Five things we learned from Brazil's 4-2 win over Italy

Brazil’s rearguard

Playing with a high backline may prove to be expensive

Since the fullbacks are given the freedom to push up and overlap the forwards, the centrebacks have to often play a high line and be ready to cover the vacant acres of space in behind. Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Dante is a trio that should hold its own against most forwards, but playing a high line comes at a price. Danger develops very quickly, so having three athletic, strong defenders helps; but there may be times when the system will leak a goal from a simple ball over the top simply because the defender came second best in the one-on-one encounter with the opposition striker. Italy scored their first via route-one football; so although the trio is hailed as a terrific backline, there are loopholes in that backline waiting to be exploited.