Dunga turns to backroom boys

With progress to the World Cup last 16 already assured, Brazil's reserves have the chance to shine in their final group match against Portugal.

Monday was a rest day for the most part for the first XI, as coach Dunga instead put the remainder of the squad through their paces in the knowledge that he now has two reasons to shuffle his pack and investigate his men's strength in depth.

That is because wins over North Korea and Ivory Coast have propelled Brazil through the opening phase but also because star midfielder Kaka has inadvertently done Dunga a favour.

By getting himself a red card against Ivory Coast, the Real Madrid man will have to sit out the Portugal encounter come what may.

His opening showing against the North Koreans in a fairly hard-fought 2-1 win was not quite what fans have come to expect of a former world player of the year and there had been indications that he would not necessarily keep his place with some players talking up the skills of the likes of Julio Baptista.

Kaka did improve against Ivory Coast, with a neat assist, but his sending off for pushing Abdelkader Keita means Dunga must shake things up anyway.

"We are not sure who will replace Kaka for the next game, we will think about it over the next few days," Dunga said.

Although Dunga has reined in the samba style in his four-year tenure to date, he has nonetheless been handsomely rewarded both in the Copa America and the Confederations Cup last year.

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, currently in charge of Ivory Coast, feels Brazil look like champions.

"You need to be almost perfect to beat Brazil. In every way they are good, they are very good," opined Eriksson.

The reserves aren't too bad either as they hammered The Birds, a local side from Vaal, outside Johannesbrug, 7-1, albeit after negotiating a tricky 20 opening minutes.

Baptista was on target as was Wolfsburg's Grafite with a brace, Ramires, Kleberson and Daniel Alves with an own goal on top.

The first team players were meanwhile enjoying the plush facilities at their Fairway Hotel base.

Dunga looks to have three options regarding his conundrum.

He can field Nilmar in attack and switch the on-form Robinho into a central role, send in Baptista or push Alves forward into the engine room.

Assuming they claim at least a draw on Friday, Brazil will win their group and face the second team in Group G - either Spain, Chile or Switzerland.