Dunga Relies on 'Gringos' for Last Brazil Squad Announcement of 2014

It's time to give the gringos a go. As far as Brazilian footballers go, anyway.

Dunga made his final squad announcement this year for the Selecao's upcoming friendlies against Turkey and Austria without a home-based player in sight. In addition, these two contests represent a real chance to end 2014 on a high.

Should Brazil manage to walk away from both with victory, that would make it six wins from six since the World Cup, with the added incentive of the possibility of making it six clean sheets in a row as well.

The new list has brought excitement. Not only does it leave a substantial part of previous squads at home to focus on the closing rounds of the Campeonato Brasileiro, it gives the boss a great chance to look at some fresh faces.

And there are some points of interest emanating from CBF headquarters. Luiz Adriano has received a call-up straight after becoming the first player in history to score four goals in the first half of a Champions League tie.

Sergei Grits/Associated Press

Shakhtar club mate Douglas Costa was also given the nod, while there are intriguing calls for Casemiro and Roberto Firmino.

Meanwhile, Lucas Moura makes a return to the international fold, as does PSG teammate Thiago Silva. But there was bad news for the 29-year-old, with Dunga making the announcement Neymar will retain the captain's armband.

It is a bold move from the man at the helm, but an understandable one. Neymar led the team impeccably in Silva's absence, and, while it may come as a surprise considering the Paris Saint-Germain defender has been the long-term leader of this group, the Barcelona forward has shown he is more than up to the job.

Things are looking up, in the short term at least. Dunga has acknowledged players, Lucas and Firmino in particular, who have been impressing onlookers for several months. Twenty-two goals in 37 games last season stated the latter's case for a seat at the national table.

Michael Probst/Associated Press

And the coach was not sparing in his praise of the Hoffenheim forward, as well as Shakhtar striker Luiz Adriano. True to form, however, he laid down the gauntlet in combative style, confirming players must play with their feet, insinuating it is not enough to just talk a good game, as reported by Globo Esporte (link in Portuguese).

The first phase of Dunga's rebuilding scheme has gone swimmingly well, building a solid foundation of players he can rely on. Now, we can move on to experimentation as a host of auditions are held ahead of the side's first post-World Cup challenge, the Copa America in June.

With each new pair of games and Dunga's player choices, the side is built further in his image. Of the 23 selected for the November friendlies, just seven were involved at the World Cup.

Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Now, a new batch of hopefuls will be given a vital opportunity to show just what their feet can do. The likes of Casemiro and Douglas Costa—tipped as teenagers with Sao Paulo and Gremio respectively to move onto great things—are now being given what could be the first steps to international stardom.

Certainly in one sense, this is one of the most enthralling times to be keeping an eye on Brazil's progress. There is no hunt for a title or glory, no endless yarns of a bid for glory and the righting of wrongs.

Rather, this is a rebirth. A square one as the scraps are put together from scratch.

Brazil are starting with a clean slate and rebuilding. Dunga's slate may not have been completely spotless—there are still some key parts who survived the World Cup horror show—but the new boss' tactical shake-up followed by a willingness to open the Selecao gates far and wide could prove hugely beneficial in the long-term.

Time to get those feet kicking in the right direction.