Brazil World Cup preview: Seleção look like serious contenders in Russia – just don't mention 2014

Four years on from the golden, historic, not-at-all-harrowing experience of hosting the 2014 edition, Brazil are back at the tournament they love best.

Now just one loyalty stamp away from receiving a statutory free World Cup - terms and conditions apply - the Seleção are eyeing Russia 2018 with the kind of intent usually reserved for Ronaldinho during Carnaval season.

To say that Brazil are among the pre-tournament favourites is to edge towards tautology; you could pick 11 strangers from your local high street, deck them out in yellow jerseys and people would still look and them and think, "Cor, that lot will take some beating."

I'm profiling – and gently mocking – all of the favourites for Russia 2018 on the Betfair blog over next couple of weeks. Read the Brazil entry here.