Brazil's Best and Worst Players at the Copa America

So, Brazil's Copa America adventure met a premature end. While it was a hugely disappointing exit at the quarter-final stage for Dunga and his charges, there were nevertheless a few bright spots on an otherwise cloudy horizon for the coach to mull over prior to the World Cup qualifiers getting underway later this year.

Here, Bleacher Report takes a look at the Selecao squad members who can come away from Chile with their heads held high, while others will need to up their game as Brazil's arduous road back to the top table of international football looms ahead of them.

Best: Daniel Alves

Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

The Barcelona full-back was only called up due to the late injury to Danilo, who was forced to pull after after picking up an injury in the friendly against Mexico. Alves went straight into the side ahead of the young Fabinho and proved a success, redeeming himself after being dropped for Maicon midway through last summer's World Cup.

He was arguably Brazil's best player at the tournament, and he once again showed his worth as an attacking force, creating the assists both for Neymar's opening goal against Peru and Robinho's strike against Paraguay in the quarter-final.

Having signed a two-year contract extension with Barcelona, Alves is likely to feature in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers as a man Dunga now knows he can fully rely on in moments of crisis.

Worst: David Luiz

Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

The 28-year-old was replaced in the centre of defence after only one game following a horrendous blunder that gifted Peru the lead in less than three minutes.

Luiz was later tried in holding midfield, but following his much-publicised dreadful showing in the World Cup semi-final against Germany last year, the loss of his place alongside Miranda at the back, and the impending return of Luiz Gustavo in front of the back four, the Paris Saint-Germain player's road to recovery could also be a long one.

Best: Miranda

Luis Hidalgo/Associated Press

Miranda has secured his place at the heart of the defence and made himself invaluable to Dunga's Selecao setup. The Atletico Madrid man is the only player to start all matches of Dunga's second reign, and in the absence of Neymar, he was handed the captain's armband.

Miranda showed his leadership qualities on the pitch, rarely putting a foot wrong despite Brazil failing to keep a clean sheet in their four outings at the tournament and was one of the few players to answer media questions following elimination against Paraguay.

Worst: Thiago Silva

Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press

At first, Thiago Silva looked as if he was on the same wave of redemption as Daniel Alves. He managed to displace club team-mate David Luiz in the starting line-up, but his fairytale turned into a nightmare scenario against Paraguay.

The former captain foolishly gave away the penalty that led to the opponent's equaliser in identical circumstances to a penalty he conceded against Chelsea in the Champions League last season. To make matters worse, Marco Del Nero, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, laid the blame for Brazil's elimination at the feet—or rather, the hand—of the PSG skipper, as reported by Lancenet.com (link in Portuguese).

Best: Philippe Coutinho

Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

One of the brightest spots on the Selecao horizon. The Liverpool playmaker missed the opening part of the tournament through injury, but his presence lent the side a greater threat, and more pace, in the final third.

While he did not quite deliver on what he had promised in the preparatory friendlies, he showed enough to suggest he can at least rival Oscar for the primary playmaking role in the team.

Worst: Roberto Firmino

Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press

Much hype has been made over his multi-million pound move to Liverpool, but Roberto Firmino was one of the most disappointing players for Brazil at the Copa America.

As close to anonymous as you are likely to see against Paraguay, where he failed to either hold the ball up or bring team-mates into play, he was guilty of arguably the miss of the tournament against Colombia, blazing over from a few yards out when it looked easier to score.

Best: Robinho

Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

Despite not playing a part in the opening two games, once being drafted in to replace the suspended Neymar, the 31-year-old Santos forward proved that he still has something to offer at international level. He was the best player on the pitch against Venezuela, providing the assist for Thiago Silva's volleyed first goal, and put in an excellent, energetic performance, as he ran, harried and distributed the ball efficiently.

He started well against Paraguay, converting Daniel Alves' cross to put Brazil ahead, but wilted in the second half. Nevertheless, evidence suggests he will have some part to play once World Cup qualification gets underway this autumn.

Worst: Neymar

Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

A loss of temper ruled out the captain for four games, and with Brazil's early elimination that now means Neymar will miss the first two rounds of World Cup qualifiers. He made the difference against Peru as he so often does, but his sending-off at the final whistle against Colombia destabilised Brazil in an all too predictable way.

As captain of the Selecao, he will need to show a cooler head in the face of provocation in the future; he is just too important to this side not to.