<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"2014 World Cup host Brazil \u2014 the country favored to win it all, but also the country under the most pressure to do just that \u2014 now knows which gladiators are going to enter the arena on its behalf. \nManager Luiz Felipe Scolari released his 23-man roster on Wednesday, despite the fact that FIFA, world soccer's governing body, does not require teams to submit finalized lists until June 2. (The U.S. national team, meanwhile, hasn't even announced its training camp roster yet.) \nScolari could still make changes, but it looks like his mind's made up. \nSee also: Firsthand Proof That Brazil Is World Cup Soccer's True Home\nLeft out are Kaka and Ronaldinho \u2014 big names known to casual soccer fans, but whose best days are also behind them. But fear not, fans of the beautiful game: There's still plenty of talent to go around and keep the sele\u00E7\u00E3o, as Brazil's national soccer team is known, as entertaining as any team out there. \n4 names you need to know\nThese are the hot shots who will dominate the World Cup watercooler conversation once the tournament kicks off on June 12. \nNeymarJust 22 years old, Neymar is already considered one of the world's most exciting players. The striker is a relatively slight 140 lbs, but what he lacks in imposing physicality he makes up for with quickness, agility and a preposterous skill level. \nNeymar hasn't exactly been tearing it up for Barcelona lately (although he did inadvertently launch an excellent anti-racism campaign). But to say all eyes will be on him in Brazil this summer would be putting it mildly. Wondering why he's such a big deal? This video should help you understand. \n\nHulkHulk \u2014 yes, just Hulk, and yes, that's an awesome name \u2014 will be another of Brazil's go-to goal scorers. Befitting his brawny name, Hulk is a physical presence on the pitch who relies on power and bullying defenders much more the the water-bug Neymar. Just look at the guy: \n\n\n#108336796 / gettyimages.com\n\nMeanwhile, here's a highlight reel:\n\nOscar:So with Neymar and Hulk up front hunting goals, who's going to set them up? Oscar will be one of the sele\u00E7\u00E3o's top catalysts, an attacking midfielder who plays for elite English side Chelsea. The 22-year old has been dubbed \"the new Kaka\" by some fans. That's a lofty comparison, to be sure, but here's why it's legit:\n\nJulio CesarAt 34 years old, Julio Cesar is still one of the world's top goalies. In this, his third World Cup, he'll be looking for redemption. At the last tournament in 2010, his mistake against the Netherlands meant Brazil got booted in the quarterfinals. Here's a 2012 highlight reel: \n\nThe full squad\nSorted by position; club teams in parentheses.Forwards\n\nNeymar (Barcelona; Spain)\nHulk (Zenit Saint Petersburg; Russia)\nFred (Fluminense; Brazil)\nJ\u00F4 (Atl\u00E9tico Mineiro; Brazil)\nBernard (Shakhtar Donetsk; Ukraine)\n\nMidfielders\n\nOscar (Chelsea; England)\nPaulinho (Tottenham; England)\nFernandinho (Manchester City; England)\nWillian (Chelsea; England)\nRamires (Chelsea; England)\nHernanes (Inter Milan; Italy)\nLuiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg; Germany)\n\nDefenders\n\nDani Alves (Barcelona; Spain)\nMaicon (Roma; Italy)\nMarcelo (Real Madrid; Spain)\nThiago Silva (PSG; France)\nDavid Luiz (Chelsea; England)\nDante (Bayern Munich; Germany)\nMaxwell (PSG; France)\nHenrique (Napoli; Italy)\n\nGoalkeepers\n\nJulio Cesar (Toronto FC; Canada/MLS)\nJefferson (Botafago; Brazil)\nVictor (Atl\u00E9tico Mineiro; Brazil)\n\nBrazil plays the World Cup's first match, against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12 at 5 p.m. local time. Its group also includes Cameroon and Mexico. Anything less than hoisting the championship trophy on July 13 will be seen as a massive disappointment. \nBONUS: 50 Stunning Sports Photos From 2013\n\n\n\n50 Amazing Sports Photos From 2013\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1. Jamaica's Usain Bolt wins the 100-meter final at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow on Aug. 11 as lightning strikes in the sky above Luzhniki Stadium.\n\n\nImage: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2. LeBron James moments before leading the Miami Heat to a win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals on June 3. \n\n\nImage: Chris Trotman/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3. Pro lacrosse player Stephen Berger of the New York Lizards gets encouragement from young fans before a May 31 game. \n\n\nImage: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4. Gabriel Gonzaga employs a guillotine choke submission against Ben Rothwell in their heavyweight MMA fight on Jan. 19 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. \n\n\nImage: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5. Uruguay takes on Italy for 3rd place at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil on June 30. \n\n\nImage: Handout/Shaun Botterill/FIFA via Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n6. Jarrett Jack of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a basket as fans go wild during a Feb. 22 game against the San Antonio Spurs. \n\n\nImage: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n7. Major League Baseball rookies George Kottaras of the Kansas City Royals and Robbie Ross of the Texas Rangers compete in a cow milking contest on June 1. \n\n\nImage: Rick Yeatts/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n8. Sergy Nazin of Russia competes in the world diving championships as Barcelona's iconic Sagrada Fam\u00EDlia cathedral looms in the background on July 28. \n\n\nImage: Al Bello/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n9. Baseball fans display the full range of human emotion while trying to catch an Aug. 28 foul ball at Fenway Park. \n\n\nImage: Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n10. Halima Hachlaf of Morocco lies on the track after competing in the women's 800-meter semifinals IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow on Aug. 16. \n\n\nImage: Christian Petersen/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n11. Boats zip between Alcatraz Island and the San Francisco skyline during the fifth race of the America's Cup Finals on Sept. 10. \n\n\nImage: Jamie Squire/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n12. Yekaterina Rudenko of Kazakhstan competes at the International Swimming Federation championships in Barcelona on July 31.\n\n\nImage: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n13. The United States takes on Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifying match amid driving snow on March 22 in Commerce City, Colo. \n\n\nImage: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n14. Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the Australian Open over Andy Murray on Jan. 27.\n\n\nImage: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Notre Dame running back Cam McDaniel hilariously maintains perfect composure while getting tackled after losing his helmet on Oct. 19. \n\n\nImage: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n16. A prosthetic leg stands alone by the pool during the International Paralympic Committee's world swimming championship on Aug. 15. \n\n\nImage: Charles Laberge/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n17. David Luiz of Brazil is ecstatic after a teammate's goal during the Confederations Cup on June 15. \n\n\nImage: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n18. Japanese officials react after Tokyo is awarded the 2020 Olympics at an announcement ceremony in Buenos Aires. \n\n\nImage: Ian Walton/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n19. Danny Garcia lands a bloody punch on Zab Judah during their championship boxing match on April 27. \n\n\nImage: Elsa/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n20. Zafar Gohar of Pakistan and Ben Duckett of England face off in an international under-19 cricket match on Aug. 19. \n\n\nImage: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n21. An alligator guards the 14th fairway at an April 25 golf tournament in Avondale, La. \r\n\n\n\nImage: Chris Graythen/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n22. A Boston police officer at Fenway Park loses himself in the moment, celebrating a Red Sox home run in a come-from-behind win during the MLB playoffs on Oct. 13. \n\n\nImage: Al Bello/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n23. Butler coach Brad Stevens endures a moment of agony after a ref's whistle during the NCAA Tournament on March 23. \n\n\nImage: Andy Lyons/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n24. The Saints logo lines up perfectly behind quarterback Drew Brees at the Superdome in New Orleans on Sept. 8. \n\n\nImage: Chris Graythen/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n25. Maria Sharapova plays a backhand during the Australian Open quarterfinals on Jan. 22. \n\n\nImage: Julian Finney/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n26. A man watches the Brazilian national soccer team from a favela bar in Rio de Janeiro on June 9. \n\n\nImage: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n27. Jehue Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago just beats American Michael Tinsley in the world 400-meter hurdles championship in Moscow on Aug. 15. \n\n\nImage: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n28. Boston Marathon bombing victim Jeff Bauman greets the crowd before the Boston Bruins' NHL playoff game on May 4. \n\n\nImage: Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n29. Fred Jackson after scoring a touchdown for the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 1.  \n\n\nImage: Rick Stewart/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n30. Man versus bull at the National Rodeo Finals on Australia's Gold Coast on June 16. \n\n\nImage: Matt Roberts/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n31. Parrish Cox of the 49ers is a lonely man amid the Ravens' victory celebration following Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3. \r\n\n\n\nImage: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n32. Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium during a college football game on Sept. 21. \n\n\nImage: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n33. Carmelo Anthony sails into the crowd while chasing a loose ball for the New York Knicks during a May 1 playoff game. \n\n\nImage: Al Bello/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n34. Ryan Mathews runs from defenders during an NFL game on Nov. 17. \n\n\nImage:  Streeter Lecka/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n35. A Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader performs during a game on Sept. 15.  \n\n\nImage: Patrick Smith/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n36. Double amputee Chris Moon runs in the 135-mile Badwater ultra-marathon race on July 15 in Death Valley National Park, Calif. \n\n\nImage: David McNew/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n37. Kite-boarders compete on San Francisco Bay on June 7. \n\n\nImage: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n38. Arizona's Kevin Parrom sells a foul during the Pac-12 tournament on March 14. \n\n\nImage: Jeff Gross/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n39. Legendary NFL linebacker Ray Lewis after one of the final playoff games of his career on Jan. 6. \n\n\nImage: Patrick Smith/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n40. A young fan welcomes his heroes onto the ice before an NHL game in Raleigh, N.C., on Jan. 22. \n\n\nImage: Grant Halverson/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n41. Sunlight casts shadows during an April 21 IndyCar race on the streets of Long Beach, Calif. \n\n\nImage: Robert Laberge/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n42. Two hockey players duke it out during an NHL game. \n\n\nImage: Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n43. Peter Mel rides a wave during the Maverick's Invitational surf competition on Jan. 20 in Half Moon Bay. \n\n\nImage: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n44. Pitcher Erik Bedard of the Houston Astros casts a long shadow on May 29. \n\n\nImage: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n45. Andrei Kirilenko of the Brooklyn Nets is framed by the rim while reaching for the ball on Nov. 1. \n\n\nImage: Al Bello/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n46. Greg Owen hits a shot on Feb. 7 at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, Calif. \n\n\nImage: Jeff Gross/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n47. A rainbow appears over Camden Yards during a game between the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees on June 28. \n\n\nImage: Patrick Smith/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n48. The field of the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on May 28. \n\n\nImage: Patrick Smith/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n49. Russ Smith of the Louisville Cardinals tumbles into his own team's bench during a game at Madison Square Garden on March 16. \n\n\nImage: Elsa/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n50. WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, Jr., preens after defeating Juan Manual Marquez on Oct. 12. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2014/05/07/brazil-world-cup-roster/>