Selecao desperate to fix both flanks of defence

Calm before the storm: Brazil veteran Dani Alves (centre) training with teammates at the Continassa training ground in Turin, Italy, ahead of the World Cup. — AFP

SAO PAULO: When Brazil coach Tite uttered the name of veteran Dani Alves in his call for the World Cup squad, reactions around the country spanned from anger to disappointment.

The Brazil coach, who has faced little criticism in his six years on the job, described his pick in a paused, not-so-confident tone.