World Cup Team Checks: Brazil

World Cup Qualifiers

Brazil are the first reigning world champions forced to qualify for the finals, a task the side accomplished without a problem, finishing second behind Argentina in the South American zone.

Stars

Finding stars on the Brazilian team is as easy as looking at the sky on a clear night. The legion of players in the Spanish league including Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos (both from Real Madrid) and Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona) are among the highlights and the German contingent of Juan and Roque Junior (Leverkusen) as well as Lucio and Ze Roberto (Bayern Munich) and Gilberto (Hertha BSC Berlin) help fill out the roster.

Trainer

The "Selecao" coach Carlos Alberto Parreira should know how to melt his team's individual talents into a cohesive team -- he has already done it once in 1994 when he coached Brazil to the championship in a penalty shoot-out win against Italy.

World Cup History

The five-time world champions are a regular fixture at the Cup finals. The 2006 Germany World Cup marks Brazil's 18th appearance.

1930 preliminary, 1934 round of 16, 1938 third place, 1950 runners up, 1954 quarter-finals, 1958 winners, 1962 winners, 1966 preliminary, 1970 winners, 1974 fourth, 1978 third, 1982 2nd finals, 1986 quarter-finals, 1990 round of 16, 1994 winners, 1998 runners up, 2002 winners

Match Schedule: Preliminary Round

June 13: Brazil - Croatia in Berlin

June 18: Brazil - Australia in Munich

June 22: Japan - Brazil in Dortmund

World Cup Base

Brazil is the only team to select two hotels during the World Cup. During the preliminary rounds they will be found at the Kempinski-Hotel in Königstein/Taunus, then they'll move to the Schlosshotel Lerbach in Bergisch Gladbach for the knock-out rounds.

Outlook

Brazil are favorites to win the World Cup and are headed to Germany with only one goal in mind: defending their title.