The Brazilians will come into the 2014 World Championship keen to make an impact and end their hunt for a first title. The world No.1 finished second to Russia at the last two World Championships and also won the silver medal when they hosted the event in 1994, losing to Cuba in the final. Brazil were unbeaten going into the gold medal match in 2010 but in a tight affair the Russians won 3-2 in Tokyo. This was a repeat of 2006 when Brazil were defeated by Russia by the same score in the final, again in Japan.

Recent Olympic Games have proved successful for Brazil. They won gold at Beijing 2008 and defended their title at London 2012, becoming the third team, after the Soviet Union and Cuba, to retain their crown. Brazil also took Olympic bronze at both Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000. In addition, they have won the South American championship 18 times, including the last ten tournaments dating back to 1995. They won gold at the Pan American Games in 2011 and also triumphed at the Grand Champions Cup in 2013.

Brazil will be looking to go one better than their near-misses at the previous two World Championships, and will arrive in Italy buoyed after winning gold at the 2014 World Grand Prix.