By Bagga Wilks
Mano Menezes has been experimenting with the Brazilian squad since he succeeded Dunga as the coach of the Brazilian national team. In essence the experiment has come to a close as Menezes has settled on his squad of 22 that he has selected for Copa America. A squad is not a team and that was obvious from Brazil’s goal-less draw with Venezuela.
Menezes has adopted a 4-3-3 formation and on paper, the aggregation has the potential to be one of Brazil’s great national teams. Up front, there is Neymar, Robinho and Plato. In the mid-field, there is the highly touted Ganso, and there is Ramires and Lucas as the defensive mid-fielders. Brazil is quite solid in the back with Lucio and Thiago Silva as the central defenders and Dani Alves and Santos as the two full backs. And there is Julio Cesar in goal, one of the best between the sticks in the world.
In recent World Cups, Brazil has produced great teams. The 1970 team with Pele, Carlos Alberto, Gerson and Jairzinho was formidable. That team destroyed Italy in the 1970 World Cup Final.
