Should Neymar or Thiago Silva Be Brazil Captain Under Dunga?

It's a brave new world in the garden of Brazilian football. Dunga has made what can only be described as a nigh-on perfect start to life as Selecao boss, and he has been ringing the changes with a remarkable level of success.

The alterations on the field have been there in abundance. A more flexible system, with greater interaction between midfield and attack, has lent the side a much more potent attacking threat.

In addition, there have been four clean sheets in four. Brazil are impenetrable at the back and have netted six in their last two. Things are on the up, to put it mildly.

But this being Brazil there is always room for rigorous debate and, in announcing his latest squad last week prior to the final friendlies of 2014 against Turkey and Austria, Dunga made a call that is likely to generate discussion far beyond these shores.

Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images

The coach made the decision to keep Neymar, who has worn the captain's armband in all games under the new manager so far, as his captain. Thiago Silva is back in the squad but is no longer the leader.

Which raises the question: Has Dunga made the right call?

Silva has missed five of Brazil's last six games and his deputies, notably Miranda, have performed admirably. But the Paris Saint-German stopper has been an integral part of the Selecao setup for three years now, and, alongside Neymar, was shown to be badly missed when Brazil needed them most at the World Cup.

More than just a defensive rock, he has been an established leader. David Luiz resembled Little Boy Lost when shorn of his defensive partner against Germany.

Celso Junior/Getty Images

Left to his own devices, he tore around the field like a man possessed from the minute the hosts went a goal behind, perhaps forgetting there were the best part of 79 minutes still to play.

It is hard to imagine the No. 3 allowing such profligacy on his watch. Now, he is facing a battle to just regain his place in the starting line-up following a lengthy lay off.

There is an established train of thought that a team's captain should be positioned either in defence or midfield. From that vantage point, there is greater scope for observing and analysing the game's happenings.

Positioned at the heart of the defence, a player can note exactly where his teammates are erring. Tearing around the front, focused on trying to sniff out a break of goal means forward players are not often in the best positions to be their manager's right-hand man on the pitch.

But then again, what of the young upstart who has not so much progressed as been catapulted to the national forefront? If anyone in that renowned yellow shirt has lived up to their billing over the last 18 months or so, it is Neymar.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Perhaps Dunga just sees this as the next natural step from the player he blanked prior to the 2010 World Cup to natural outrage.

Now, he is the man he turns to in a crisis. The Selecao No. 10 has laughed in the face of his critics.

Today, he is more than an exciting prospect and a focal point in the attack. His ability not only to deal with, but to thrive in high pressure situations, has now been proven.

He scored four goals at the Confederations Cup followed by another four at this year's World Cup. His importance to the team was shown to the world in the disastrous decision to hold his shirt aloft prior to the semi-final against Germany, after the youngster had been ruled out through injury. Without him, Brazil were finished.

He has proven he can be a leader, in friendlies at least. Brazil's next big challenge is the Copa America in June. Perhaps only then can we capture a real sense of Neymar's leadership qualities.

Dunga has two candidates who can both stake a claim to lead his charges. But while Silva has proven credentials in the field of leadership, Neymar is just starting out on his journey.

There have been scant mistakes so far. Dunga must pray he has not made his first.