Any fixture against Brazil instantly conjures up memories of yellow-shirted magic from through the ages - but how do the current crop compare to the legends of the past?
Ahead of Wednesday night's friendly at Wembley, Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has named a talented 20-man squad blending youth and experience.

GOALKEEPERS
Julio Cesar
Club: Queens Park Rangers
Age: 33 Caps: 64
A short journey to Wembley for Julio Cesar, who, as goalkeeper for Queens Park Rangers, needs little introduction to English crowds. It was thought Cesar would have to play second fiddle to England stopper Robert Green when he signed from Inter Milan two days before the summer transfer window closed in August but he has made the No 1 position his own.
The 33-year-old has been in and around the international set-up for a decade, first as understudy to Dida and then Heurelho Gomes and Doni. By the 2010 World Cup, however, he had established himself as the first choice and has retained his place despite a blunder against Holland that led to Brazil’s departure from the tournament.

Diego Alves
Club: Valencia
Age: 27 Caps: 7
Understudy to Cesar is Valencia custodian Alves, who has been involved with the international side for about 18 months now. He has made seven appearances in that time, mainly in friendlies. Valencia bought him from Almeria in the summer of 2011 and he has since become their No 1.
Chelsea fans might remember the string of superb saves he made in the Champions League group stage match at the Mestalla last season.

DEFENDERS
Daniel Alves
Club: Barcelona
Age: 29
Caps: 59
Goals: 5
Long regarded as one of the best right backs in the world, it remains a pleasure to watch Barcelona’s marauding, multiple trophy-winning Alves. His seven years of involvement in the Brazil squad make him one of the elder statesmen and he would certainly have more than 59 caps if not for the competition of Maicon.
After winning three league titles and two European Cups in his five years at Barcelona, Alves has found himself challenging for the right-back berth with Martin Montoya and compatriot Adriano Correia this season as coach Tito Vilanova rotates his squad.
Not shy: Barcelona's Dani Alves looks for a pass having drawn Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni out of his net in the recent Copa del Rey tie

Adriano Correia
Club: Barcelona
Age: 28
Caps: 16
A unique player, Adriano can play on both sides of the pitch and, given his style, both in defence and midfield. The man challenging Dani Alves for a starting place at club level is still try him to usurp him internationally too. The 28-year-old, who excelled at youth level back in the early Noughties, has 16 caps for his country.

David Luiz
Club: Chelsea
Age: 25
Caps: 16
Another one who could travel to the game on the Tube, the mop-haired defender-cum-midfielder has become a crowd favourite in England these last two years. He’s also been a staple in the national side in the recent past, with his versatility and unrestrained tendency to attack an attractive asset under Mano Menezes and then Scolari.
A 2012 in which he won the Champions League featured another landmark when the 25-year-old captained his country for the first time in a friendly with South Africa in September.

Dante
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 29
Caps: 0
Dante, full name Dante Bonfim Costa Santos, has slotted perfectly into Bayern Munich’s first team this season and is now hoping to do the same for the Selecao. Scolari has rewarded the centre back’s solid displays as the Bavarians run away with the Bundesliga with a first national team call-up. If he gets on the field, he’ll be instantly recognisable for his afro hairstyle, which will look quite a sight alongside Luiz.

Leandro Castan
Club: Roma
Age: 26
Caps: 2
Another newcomer to the Brazil scene, having made his debut against Japan back in October, Leandro Castan has settled well into European football after joining Roma from Corinthians for about £4m in the summer.

Filipe Luis
Club: Atletico Madrid
Age: 27
Caps: 1
Miranda’s team-mate Filipe Luis Kasmirski is also eligible to play for Poland through his father’s roots, but he opted for the more glamorous Brazil. He was involved with the Under 20 side back in the mid-Noughties when he played for Figueirense and Ajax but was then forgotten about. Finally, in 2009, he won his one and only cap against Venezuela in a World Cup qualifier. Now, however, his performances at Atletico, whom he helped to Europa League glory last season, have been recognised by Scolari.

MIDFIELDERS
Ramires
Club: Chelsea
Age: 25
Caps: 33
Goals: 3
Small and slim in stature but strong in desire and workrate, Ramires has developed into an exceptional midfield toiler for both Chelsea and Brazil, enjoying regular football for both. At 25, he already has 33 caps for his country and will be certain to feature in his adopted home city on Wednesday night.
Brazil’s No 8 first appeared for his country back in 2009, in the World Cup qualifiers for the South Africa tournament and hasn’t looked back. The then coach, Dunga, blamed their exit from the finals to Holland on the absence of the suspended Ramires and it was noticeable in that game how important his understated box-to-box work had become.
Similarly for Chelsea, where he has been rewarded with European Cup and FA Cup success in his two-and-a-half years.

Hernanes
Club: Lazio
Age: 27
Caps: 8
Goals: 1
Playmaker with a well-honed passing ability who has shot to national team prominence in the last two years. His performances caught the eye of Lazio, who shelled out about £8m to buy him from Sao Paulo in august 2010. In his first season in Italy, he left nobody in any doubt that he is able to contribute goals too, scoring 11 and equalling Pavel Nedved’s club record of goals from midfield. He’s now a vital cog in a Lazio side challenging for the Scudetto.
One of the squad that returned with Bronze from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Hernanes is now being given a chance to show his club form on the senior international stage.

Oscar
Club: Chelsea
Age: 21
Caps: 12
Goals: 4
Again, someone in the Brazil squad who needs no introduction to viewers of the Premier League. The youngster has not had the blistering impact on English football that Chelsea would have liked but his class is beyond doubt. He is seen as an important component of future Brazil sides too and, having served his time admirably in the youth ranks, has successfully graduated into the senior team. The highlight of his time in England so far, having joined Chelsea from Internacional for £25m last summer, was undoubtedly his spectacular goal against Juventus in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.
But since Rafa Benitez replaced Roberto Di Matteo, his chances have been more restricted and there were rumours of a bust-up when Oscar was omitted from the FIFA Club World Cup final with Corinthians. But having got over that, he will be one to watch at Wembley on Wednesday.

Rising star: Oscar, of Chelsea, playing for Brazil at the 2012 London Olympics

Lucas Moura
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 20
Caps: 22
Goals: 3
The latest in the long conveyor belt of Brazilian talent to move to Europe is Lucas, who can play as an attacking midfielder or in a wider position. Linked with Manchester United for a long time, the 20-year-old opted to join French side PSG for a club record fee of over £30m last month.
Previously, he had been at Sao Paulo, providing a flurry of goals and assists in his three seasons there. Has also been given a good chance at international level, playing pretty much every game over the last two years and English-based fans may remember he played at the London Olympics.