World Cup: Brazil have learned from their 2014 humiliation says Paulinho

Brazil have learned lessons from their humiliating World Cup exit four years ago

and are in better shape for Russia, says midfielder Paulinho.

The five - time world champions suffered an embarrassing 7- 1 semi - final defeat to

Germany in front of their own fans in Belo Horizonte in 2014 .

Barcelona player Paulinho, 29 , is one of the few survivors from that game to have

made the squad for Russia.

“ What we have done is put the

past to one side , ” he said .

Brazil start their tournament

against Switzerland on Sunday

in Rostov - on - Don before

playing their second Group E

game five days later in Saint

Petersburg against Costa Rica .

They round off the group

campaign in Moscow against

Serbia on June 27 .

Memories of the 7 - 1 defeat to

Germany , when they conceded five goals in the opening half an hour , haunt Brazil

fans .

Luiz Felipe Scolari, who oversaw that humiliating defeat , has gone – with Tite

leading Brazil in Russia.

“ We have greater confidence, ” said former Tottenham player Paulinho.

“ From the way things are going for the Brazil team at the moment , it is clear that

confidence is better .

“ Brazil are better prepared in a number of ways. That is just part of football . In

four years you learn a lot of things