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Will Brazil's World Cup squad point to a lack of depth?

Listen to the full interview above via the podcast player  Tomorrow, Big Phil Scolari names...



Will Brazil's World Cup sq...
Soccer

Will Brazil's World Cup squad point to a lack of depth?

Listen to the full interview above via the podcast player 

Tomorrow, Big Phil Scolari names the Brazil squad for the upcoming World Cup on home soil.

No major surprises are expected with Scolari's 23-man panel pretty much set in stone months ago.

"It's remarkable how uncontroversial the whole thing is. Usually there is a major omission and someone who the media and fans want included who looks like being excluded," said BBC South American football correspondent Tim Vickery, who joined us on the show tonight.

Tim explained how Scolari found the right blend and how he has been backed up by results.

But could the ease at which he has arrived at his core squad be indicative of a general lack of depth within the Brazilian game?

"Exclusively in the centre-forward department, there isn't the strength in depth you might expect. Scolari loves the target man No 9 centre forward. The first thing he did when he came back as Brazil coach was reinstate that figure and there aren't that many around," said Tim.

Fred is the first choice in that position with Jo providing back up. That is what made the Diego Costa to Spain allegiance change particularly controversial.

Tim also chatted the defensive philosophy of Brazilian teams since the 1950s and why the Selecao's defensive record has actually been better than Germany traditionally.

He also chatted about the early advances made by Brazil in sports science, being far ahead of England in that regard in the 1950s.

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