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Brazil Can Mirror Barcelona in New Tactical Shape Under Dunga

Published by Bleacher Report on Tue, 30 Sep 2014


They are considered two of the greatest teams in the history of the game. Making comparisons across generations is never completely objective, but the Brazilian national side of the early 1970s, and Pep Guardiola's Barcelona are thought of as exemplary definers of how football should be played. Yet whilst Barca, despite changes in personnel and a slight blip by their own ridiculously high standards, continue to adhere to a well-known philosophy, the Selecao Brasileira have floundered over the last decade.Whether there is a slight arrogance at their five World Cup wins, the fame brought by producing some of the finest players ever to kick a ball, or just a pig-headed ignorance at refusing to stare facts in the face, one can only speculate.What can be said for sure is that Brazil can no longer be considered one of the major forces on the international stage. Since that last world-title win in 2002, brought about in no small part to the trio of Rs, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, there has only been abject disappointment.Quarter-final exits in 2006 and 2010 before the country's most humiliating result at a World Cup, not to mention the tournament's most one-sided semi-final.Luiz Felipe Scolari defended his performance as coach, pointing out he is the first man to take Brazil to the final four since, well, himself, 12 years ago, as reported by Reuters (link in Portuguese).But a convincing argument can be made that Brazil were lucky to get that far.The hosts never managed to perform in the same way this year as they had done at the Confederations Cup 12 months previously. In their second-round tie against Chile, had Mauricio Pinilla's powerful shot in the penultimate minute of extra time been a couple of inches lower, Brazil would have been sent packing far earlier.The tournament as a whole was a rude awakening and this is not only an intriguing time for Dunga and the Selecao, but a crucial one.During Dunga's first reign he based his tactics on what can be seen week in, week out, in the domestic league, the Campeonato Brasileiro.In stark contrast to what springs to mind when you consider the land which produced the likes of Garrincha, Pele, Didi, Jairzinho, Romario and Ronaldo, set plays and counter-attacks are the order of the day in the Brasileirao.Sam Allardyce may have been stretching the truth slightly when he claimed he could be successful with the likes of Real Madrid, but he could well be lifting trophies in Brazil.Just like Scolari, Dunga previously used a target man to lead the line. But it is imperative for any manager to play to his strengths. The target-man system can be successful, if the pieces fit the jigsaw.Diego Costa fired Atletico Madrid to the La Liga title to finally break the Barca-Real stranglehold at the summit of the table last year. Judging by his dynamic start to life at Stamford Bridge, ably supported by the creative forces of Eden Hazard, he can be similarly dangerous for Chelsea.But Fred, Brazil's line leader at the World Cup, is not in the same league. With Costa pledging his allegiances to Spain, there is no forward in Brazil in the same talent pool and a new approach was needed.It is refreshing to see Dunga changing tack, rather than blindly persevering with what has gone before. Signs were encouraging earlier this month, and the clash with Argentina on October 11 will be his biggest challenge before the calendar year is out; a friendly in name only.Lionel Messi is the player around which his country's stellar attack is built, but it took time for the four-time World Player of the Year to reproduce club form at international level. Teammate Neymar, fresh from scoring a hat-trick for the Catalan club at the weekend, is capable of fulfilling that same role for the Selecao, and has showed his maturity and leadership qualities over the past year.Just as Barca have been able to count on the midfield majesty of Xavi and Andres Iniesta, Brazil's new shape and flexibility will see the burden of creativity shared. There are a host of potential No. 10s who, whilst not perhaps leading from the front, can make the creative difference between them rather than striving to serve a static front man.Oscar, Philippe Coutinho, Everton Ribeiro. Given freedom to express themselves, in a slick passing-and-movement shape, they currently hold the future of Brazil in their hands as potentially key pieces of Dunga's puzzle.It may not be vintage Barca just yet, but Brazil are taking steps out of the tactical dark ages.Read more World Football news on BleacherReport.com
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