Team: Brazil

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Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira
Captain: Cafu
Winners: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
Pitted against: Croatia, Australia and Japan
Prospects: Every chance, but a slow start could be detrimental
Odds: 5-2 favs

No question, most betting slips in pockets and wallets around the country, if not the globe, already have the reigning champions scribbled upon it. They boast the best, if not the most marketable, players in the game and their strengths throughout the field are, of course, well documented, writes Paul O'Hehir

But what is of concern to both punters and supporters alike is Brazil's lack of pre-tournament action ahead of their opener with Croatia on June 13th. Carlos Alberto Parreira's side have not played since facing Russia in a March friendly but do have one game against New Zealand to look forward to at the start of June.

"My objective is to improve game by game so that by the end of the tournament we are at our peak," Parreira said recently. "It doesn't worry me that we may not start the tournament playing at 100 per cent of our ability. If you start off at 100 per cent then you've got no room for improvement."

Best take Parreira at his word, after all he did steer the South American superpower to success at USA 94 during a previous spell in charge. In fact, so confident is the gaffer that he has already named his starting XI for the opening game. Injury permitting, of course, it will be the same side that beat Venezuela in October.

That means "the magic quartet", as Parreira terms it, of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano and Kaka will spearhead the side, although Ronaldo has not played since April owing to injury. The Real Madrid striker - Brazil's top scorer in qualifying - expects to be fit by tournament start but his lack of match practice must be a concern.

And what of his weight, you say?

"It doesn't bother me in the slightest," offered the striker of 'fattist' criticism. "What is fat after all?," he questioned, directly eyeing a portly member or three of the Brazilian press corps. "People have been talking about it for so long that nowadays I just take it as a joke." Well, isn't that big of him.

All in all, Brazil's preparations are running smoothly. A little too much so according to some commentators. In previous campaigns, Brazilian teams have been dogged by pre-tournament controversy, mostly minor stuff, but disruptive all the same. This time, all seems to be running eerily well.

Training in the small Swiss village of Weggis has been a delight, they say, with the hosts leaving no stone unturned in accommodating the world champions. A 5000-seater practice stadium, an indoor training pitch and a gym have been purpose built, while a local farmer has kindly removed 300 pigs from a nearby field to rid the megastars of the stench that wafts their way in a gale. Shucks.

Brazil, of course, boast the finest World Cup pedigree of all nations. Five times winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002) and twice runners-up (1950 and 1998), they are also the only country to have appeared at every Finals. For Germany, they qualified atop the qualifying group, losing just twice in 18 games to edge out fierce rivals and neighbours Argentina for top spot.

Ronaldinho et all will provide the fireworks, but can ageing full-backs Cafu and Roberto Carlos, competing in their fourth and third world finals respectively, stem the flow in the opposite direction? This will be crucial if Brazil are to realise the ambitions they unquestionably harbour.

World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Dida (AC Milan), Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Rogerio Ceni (Sao Paulo)
Defenders: Cafu (AC Milan), Cicinho (Real Madrid), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Juan (Bayer Leverkusen), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid), Gilberto (Hertha Berlin), Cris (Olympique Lyon), Luisao (Benfica)
Midfielders: Mineiro (Sao Paulo), Juninho Pernambucano (Olympique Lyon), Emerson (Juventus), Ze Roberto (Bayern Munich), Gilberto Silva (Arsenal), Kaka (AC Milan), Ricardinho (Corinthians)
Forwards: Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Robinho (Real Madrid), Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Adriano (Inter Milan), Fred (Olympique Lyon).