“Ronaldinho is a player that you cannot put in a specific place,” said Parreira. “He needs freedom.

“Anyone who says that Ronaldinho plays on the right side at Barcelona is wrong. He plays with the ball at his feet all over the pitch.

“He goes wherever he wants and, in the national team, he’ll have the same freedom.”

Ronaldinho was one of the key players four years ago when Brazil won the World Cup under Parreira’s predecessor Luiz Felipe Scolari who is now coach of Portugal but the Barca man’s career has continued to rise since that highlight and he has won the past two FIFA World Player of the Year awards.

So attacking is the Brazil line-up that even one of the goalkeeper’s Rogerio Ceni is a renowned goalscorer from free-kicks and penalties for his club side Sao Paulo, the FIFA Club World Champions.

He gets the nod over Palmeiras shot-stopper Marcos who was between the sticks when Brazil lifted their fifth world title in Japan four years ago.

Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos sympathised with Marcos but said: “Marcos has been injured for a long time. Sometimes, it’s better to be out to get over it fully. Everybody knows that he’ll always mean a lot to this squad.

“It’s better to totally get over (his injury) and be with the family. When he returns to be the Marcos we know again on the pitch he will be called up again.”

A look at the squad numbers gives a big clue to the likely starting line-up Parreira will employ in Germany.

The alloction of numbers three and four to Bayern Munich’s Lucio and Bayer Leverkusen’s Juan suggests they will fill the problem central defence positions rather than Cris or Luisao.

Juan was elated, telling the Lance! Website: “I’m delighted. The nerves only died down after hearing my name on the list.

“I hope we can have a very good warm-up so we don’t suffer any surprises in the round robin. We’re four good defenders and all of us have a chance to be starters,

“The starters, whoever they were, will represent Brazil very well.”

As if Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano, Fred, Robinho and Kaka were not enough, Brazil also have in Juninho Pernambucano a man who has scored no fewer than 29 free-kicks for his club side Lyon.

Juninho too was delighted with his call-up, saying: “Brazil are the team to be beaten. I think it will be one of the most difficult tournaments for Brazil and one of the most contested ever.

“I haven’t got words to describe my feelings. I’m really very happy – I’ll try to represent Brazil by doing my best.”