2) The marauding wing-backs are back!
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Under Dunga, the traditional policy of Brazilian wing-backs bombing forward was abandoned. Marcelo was dropped in favour of the more defensive-minded Filipe Luis and safety was given first priority. With the adoption of so-called “European tactics”-gone were the days where we used to see Roberto Carlos and Cafu bombing down the wings.
Tite has however, brought back the system, with a few tweaks. He recalled Marcelo and along with Dani Alves, gave him license to bomb forward. The safeguard here is having a box to box midfielder like Paulinho who covers back for whichever wingback is further upfield, as and when possession is conceded while in the attacking third.
The best example for this coming to fruition was the second goal Brazil scored against Ecuador. Marcelo, free from defending duties, charged into the a through ball from Coutinho to cut the ball back for Gabriel Jesus to score.
Casemiro being an effective sheet anchor becomes all the more important here, as now the attacking team, even when initiating a fast counter, has three central defenders to deal with. The attacking wing-back, is thus, less likely to be caught out and even if he does so, a central midfielder covers for him. The fact that Willian is adept at defensive duties down the right wing is an added benefit, especially since the 33-year-old veteran Dani Alves does not have the stamina he used to
