Brazil are seen as one of the favourites at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and have one of the strongest squads, which resulted in many top class players missing out. Here is our Brazil Snubbed XI.
Selecao coach Tite had one of the toughest jobs when selecting 26-man squad for the five-time winners.
Brazil’s squad is spearheaded by some of football’s biggest names, including Neymar, Vinicius Junior, Thiago Silva and Alisson.
However, there were also several players who thought they would jump on the World Cup train, but missed out.
Roberto Firmino is undoubtedly the standout name of the players who were not selected by Tite. The Liverpool striker represented the Selecao 55 times, scoring 17 goals. However, his last Brazil appearance dates back to the Copa America final in 2021.
Another player who many thought would go to Qatar is Philippe Coutinho – the most-capped Brazil star to miss out on the tournament. He has 69 caps during which he scored 21 goals, including one in Brazil’s final warm-up game against South Korea. However, a hamstring injury and lack of form in 2022/23 saw the 30-year-old miss out.
Other notable absentees are Coutinho’s Aston Villa teammate Douglas Luiz, Atletico Madrid forward Matheus Cunha and Flamengo’s Gabriel Barbosa, who scored the winner for his side in the Copa Libertadoes final.
As a consequence, iDiski Times had a look at a strong Brazil Snubbed XI, which in itself would probably do well at the tournament.
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GK: Matheus Magalhaes (Braga) – uncapped
DF: Emerson Royal (Tottenham) – 7 caps
DF: Gabriel Magalehaes (Arsenal) – uncapped
DF: Roger Ibanez (AS Roma) – 1 cap
DF: Renan Lodi (Nottingham Forest) – 16 caps
MF: Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) – 9 caps
MF: Joelinton (Newcastle United) – uncapped
MF: Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) – 69 caps
FW: Gabriel Barbosa (Flamengo) – 18 caps
FW: Matheus Cunha (Atletico Madrid) – 8 caps
FW: Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) – 55 caps