Brazil Learn Copa America Group as Road to Recovery Begins in Earnest

For Brazil, perhaps before it has been seen as a slight distraction. Something to be endured, rather than to be strived after.

The Copa America's previous lack of organisation—it has failed to find a regular place in the footballing calendar for decades—has finally found a consistent rhythm. Next year's event will be the third successive tournament to be held at four-year intervals.

And for the Selecao, next June's event in Chile could well take on extra poignancy. It will be the first time the side has entered into a competitive environment since their World Cup humiliation.

Brazil can boast form in the competition, having won four of the last six editions. During Dunga's last spell in charge, it was the first title he collected following a thumping 3-0 win over Argentina in the final in Maracaibo, in July 2007.

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Now, with the group stage draw made on Monday evening, Brazil know their first-round opponents. Following an excruciatingly drawn-out process, Brazil find themselves in Group C alongside World Cup quarter-final opponents Colombia, 1975 Copa America winners Peru and Venezuela, the only South American nation to have never competed at a World Cup.

The Brazilian Confederation (CBF) have acknowledged that the Copa America tournament is a chance to wipe away some of the lasting damage done by the Germans in Belo Horizonte, as reported by Globo Esporte (link in Portuguese).

That is followed, of course, by the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and a chance for the country to add the final major tournament, the Olympic gold medal, to their groaning trophy cabinet. To put it bluntly, the next two years are now of enormous significance to Brazilian football.

Dunga has until June 1 to name his 23-man squad, with Brazil taking to the field for their opening game on June 14, against Peru. They then take on Colombia three days later before the meeting with Venezuela on June 21.

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By May 11 a provisional 30-man squad must be named, and following a successful six-match run, which has seen the Selecao boast a 100 per cent record since the World Cup, Dunga has already formed a solid base of players on which he can rely.

Negotiating the group stage, on paper at least, should be a straightforward task for the Brazilians. Colombia gave them two good contests earlier this year, and both countries will expect to progress at the expense of their less esteemed neighbours.

The meeting between the pair is a mouth-watering prospect. The clash between Neymar and James will be intriguing, as Brazil encounter arguably the strongest team from Pot 2 in what looks like it could well be the pick of the group-stage ties.

But it is when the knockout football begins that Dunga and his squad's resolve will begin to be tested. As hosts, Chile will have high hopes, especially after beating Spain so convincingly and running Brazil so close at the World Cup.

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Argentina and Uruguay, in Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez respectively, possess the kind of player who can snatch a tie away from you in a momentary lapse of concentration. Brazil's defence has so far stood firm, having conceded just a solitary penalty in close to seven hours of football.

The Brazil coach missed the draw as he continues to watch his players based in Europe. His assistant, Andrey Lopes, was present and hinted afterwards that Brazil would conclude their preparatory work for the tournament in Santiago, as reported by Globo Esporte (link in Portuguese).

For now, planning can continue as Brazil seek some sort, any sort, of redemption for the happenings of this year. The tournament in Chile has now taken on extra significance and Dunga's recovery mission will only start to be put in place once genuine success is gained on the football pitch.

For now, the Olympic Games can wait, as can the tempting idea to look further ahead than their first test at the continental competition. For now, Brazil's eyes can afford to stretch no further than Peru, on June 14, in Temuco.