Brazil coach Dunga can be satisfied with his first few weeks back in charge of the national side emerging from the ashes of the World Cup, the Brazilian Football Confederation said Wednesday after an overnight friendly win over Ecuador.
However, the media were somewhat underwhelmed with a 1-0 win over Ecuador in New Jersey which saw Neymar miss a sitter but set up Chelsea midfielder Willian for the solitary goal.
The newspapers mused that without him the team are ordinary.
The Barcelona star had scored the goal which beat Colombia a week earlier in Miami as Dunga began his second spell in charge with a win. His first term ended after a 2010 World Cup quarter-final loss to the Netherlands.
Willian’s goal at the Metlife Stadium made it two wins and two clean sheets for Dunga since replacing Luiz Felipe Scolari.
“Brazil showed once again they very much depend on Neymar,” commented Rio’s O Dia daily.
But the outgoing and incoming presidents of the Brazilian Football Confederation, Jose Maria Marin and Marco Polo Del Nero saw reason for optimism.
Marin said Dunga has presided over “two good victories” as he seeks to set his stamp on a new squad containing just ten of the troupe humbled by Germany in their World Cup semi-final.
Del Nero, who takes over at the CBF next year, said the new regime “has got off to a very good start.”
Neymar agreed.
“It’s great to get off to a winning start. It gives you confidence” — something which drained away after his World Cup injury.
Dunga is mining new home talent, selecting seven home-based players for his squad, including Corinthians defender Gil and Cruzeiro striker Ricardo Goulart — to just four under Scolari, three of whom were reserves.
Dunga insisted his new faces had “made the most of their opportunities” Tuesday.
Brazilian media quoted him as adding he had not closed the door on a recall for veteran fullback Maicon, sacked from the squad amid reports of indiscipline and missing a team curfew in Miami by 11 hours.
Globo daily on Wednesday published a poll showing three in four Brazil fans wanted to see the Roma defender forgiven.
Brazil’s diet of friendlies continues with a match against Argentina on October 11 in China and three days later they take on Japan.
They have also arranged a November 12 match against Turkey.