With Thiago Silva banished and Marcelo dropped for March's qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay, who will be charged with stopping the likes of Luis Suarez this month?
Brazil coach Dunga was brought in after ‘the 7-1’ in what was the CBF’s the first step on the way to ensuring there would never again be all-out collapse like the one the Selecao suffered in the World Cup 2014 semi-final defeat to Germany.
A pragmatist at heart, defensive solidity, organisation and an unwavering commitment to the collective were the hallmarks of the Brazil sides Dunga led to Copa America and Confederations Cup glory during his first spell in charge between 2006 and 2010.
Upon his July 2014 appointment, he immediately set about rebuilding Brazil's back four, introducing Filipe Luis and Miranda, who were both left out of the World Cup squad by previous coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
With Thiago Silva injured for the first couple of months of Dunga’s tenure, David Luiz retained his place and was joined by Danilo at right-back, who came into the side after a disciplinary issue ended Maicon’s international career.
Aided by a double-pivot at the base of the midfield, Dunga’s reign kicked off with five consecutive clean sheets and went on to concede just twice in their first 10 post-World Cup outings.
The back four appeared set to remain unchanged, but an injury to Danilo ahead of Copa America saw Dani Alves return and he was later joined by left-back Marcelo, despite Dunga’s public criticism of the duo’s attacking contribution during the World Cup.
Dani Alves has remained, and looks set to start once again at right-back, but Marcelo was surprisingly left out of the squad for March’s World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay after Dunga expressed concerns over the Real Madrid man’s injury record this season.
Filipe Luis, back in form and playing for his club on a regular basis once more after leaving Chelsea to return to Atletico Madrid this past European summer, has started three of Brazi’s four qualifiers so far and looks set to retain his role on the left.
At the heart of the defence, Miranda and David Luiz appear set to continue. Miranda is the joint most-used player by Dunga, alongside Willian, making 20 appearances, with six arriving as captain.
Thiago Silva, who Dunga stripped of the captaincy immediately after his appointment, was given the chance to re-establish himself in the side after edging out David Luiz at the Copa America, but the Paris Saint-Germain man was dropped after conceding a penalty in the quarter-final defeat to Paraguay. He has not made a single squad since.
China-based Gil replaced David Luiz last time out after the former was sent off against Argentina, but he is set to return to the bench alongside fourth-choice centre-back Marquinhos. Alex Sandro will likely also have to make do with looking on from the sidelines.
Dunga is now preparing himself for a number of intense training sessions when the squad convene at the Granja Comary training complex on March 21, when his preferred back-four will likely line up as Dani Alves, Miranda, David Luiz and Filipe Luis.
- Goal