Brazil among World Cup favorites: Danilo

TURIN - Juventus right-back Danilo said Tuesday that Brazil could not hide from the fact they are among the favorites to win the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The five-time world champions will begin their campaign against Serbia on Nov 24 before also facing Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G.

"It is undeniable that we are one of the favorites," Danilo told reporters during Brazil's pre-World Cup training camp in Turin.

Brazil earned a direct berth in football's premier international tournament by finishing top of the South American qualifiers with 14 wins, three draws and not a single loss.

Danilo said he and his teammates felt a sense of pride and responsibility as they represent more than 200 million people in their football-mad homeland.

"We have important footballers who play for the best teams in the world," said Danilo, who has been capped 46 times since his international debut in 2011.

"When we go out onto the pitch wearing the national team shirt, we always have the feeling of being those children in Brazil who dream of playing and winning the World Cup, to embrace the family with the Cup in hand.

"That feeling is always present with us and it gives us a strength you can't imagine," he added.