Sharpshooter Neymar: Brazil's captain marvel

A resurgent Brazil is determined to bury the memory of last year's traumatic World Cup campaign as it prepares to regain its crown as the king of South American soccer at the Copa America.

Brazil's challenge at the World Cup on home soil was obliterated in a 7-1 semifinal mauling by eventual champion Germany, a result that was compared to the host's infamous defeat to Uruguay in the climax of the 1950 tournament.

An emphatic 3-0 loss to the Netherlands in the third-place playoff only added to the mood of disarray surrounding Brazil as the world's most successful soccer nation came to terms with its early exit.

But fast-forward nearly a year and Brazil is heading into the Copa America in Chile with renewed confidence after a sequence of nine straight wins since the World Cup debacle under the guidance of former captain Dunga.

Dunga, who succeeded Luiz Felipe Scolari, has overseen a steady return to winning ways since his reappointment.

Brazil's run of victories has included friendly wins over Colombia, Chile, Argentina and France, with Mexico becoming the latest victim in a 2-0 win in Sao Paulo on Sunday.

Dunga, who coached Brazil to its last Copa America win in 2007, believes the form of star striker Neymar is one of the keys to the revival.

Thriving on challenge

One of Dunga's first acts last year was to hand the captain's armband to the Barcelona forward, and the 23-year-old has thrived on the challenge and added responsibility.

"It is not a surprise, but the statistics are there to show that when Neymar puts on the captain's armband, he takes a step forward," Dunga said in March.

"He is a player who likes challenges. The more responsibility he has, the more he will develop. He is making history in European soccer."

Neymar missed Sunday's friendly with Mexico but will reunite with the squad bristling with confidence after scoring the final goal for Barcelona in its 3-1 Champions League final defeat of Juventus on Saturday.

Neymar's late strike in Berlin was the final act of a superb season for the Spanish treble winner which saw him notch 39 goals.

Dunga believes Neymar's scoring performance in the Champions League final augurs well for Brazil's Copa America campaign.

"This is good for Brazilian soccer as a whole, having a player scoring in the final and winning the Champions League," Dunga said.

While the core of the Brazil squad is the same as the team torn asunder by Germany, Dunga has successfully blooded several new players who could play a part in Chile.

Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred, Monaco defender Fabinho and Lazio's attacking midfielder, Felipe Anderson, all featured in the win over Mexico on Sunday, which also saw Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho score his first international goal for Brazil.

"We are on the right track, though we haven't got anywhere as yet. We must improve day by day individually and collectively," Dunga said.

Brazil opens its Group C campaign against Peru in Temuco on Sunday before a showdown with Colombia on June 17 in Santiago, a rematch of their stormy World Cup quarterfinal last year which saw Neymar suffer a fractured vertebra. It then faces Venezuela on June 21.

If Brazil wins Group C it will then face a quarterfinal meeting with the runner-up from Group B, potentially holder Uruguay or Argentina.