New York, July 7 -- Brazil's 2-1 defeat to Norway in the round of 16 meant football's most successful nation has now gone six consecutive World Cups without lifting the trophy, the longest drought in its history.
The country's football factory has hardly stopped producing outstanding talent over that period. The latest squad still included players of rare pedigree, with Neymar, Vinicius Junior and Alisson among the world's best in their positions.
Increasingly, however, Brazil has struggled to produce the same breadth of talent that once madeit the benchmark for international football.
Goalkeeping remains one of the few areas of strength. Alisson and Ederson have spent much ofthe past decade among Europe's elite, while Bento has emerged ...