Stage is set for Neymar to light up the tournament on home soil.
The pressure is on hosts Brazil to perform this summer, with Luiz Felipe Scolari looking to guide his country to a World Cup triumph for a second time as coach.
Having won the Confederations Cup last year, the Seleção can seemingly deal with the weight of expectations on their shoulders, but ultimately the scale of the task ahead is much bigger this time round.
Historically, the Brazilians have always been the neutral’s favourite, and they have stayed true to their tradition of playing attractive football which captures the imagination of all watching on.
However, as the most successful nation on the international level with five World Cups, it also comes with a requirement to win, and this tournament represents an opportunity for the entire squad to secure their places in the history books.
Off-the-pitch issues continue to dampen spirits to an extent with concerns over stadia as well as ongoing protests, but as proven last summer, football can provide a lift for all concerned and bring the country together.
While Scolari does have flair and creativity in abundance in this side, he can also rely on some much needed steel that will be a necessity against some of their group stage opponents and beyond.
The poster boy of the tournament is of course Neymar, and after a relatively impressive first season with Barcelona with nine goals and eight assists in 26 La Liga appearances, he returns home to hopefully pick up from where he left off in the Confederations Cup.
Along with Hulk on the opposite flank, they will be expected to provide significant support to lone striker Fred, while a midfield trio in the centre will keep things organised and break forward when the opportunity presents itself.
Brazil can also rely on a dependable back-four, with arguably the best centre-half in the game today in Thiago Silva. While David Luiz is prone to a mistake, the newly-signed PSG star’s partnership with Silva will likely define the level of success his country is able to enjoy.
As with all great Brazilian sides, Dani Alves and Marcelo will offer endless running and width down either flank, and as a collective unit, they will be a joy to watch with their attacking style of football.
Following on from the squad announcement, there was a degree of shock when the likes of Kaka, Robinho and Ronaldinho were left out. However, this is a new era for the Brazilian national team, and while that trio would arguably have offered little regardless, it is time for the likes of Neymar and Oscar to step up and deliver.
The squad perhaps lacks a little in the way of individual star quality and depth, but with a passionate following willing them to victory, the Brazilians will have all the inspiration that they need.
Brazil likely starting XI for the World Cup:
