Brazil boss Dunga could hand out six bows in Turkey friendly

Brazil have never lost to Turkey in five previous meetings, winning three, although the last two encounters were drawn. Coral make Dunga’s new-look Samba Boys roster odds-on at 4/6 to beat Fatih Terim’s team, while it’s 11/4 that honours finish even.

The Turkish midfield is not as strong as it could be for this battle, and that alone justifies their status as 4/1 outsiders to upset Brazil. Highly-rated youngster Hakan Calhanoglu, former Newcastle United player Emre Belozoglu and ex-Liverpool loanee Nuri Sahin are all missing.

Despite this, Terim will expect experienced quartet Hamit Altintop, Selcuk Inan, Mehmet Topal and Arda Turan to take the game to the Samba Boys. Atletico Madrid winger Turan (11/4 to score anytime here) will be charged with supplementing and supporting main striker Burak Yilmaz (2/1) with service.

While Turkey’s spine looks solid enough, there is guile and attacking intent coming up against the hosts in abundance. Dunga rather belies his playing reputation as a dogged defensive midfielder in handing five first-time call-ups all to forward-thinking Brazilians.

Usual suspects like Samba Boys skipper Neymar (3/1 to score first, having done so on four occasions this calendar year), plus Chelsea pair Oscar and Willian, are also there, but the fresh faces are deserving of extra attention.

Last season’s Bundesliga breakout talent of the year, Roberto Firmino, will be targeting game time and can use international recognition to put himself in the shop window for a winter move from Hoffenheim. Odds of 2/1 say attacking midfielder Firmino will net on a potential debut anytime.

Benfica’s Anderson Talisca, meanwhile, operates in a similar area to Firmino, so may have to wait until next time out against Austria for involvement. Dunga has also rewarded Shakhtar Donetsk attacking trio Luiz Adriano, Douglas Costa and Fred with maiden inclusions.

These names are illustrious or infamous in Brazil. Adriano Leite Ribeiro, of Inter Milan fame, was top scorer at the 2004 Copa America. Chelsea summer signing Diego Costa, meanwhile, turned his back on the Samba Boys and chose adopted country Spain at international level, having fired Atletico Madrid to last term’s La Liga crown. Fluminense frontman Fred toiled tiredly in attack at the World Cup on home soil.