2022 World Cup watch

1 PEDRO

(BRAZIL)

Could Brazil’s secret World Cup weapon be a striker who was shown the door by Fiorentina after four games and has spent much of the last two years on the bench? Bizarre as it sounds, there is a real possibility that Flamengo striker Pedro will be included in the squad, an emergency option off the bench when Brazil are seeking to break down deep-lying opponents.

He offers something rare: a genuine centre-forward with penalty-area presence. Technically adept and an ice-cool finisher with a shrewd understanding of what is going on around him, he is no blunt instrument, although he is slow – hence the short spell in Italy.

After initially struggling to make his impact at a Flamengo side rich in attacking options, he is currently flying and Brazil coach Tite – who used him as a sub in a home qualifier against Venezuela –