Should Brazil Be Looking to the Future Rather Than Thinking About Kaka?

There is a little bit of the old Dunga left, so it would seem. The new Brazil boss has been rightfully praised for introducing a new, or rather discarded, style of play in this month's friendlies against Colombia and Ecuador.

On Wednesday evening, however, an old name, a favourite of Dunga's first reign, was brought up in conversation. The Selecao coach was a guest on Fox Sports Brasil's Expediente Futebol programme, and his former ace in the hole became the hot topic of discussion: Kaka.

The door is not closed on the 2007 World Player of the Year. Heartening news indeed, not only for the player himself, but for anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing the former AC Milan and Real Madrid star in action back at Sao Paulo.

A disappointing stint at Real Madrid followed by a return to San Siro did little to further his credentials as a creative force in today's game. Former Selecao boss Luiz Felipe Scolari's decision to omit the 32-year-old from his World Cup squad had seemingly brought the curtain down on his international career, with the likes of Hulk and Jo making it in ahead of the attacking midfielder.

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Dunga made the key point on the modified role Kaka plays these days, explaining that he is now more involved for the full 90 minutes rather than only sporadically, as reported by Fox Sports (link in Portuguese).

It is certainly true that, while Kaka remains a vital cog in the Sao Paulo engine, he is no longer the driving force behind the team's attacking prowess. The team are the second-highest scorers in the Brazilian league behind runaway-leaders Cruzeiro.

If the veteran is to make it back into national colours, he will not be the first to ride this supposed wave of youth and optimism and buck the trend. Robinho, on loan at Santos, is in the squad for friendlies against Argentina and Japan next month.

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But should Dunga be looking to the future rather than at players who have been tried, tested, and unlikely to be around in 2018, when the FIFA World Cup is taken to Russia?

Kaka was undoubtedly one of the finest players of the last decade. He is beginning to find match rhythm and form back at the Estadio Morumbi, but playing in the Campeonato Brasileiro and on the international stage are two entirely different concepts.

Especially when you look at his teammate, playing in the same position, the same formation that Dunga wants to employ with the Selecao, and the type of form he is producing. Paulo Henrique Ganso is getting back to the levels of meteoric expectation he first faced when bursting through the Vila Belmiro ranks alongside Neymar four years ago.

Sao Paulo coach Muricy Ramalho has already stated that Ganso and another reformed figure, Alexandre Pato, have benefited from playing in the same team as Kaka, as reported by O Globo (link in Portuguese).

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Pato and Ganso, at 25 and 24 years of age respectively, still hold the future in their hands. Kaka, while not consigned to the past just yet, cannot have the team built around him over the next four-year cycle in the same way that Ganso, Oscar, Philippe Coutinho, Neymar or even Everton Ribeiro could.

It was refreshing to see the alterations Dunga has already managed to implement in such a short amount of time. Following next month's matches, there are two more friendly outings before the calendar year ends, against Turkey in November and an as-yet-unnamed opponent.

With the Selecao Brasileira in transition, a string of friendlies takes on a new meaning. It is not an imposition, it is a vital opportunity for new faces to be given the chance to prove their credentials.

Kaka's abilities are known. If experience is needed at the Copa America, it may be prudent to give the former best player on the planet a call.

For now, give youth a chance. You might not be able to win anything with kids alone, but you can learn a hell of a lot.