With Neymar set to lead the charge for gold, coach
Dunga has no shortage of options with a talented generation of
youngsters complemented by two more senior players.
On Thursday, Brazil discovered the group-stage opponents forming the first bump on the road to a long-awaited gold medal.Coach Dunga will lead the team in Rio and will first have to negotiate Group A, in which his side will meet South Africa, Iraq and Denmark. A strong side made up of talented young players complemented by a trio of world stars, accompanied by home advantage, makes Brazil the favorite heading into the 2016 games.
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Senior team captain Neymar has already been confirmed as one of Brazil’s three permitted over-23 players, while Dunga reportedly is keen to add Inter’s Miranda and Chelsea’s Willian to the group, though their release is still to be agreed with their respective clubs.
All being well, Dunga is hoping to line up in a 4-3-3 formation that blends youth and experience.
Current first-team goalkeeper Alisson was set to be named as one of the three overage players to add security between the posts, but the emergence of Ederson at Benfica means Alisson is now set to miss out in favor of Willian.
Providing Inter agrees to release the 31-year-old, Miranda should lead the back four. Overlooked for World Cup 2014, he has since become a mainstay of the senior team under Dunga, with nobody earning more caps for the Selecao since the coach’s July 2014 arrival.
Doria is in line to accompany him in central defense. The 21-year-old is getting his career back on track on loan at Granada in Spain after an ill-fated switch to Marseille and his pace and strength should provide the perfect complement to his experienced defensive partner.
Douglas Santos of Atletico Mineiro is favorite to fill the slot at left back. The Galo defender was one of the highlights of Brasileirao 2015, form that has seen him twice called into the senior squad by Dunga, though he is yet to make his full international debut. Flamengo’s Jorge will provide competition for that position, as could Atletico Madrid’s Filipe Luis, who is rumored to a potential backup for the overage slots.
On the other side, Monaco’s Fabinho is making great strides in France and has been capped three times by Dunga. He was also a part of the Copa America squad and looks almost certain to be Brazil’s first-choice right back in Rio.
The Selecao have plenty of options in midfield, with an extremely strong contingent of players of "Olympic age." Sao Paulo’s Rodrigo Caio should anchor the trio after recovering from a serious knee injury to recapture his stunning early form with the Tricolor.
Palmeiras' 20-year-old "volante" Matheus Sales is among the options to partner him should Dunga elect to play with a double pivot. He is fast attracting major interest from Europe, particularly after impressing when asked to mark Santos and Brazil star Lucas Lima in the Copa do Brasil final last year.
Barcelona’s Rafinha is also returning from a serious knee injury and is a major contender to fill the role as the link man in midfield, shuttling between defense and attack to provide the Selecao a range of passing in the middle, something Manchester United’s Matheus Pereira would also offer.
Lazio’s Felipe Anderson’s reputation continues to soar in Italy and he should be confident of filling the attacking midfield role after being a consistent member of the Under-23 side.
The attacking trio will undoubtedly be led by Neymar, likely from his preferred starting position from wide left. Willian should slot in on the right should he be available, leaving Santos starlet Gabriel "Gabigol" Barbosa to fill the false No. 9 role.
Gabigol was recently drafted into the senior team as a direct replacement for the suspended Neymar against Paraguay, in what was a real show of faith from Dunga.
But the Olympic team have no shortage of attacking options, with the likes of Vitinho, Gabriel Jesus, Malcom, Marcos Guilherme, Anderson Talisca and Luan all providing plenty of competition for places.
All of that leaves Dunga with plenty to ponder ahead of August's tournament, though currently his side could be set to line up something like this:
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