Can Thiago Silva Be Upset at Losing Brazil Captaincy After World Cup Disaster?

Whilst things continue to head upwards for Brazil on the pitch, there are murmurings of discontent off it. On Tuesday afternoon, the Selecao play their final match of 2014, a friendly against Austria in Vienna.

This has, of course, been a year to forget for the five-time world champions. The disastrous conclusion to their World Cup quest meant there was nothing to play for with the year barely halfway over.

But a change of coach and playing philosophy later and prospects look suddenly brighter once again. Twelve goals scored and none conceded in five victorious matches make for a promising start to Dunga's second coming as national boss.

But the coach is not only making strides within the white lines, where the hosts' static setup at the FIFA tournament left them desperately wanting. Dunga has made a bold call in terms of his leader, handing the captain's armband to No. 10 and attacking focal point Neymar.

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 The man brutally shorn of his leadership duties? Thiago Silva, the Paris Saint-Germain stopper who is currently having a tough-enough time forcing himself into the starting XI, with Miranda and David Luiz forging a fruitful partnership at the heart of the defensive unit.

 And with the Selecao treading a smooth path, a few feathers have been ruffled before the showdown in Vienna.

 The 30-year-old made it known he was dissatisfied with the way the captaincy issue had been handled, revealing Neymar had not even spoken with him before taking over his duties, as reported by Globo Esporte (link in Portuguese).

Whilst it is hardly a teammate spat in the same mould as David Batty and Graeme Le Saux's infamous Champions League bust-up for Blackburn Rovers, it does beg the question: Does Silva have a point, or is Neymar the natural successor to the role, simply stepping to the fore at the right time?

Before Dunga made the judgement, few were listing the defender's lack of leadership as one of the key reasons for Brazil's backward steps under Luiz Felipe Scolari. One of the finest central defenders on the planet, he had spearheaded the group for the best part of two years prior to the competition.

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Admittedly, he let himself down greatly in the second-round tie against Chile. With the contest going to penalties, Silva did not step up to assume the responsibility of taking one for the home side.

In addition, he sat with his back turned to the spot-kicks, and, upon Brazil's gut-wrenching passage to the last eight confirmed, he broke down in tears which suggested he had lost a loved one, not moved one step closer to sporting greatness.

Perhaps it is memories of that incident which caused Dunga to reconsider who would be his captain, his right-hand man on the pitch. His hand was of course forced at the beginning of his second reign, with Silva out injured.

Neymar was the obvious choice—he has proven, first at the Confederations Cup and then 12 months later—that he is more than capable of leading. After the early success he has enjoyed, maybe Dunga simply saw no reason to change.

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The Barcelona man is only 22 years of age but in reality numbers mean precious little. The ability to lead is a fundamental characteristic one either possess or lacks, and Neymar has it in spades.

According to the latest reports, the pair have now kissed and made up, as reported by website Band.com.br (link in Portuguese). If, indeed, there was ever anything to fight about, rather than the veteran simply asserting a fact the vast majority could have worked out for themselves.

Silva was more than a stalwart in the side, he was the go-to guy. Not, perhaps, in times of dire need of some aggressive on-field inspiration, but as a leader, a shoulder for those around him to lean on.

All that has been snatched away from him in a matter of months. Dunga's ruthlessness apparently knows no bounds, but the manager went to great pains to highlight that the team unit is more important than any individual, as reported by Folha de Sao Paulo (link in Portuguese).

A new dawn is breaking for the Selecao Brasileira, and Neymar is its face. Silva's immediate task is to make sure he is riding the wave as it breaks, never mind manning the crew.