Brazil since the 2018 World Cup quarter-finals.
RB: Eder Militao – With Danilo an injury doubt, the Real Madrid centre-back is vying with 39-year-old Dani Alves for a spot as his replacement.
CB: Thiago Silva – Even though he has admitted that he struggles with the pressure of being a captain, Silva’s friends call him “Capita” in everyday life according to his wife, Isabele. Silva was given the armband for Brazil’s opener against Serbia.
CB: Marquinhos – Reunited with his former PSG teammate and mentor Silva, Marquinhos has played 225 games alongside the veteran centre-back for club and country.
LB: Alex Sandro – The first thing Sandro paid for with money made from his football career was a new paint job for the front of his parents’ house.
CM: Fred – “I’ve heard a lot of negative comments about me, always negative,” Fred reflected earlier this year, “but I won’t say anything back.”
CM: Casemiro – Upon his arrival at Manchester United this summer, Casemiro admitted (in Spanish): “I have a seven-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son who speak English a bit better than me.”
AM: Lucas Paqueta – If Neymar isn’t deemed fit, Tite may shift Paqueta up the pitch in his place – although there is a glut of glitzy forwards gagging for game time in Brazil’s squad.
RW: Raphinha – Handed his international debut while still at Leeds United, Raphinha marked the occasion by creating two goals. On his first international start, he scored twice. Tite has rarely overlooked the 25-year-old since.
ST: Richarlison – Brazil’s pest at the sharp end of the pitch has racked up nine goals in his last seven caps – although one of them stands out above the rest.
LW: Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid’s leading scorer has only found the net once for his country since making his debut three years ago.