5 things we learnt from Tite's new look Brazil

4) A steady, settled centre-back pairing

Marquinhos and Miranda look settled as a pairing

In Marquinhos and Miranda, Tite has found the perfect centre back pairing. Miranda is all-conquering in the air, winning most aerial duels and can take care of any physically dominating striker in the business. The more slightly built Marquinhos, relies more on his positioning to negate attackers and is good with his feet. So while Miranda is the sledgehammer that destroys attacks, Marquinhos is the preventer, who sees a pass before it is made and covers.

Tite has said that Thiago Silva was not in the squad only because of injury. But it will be an immense task for even a defender of his caliber to displace these two in the starting lineup.