Lack of Centre-Forwards Is Dunga's First Challenge

08/18/2014 - 09h10

Dunga likes his teams to have centre-forwards on the pitch.

It is the way he worked when he first led the national squad and also during the two experiences he had coaching Inter-RS.

That is likely to happen again with the Brazilian team he begins to assemble for the 2018 World Cup, in Russia.

There are doubts in almost all positions on the list the coach will disclose this Tuesday (19), at 11:30am, at the CBF office (Brazilian Football Confederation), in Rio, for the friendly matches against Ecuador, on September 5, and Colombia, September 9, in USA.

The attack position brings even more dilemmas due to the lack of options.

Members of the starting line-up of the last two World Cups, Luis Fabiano (2010) and Fred (2014) are both over 30 years old. Besides, they have injuries.

Potential younger competitors like Alexandre Pato, 24, and Leandro Damião, 25, still need to establish themselves.

Dunga observes Pato carefully as he has already tested the player during his debut in the national team from 2006 to 2010.

Damião, who has not scored a goal since March 30, was a first choice of the Inter-RS coach, in 2013.

"It's hard to even say a name of a centre-forward for the draft", said Careca, one of the first eleven in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups.

"He is from my generation, so he likes a man to play in the penalty box. I think the modern football and its players' movement turned the finisher into something rare", said Careca.

Dunga rejected the idea of having a midfielder to play up front or having a "false 9" - the quick striker who plays between the defenders.

At least that is what he hinted in an interview with the "Correio Braziliense", when he said that Neymar, usually the favourite to play up front, will be in his position, but free, not trapped between defenders.

In the national squad, Dunga has tested 13 centre-forwards. During its 60 matches there was always a reference man in the attack and the three favourites are currently in their thirties.

At first, the first choice was Fred, who has already said that no longer wants to play for the squad. Vágner Love was the main man, a champion at the 2007 Copa America, in Venezuela.

However, later he lost the spot to Luis Fabiano who was chosen for the starting line-up of the South African World Cup.

FROM THE NATIONAL YOUTH TEAMS

The coach Alexandre Gallo, who coordinates the national youth teams and who will coach the under-23 squad that will try to earn the Olympic gold in 2016, also struggles with the No.9.

For the friendlies in September he called Ademilson, a São Paulo player, and Vinícius Aguilar, sold by Cruzeiro earlier this year for Valencia. Both live unstable moments in their careers.

"We have a standard on the national youth teams, which is playing 4-3-3 with a centre-forward. In the under-20 team we have been using Thalles, who plays for Vasco. In the under-21 [which is the base for the Olympic Games] we have already tested Luan, from Grêmio, to play among the defenders", said Gallo.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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	Rafael Ribeiro/Divulgação CBF
	Dunga likes his teams to have centre-forwards on the pitch; it is the way he worked when he first led the national squad