Dunga and Brazil Must Take off Shackles at Copa America in Bid for Identity

While Wednesday's Copa America group-stage clash with Haiti does not represent a “must-win” fixture in terms of elimination for Brazil, following the Selecao's slumbering goalless opener against Ecuador, the pressure only continues to mount on boss Dunga.

This is quickly becoming far more critical than simply a series of disappointments. Reaction to Saturday night's game in the Brazilian press is firmly pointing the blame for Brazil's lack of verve firmly at their beleaguered boss, with former player Roger Flores claiming the manager took too long to change his side (via SporTV, link in Portuguese).

Dunga needs more than just the three points on offer, which may well have been his original pragmatic approach to this encounter. He needs to prove—in emphatic fashion—that he is capable of turning around what is fast taking on the appearance of a sinking ship.

In theory, Haiti will be the weakest side Brazil should face at this competition. Bizarrely, that may make Brazil's job, and that of Dunga, even tougher on Wednesday evening.

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The 2007 Caribbean Cup champions are likely to sit back, inviting Brazil on to them and try to hit on the counter, similar to the game plan successfully executed by Ecuador this past weekend.

If they manage to mark efficiently and press the ball continually, then Brazil will be forced to come up with something far more inspired than they managed on Saturday, overcoming in the process the disease that has become known in this corner of the world as Neymar-dependencia.

Arguably the most concerning aspect of this alarming slump in form since the World Cup has been the lack of identity the Brazilian national side now has. The FIFA tournament back in 2014 was, according to the fairytales bandied about beforehand, supposed to return Brazil to the pinnacle.

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The Selecao would not only be back on top of the international football pyramid, they would have exorcised the ghosts of 1950, when defeat to Uruguay at the Maracana sent the country into shock. Two years ago, Brazil did not even make it to the Rio de Janeiro stadium.

Since then, the team has almost been sleepwalking at times. Eliminated at the quarter-final stage of last year's Copa America and currently sixth in the South American World Cup qualifying group, Brazil are finding little reprieve in a tournament that is effectively a celebration.

Riding against the tide, Dunga must pluck a collective spirit from this band of men that has admittedly been ravaged by injuries and late withdrawals. The evidence of what this Brazil team is capable of, during the first half against Ecuador, was there; against Haiti, it can be built upon and bear fruit.

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In cases like this, the 51-year-old Brazil boss is sometimes almost his own worst enemy. Despite losing so many players before the tournament had even begun, Dunga can still count on a talented group of players and one far superior to their midweek opponents.

Perhaps, on this occasion, throwing caution to the wind really is the way forward. In the first half against Ecuador, the players moved the ball in triangles between the full-backs and midfield, probing for openings for Willian and Philippe Coutinho.

In the second half, with Ecuador pressing far more aggressively, Brazil rarely looked to use the width of the pitch to their advantage. Casemiro, in for Luiz Gustavo, is undoubtedly more assured on the ball, and his distribution could be a major asset in this tournament.

Should Dunga make the Real Madrid man the focal point of his midfield trio, enabling link-up with Daniel Alves and Filipe Luis pushing forward in support of Willian and Coutinho, Brazil have the potential to overwhelm, and Dunga needs to use this to his advantage.

Brazil can afford more flexibility between the midfield three of Casemiro, Renato Augusto and Elias. Should any one of them push forward in support of the attack, the other two can sit and protect Gil and Marquinhos in the centre of defence.

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Elias, as proved at Corinthians last season in a midfield trio alongside Augusto and Ralf, is one of the most intelligent players at Dunga's disposal. Capable of going or staying at the right time, he was also guilty of profligacy against Ecuador.

Against Haiti, Dunga needs to build a more incisive, lethal team, and all three of his central midfielders have the potential of fulfilling that role. But they must not be shackled or restrained in the same way Dunga is accustomed to setting up his team.

But the most fundamental improvement needs to be in attack. On Saturday, Dunga made the straight swap of Jonas for Gabriel, using the Santos teenager through the middle as a No. 9. He found the going tough, and an idea for Wednesday's clash would be to introduce the 19-year-old as a strike partner for Jonas, dropping deep and drawing defenders away to give the target man space.

Against Ecuador, Gabriel struggled to lead the line as a spearhead. It would be worth trying him in the pocket of space just behind, giving him the chance to use his pace to frighten the Haitians during the second half.

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Lucas and Gabriel, who both came on after the interval, against Ecuador, can be vital weapons for Dunga but need to be used in the right way. The boss needs a Plan B, something that was in evidence against Panama in a friendly but went missing when really needed at the weekend.

For all the criticism levelled at Dunga since the start of his second spell as Selecao boss, accusations of cowardice cannot have been mentioned too often. But that is what it looked like against Ecuador, a fear of changing, a fear of shaking up the norm for fear of plans going awry.

Despite this tournament being of relatively little importance—the Olympic Games and World Cup qualifiers will take precedence over this jaunt to the United States—Dunga looks to be fighting for his job.

Once again he will come up against an opponent who will challenge his side to take the game to them, to provide the impetus. The setting is ripe for Brazil to throw everything they have at Haiti.

Of course, there must be balance from back to front, but Brazil are being offered a platform to essentially play with the shackles off. And with those cries of dissent growing ever louder, could Dunga, famed for pragmatism and a win-at-all-costs mentality that has won him few friends among the press or the public, really throw caution to the wind?

His future may well depend on it.