How Brazil's World Cup hopes hinge on PSG's fortunes

Italy won the 2006 World Cup with a core of Juventus players, Spain did so in 2010 inspired by Barcelona and Bayern Munich contributed to Germany's triumph in 2014, but if Brazil lift the World Cup trophy in Russia it will not be a victory made in Rio or Sao Paulo, but Paris.

The French capital is currently a hub where a tight-knit group of Brazilians ply their trade, and they just so happen to be the backbone of Tite's team who are tipped to be crowned world champions.

Neymar and Dani Alves were the latest to arrive last summer, joining captain Thiago Silva, who is an established presence at the heart of the defence for both club and country, and Marquinhos, at 23 also a pillar in PSG's back line.

The closely-bound group of players working together will do nothing but benefit Tite's intentions for next summer in Russia, where his stars will arrive very much in the winning habit and in irresistible form off the back of a sensational season for Paris Saint-Germain. So far, the French giants have averaged 3.25 goals per game as they sit four points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Any close-season successes with PSG will only fuel Brazil's fires for the World Cup, as the professional standards and camaraderie shared at club level will translate to the national team lifting their sixth world title in Moscow. If that happens, it is highly likely four key players will be to blame.