The trio have earned their first call ups under the current boss and are now hoping the Centenario in USA will kick-start their respective Selecao careers
Last week Brazil coach Dunga announced his preliminary 40-man squad for June’s Copa America Centenario.
The announcement that confirmed the absence of captain Neymar, who will sit out of the tournament in the USA in order to 
Paris Saint-Germain's David Luiz was the most surprising omission from the squad, having been Dunga's second-most used central defender.
The squad did, however, include a trio of newcomers: Corinthians right-back Fagner, Sao Paulo playmaker Paulho Henrique Ganso and Jiangsu Suning striker Alex Teixeira, all of whom received their first call-ups since Dunga’s July 2014 appointment.
| FAGNER - CORINTHIANS (Defender) |
Fagner, 26, is hoping to travel to USA on the back of a fine 12 months for the reigning Brazilian champions. Four years after leaving Vasco da Gama for an ultimately ill-fated spell in Germany with Wolfsburg, the former PSV man has rediscovered his form, prompting rumours of interest from reigning European champions Barcelona.
He’s a full-back very much in the Brazilian tradition, springing forward from deep to provide his side an added attacking threat in wide positions. He has also earned plaudits for maturing defensively since making a permanent return to his homeland last year.
He formed a vital part of the Corinthians backline that conceded the fewest goals in Brazil as they romped to the national league title in 2015. Coach Tite returned to the club with a more expansive approach after taking some time out to travel Europe, but his side remains built largely upon a disciplined structure akin to that Dunga is hoping to install with the national team.
He appears to be behind Dani Alves in the pecking order, but with Monaco's Fabinho of Olympic age and set to star in Rio, Fagner could well be joining the Selecao on their American adventure.
| GANSO - SAO PAULO (Midfielder) |
Another player who is set to meet Dunga for first time is Ganso. Once the darling of Brazilian football when he emerged alongside Neymar at Santos in 2010, the gangly midfield star had looked set to be the player around whom the future of the national team would be built for years to come, but a series of injuries derailed his career.
He has steadily got himself back on track over the last 12 months and has been in excellent form since the arrival of coach Edgardo Bauza.
The 26-year-old is a rarity in contemporary Brazilian football: a true midfield maestro, cerebrally conducting from the centre of the pitch with a remarkable range of passing, evidenced in his side’s recent 4-0 crushing of Toluca in the Copa Libertadores.
The last romantics among Brazilian football fans have long been praying for the golden goose to rediscover his early promise but he will still face intense competition for a place in the squad, going up against the likes of Renato Augusto, Kaka, Phillipe Coutinho and Lucas Lima.
| ALEX TEIXEIRA - JIANGSU SUNING (Attacker) |
Alex Teixeira, meanwhile, has taken a huge step forward just to be in the frame for the Copa America. The 26-year-old attacking midfielder, who also has the attributes to star as a false No.9 – a position Dunga has struggled to fill – was a revelation for Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine and looked set for a big money move to Liverpool in England’s Premier League last year.
However, a last minute U-turn saw him become the latest in an increasing number of Brazilians to head to China. This month saw the first senior call-up for the player who, in 2009, was named the second best player of the tournament as he helped Brazil to a second-placed finish at the U-20 World Cup.
It is not clear whether Dunga views him as a contender for the centre-forward role but the former Vasco man will surely hope so. While competition for places in midfield is intense, the no.9 shirt appears very much up for grabs.
Dunga will confirm his final 23 at CBF headquarters in Rio di Janeiro at 11:00 local time on Thursday May 5.
The final 23 must be selected from the provisional 40-man squad, as must any late replacements due to injury.
..... - Goal