Defence Is the Best Form of Attack Ahead of Brazil Copa America Opener

Efficient has probably been the most commonly used word to describe the Selecao Brasileira as they make the final preparations for their Copa America quest, due to kick off tomorrow against Peru.

Meanwhile, there have been 10 wins on the trot since the World Cup. Neymar has found the net on eight occasions and, with 43 international goals to his name, threatens to dislodge Pele’s as the country’s all-time leading scorer.

But where Dunga has thus far focused his labour, which more importantly has borne fruit, is the Brazilian back line. Just two goals conceded since that 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands in the third-placed play-off at last year’s World Cup means that the five-time world champions are the side to have leaked the fewest goals since the FIFA tournament.

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press/Associated Press

According to a report in Brazilian sports daily Lance, Colombia have conceded three goals in eight games, Uruguay six in eight, Argentina seven in eight and Chile nine in 10. Considered Brazil’s main rivals for the continental crown, no one can boast a defence as mean as the side that shipped 10 in their final two games at the World Cup.

In truth, defence as the greatest form of attack is a theme visited on a number of occasions for Brazil over the past decade or so, even contributing in part to Dunga’s dismissal in 2010. A side packed with six-foot bruisers, including Lucio, Juan and villain of the South Africa World Cup, Felipe Melo, left Brazil playing a physical game based around set pieces and counter-attacks, rather than free-flowing football one might stereotypically associate with the country.

That XI—which had lifted the 2007 Copa America and 2009 Confederations Cup—contained the talents of forward Robinho and playmaker Kaka, who was in the best form of his career. But it was very much a team built from the back forwards.

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This team is very much in the same mould as Dunga’s previous sculpture. The one major difference is that, in 2015, Brazil supporters can have less of a gripe about the side’s more pragmatic approach to the international game.

If the last two friendlies are anything to go by—a 2-0 win over Mexico followed by an uninspiring 1-0 victory over Honduras—caution will be the first order of the day against Peru.

Of course, the attack will be built around the prodigal talents of Neymar, just as predecessor Luiz Felipe Scolari did. Joined by the likes of Willian, Philippe Coutinho and Diego Tardelli, Brazil’s offensive threat is bolstered by a tight anchorage that forces teams to put in a shift just to retrieve the ball, before creating a chance can even be considered.

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Across the back, experience has replaced experience, with Jefferson and Miranda coming in for Julio Cesar and Thiago Silva respectively. The switch has been made to great effect, with David Luiz, who looked lost at sea without the level-headed competence of Silva alongside him against Germany last year, once again performing competently paired with a more experienced competitor.

In addition, full-backs have also changed. Danilo has come in as first-choice right-back, although he is set to miss the Copa America after suffering an ankle injury against Mexico. Dani Alves returns to the squad, although it is likely Fabinho, who performed competently against Honduras, will get the nod to start behind Willian down the right side.

On the left flank, Marcelo may well have kept his place had he also not picked up an injury, but Filipe Luis has been more than an able deputy. The Premier League champion has seen a potentially creatively lucrative partnership blossom with playmaker Philippe Coutinho, while remaining a more defensively sound option than his marauding Real Madrid rival.

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The defence’s main job on Sunday will be to keep Paolo Guerrero quiet, whose domestic form has been patchy of late. He has just completed a big-money move from Paulista giants Corinthians to Carioca mammoths Flamengo.

But like all successful football teams, what Dunga needs is the right balance. Defensive solidity is an excellent and promising start to this new wave of Selecao reprogramming, but it must be backed up by an offensive threat.

The back five of Jefferson, Fabinho, Miranda, David Luiz and Filipe Luis is merely a backbone. They serve as a foundation for what stands ahead of them, and the solid defensive cover they provide should give security and freedom to those in the middle to perform their roles without the need to be constantly looking over their shoulder.

In Dunga’s Brazil side, defence has so far been the best form of attack, the foundation of their success to date. Sunday’s Copa America opener for the eight-time champions should offer ample evidence of the side’s new, safety-first approach.

One year and one day after the World Cup, Brazil is still finding its new path. Getting back to basics, Dunga could have found it.

Likely Brazil line-up against Peru: Jefferson; Fabinho, Miranda, David Luiz, Filipe Luis; Fernandinho, Fred; Willian, Philippe Coutinho, Neymar, Diego Tardelli