With Sandro’s injury and Lucas Leiva possible suspension (he received a red card against Paraguay), Menezes had to call another defensive midfielder, Ralf. “He is a player that I know the potential and that is why I called him,” Menezes said.
“Luiz Gustavo is a left-footed midfielder who has the capacity to open up the left side of the pitch,” Menezes said. “He has had good results in Germany for the past three years.”
In relation to Dede, Menezes said: “I have been thinking about him for quite some times from what I had seen from him last year and in the first trimester of this year. The opportunity came now.”
Menezes was criticised by many fans and commentators including Sambafoot Tim Vickery, for the absence of a target man in his tactical scheme, a post maybe Jonas could take. “We need to get better in the finish, with a player of reference. We tried with Fred and Pato during the Copa America it helped but it is not what I want,” Menezes said. “Jonas could be the one in the central point of the attack.”
