Maicon

Menezes took over from Dunga, who was fired after Brazil’s quarter finals departure, losing 2-1 to the Netherlands in South Africa earlier this month.

In taking the job, he has already signaled that he wants to restore the old flamboyant style of Brazilian football and move away from Dunga’s style of tactical defensive play.

“There are several ways of winning and I respect all of them,” said Menezes. “I will try to choose the way that gives us the best chance of winning. If that can be done with the ‘beautiful game’ that everyone likes, it would be the best. We will try to get as close as possible to that.”

With that in mind, and in preparation to build a side capable of winning the World Cup on home soil in 2014, Menezes only recalled four players, Daniel Alves, Ramires, Thiago Silva and Robinho from the recent World Cup squad for his friendly against the U.S. on August 10.

Manchester United defender Rafael was surprisingly called up to replace Maicon, the man widely considered the best right back in the world; and Liverpool midfielder Lucas as part of the new 24-man squad. Menezes has also recalled AC Milan star Alexandre Pato and two young stars Paulo Henrique Ganso and Neymar, who were left out of the squad despite guiding their club side Santos to the Sao Paulo State Championship before the World Cup.

However, he diplomatically did not rule out calling back more players from the old squad, as he looks towards the near future the Copa America next summer and the Olympics in 2012, which Brazil have never won.