BRAZIL 2014
If you want to know who will be the biggest stars of the Selecao as Brazil try to win the World Cup on home soil, all you have to do is look back on some of the players public and press thought should have been in South Africa. The young Santos stars Neymar and Ganso will probably be mature and will have proven their talent by 2014. A mix of those young stars with some experienced players who took part in the campaign of 2010 should make Brazil's team for the next World Cup.
For the goalkeeping spot, Julio Cesar will be 34 in 2014, which should not be a problem considering that the position allows players to be in the highest level for a long time. As a substitute, Victor, from Gremio, one of the players left out of Dunga's call-up unfairly, will have his chance to be the first choice behind Cesar.
At the full-back spots, Maicon will be an experienced and proven player on the right side, with the quality that makes him the best at his position. On the left, Marcelo will have the chance to be a starter in his first World Cup, given that he continues to grow at Real Madrid. As a substitute to Maicon or any midfielder, Daniel Alves will still be a reliable option. At centre defence, the promising Mario Fernandes, from Gremio, will be mature and established as a world class defender. His partner will be Thiago Silva, who by then will probably evolve into a more regular and steady defender after years in Italy's Serie A. As their main replacement, Sao Paulo's Miranda will be a good option as he has similar qualities as the two starters.
In midfield, Hernanes, the Sao Paulo hero, will finally get his deserved chance and pair up with Benfica's Ramires to make a very offensive-minded set of deffensive midfielders. In front of them, the veteran Kaka will have the brilliance of the young and talented, Paulo Henrique 'Ganso', of Santos, who by then will probably be one of the world's best players. As substitutes, Sandro will be an option for strengthening the defense, while Phillippe Coutinho can fill in for an injured Kaka or Ganso.
Up front, the young starlet Neymar should be in his prime, just like his teammate Ganso. He will make an explosive and fast-paced pair with Alexandre Pato, who will be more mature and established after long years at Milan. Substitutes will be the veterans Robinho and Nilmar.
(4-2-2-2)
Julio Cesar (34)
Maicon (33) - Mario Fernandes (23) - Thiago Silva (29) - Marcelo (27)
Hernanes (29) - Ramires (27)
Kaká (32) - Ganso (24)
Neymar (22) - Pato (24)
Substitutes: Victor (31)- Daniel Alves (31)- Miranda (29)- Sandro (25)- Coutinho (22)- Robinho (30)- Nilmar (29)