Brazil will go into the upcoming Copa America on the back of a victory after beating Honduras 1-0 in Porto Alegre this morning.
Forward Roberto Firmino scored the only goal of the game on 33 minutes after latching on to a pass from Filipe Luis - who was lucky not to get sent off earlier on - before casually stroking past Noel Valladares.
Dunga's men had a host of good opportunities to fatten the advantage but Valladares, 38, produced a number of excellent saves.
Below, relive our live text commentary of the contest.
Good morning ladies and gentlemen and you're very welcome to our live text coverage of Brazil's visit of Honduras in the Selecao's final game before jetting off to Chile for the Copa America. I'm Shane and I'll be taking you through all of the action in Porto Alegre as the hosts look to ride the crest of a wave into this weekend's tournament. Oh, and Neymar's only back for it!
The Brazilian ace wasn't involved in Sunday's 2-0 win over Mexico, what with winning the Champions League with Barcelona the previous night and all. But he's back this morning as Dunga's men aim for a tenth successive victory.
What a difference a year makes. Last July, Brazil, under the stewardship of Luiz Felipe Scolari, bowed out of the World Cup on home soil with a hugely upsetting 7-1 defeat by Germany - who went on to win the competition - in the semi-final stage. Somewhere, somebody in Brazil is most probably still crying over the result; such was the disappointment.
But fast forward 11 months and Mr Dunga certainly has them playing again. They cruised to a 2-0 win over Mexico the other night - their first game in Brazil since the World Cup - and it was their ninth successive victory. Here, they have the chance to dispose of Honduras, which they most probably will, and make it 10 on the spin. Let's go.
BRAZIL XI: Jefferson, Fabinho, Miranda, D. Luiz, Filipe Luis; Casemiro, Fernandinho, Fred, Coutinho, Willian; Firmino
HONDURAS XI: Valladares; Palacios, H. Figueroa, Leveron, Beckeles, Izaguirre; Acosta, Garrido, Najar; B. Garcia, Lozano
I can confirm that Dunga makes three changes to the side that beat Mexico - but none of them are Neymar. Fabinho comes in at right-back for Danilo. Casemiro comes into midfield for Elias, and highly-rated Roberto Firmino replaces Diego Tardelli as the spearhead.
Phillipe Coutinho, who scored a quite brilliant goal against El Tri, starts at number 10 once more, with Willian and Fred either side of him on the flanks. David Luiz and Miranda, who were both excellent at centre-back on Sunday, retain their selection ahead of goalkeeper Jefferson who, if memory saves, literally didn't have a big save to make against Miguel Herrera's men.
HEAD 2 HEAD: As one might expect, Honduras don't exactly boast a brilliant record against the mighty Brazil. They've only won one of their last seven meetings - a Copa America victory back in 2001. Tonight's hosts have won five - two 5-0 wins in 1996 and 2013, along with a 8-2 win back in 1994.
Might we see another heavy scoreline this morning? It's very possible, given that Honduras are a massive 20/1 to win tonight. If you're not gambling savvy, that means if you put £2 on Honduras then you lose £2.
PREDICTION: Despite the odds of a rout being quite short, I don't think the scoreline will be quite as emphatic as the bookmakers believe. I watched them beat Mexico 2-0 the other night, with two first-half goals, and then set up shop for the second 45 - perhaps to preserve energy levels ahead of the Copa America. I expect the same caution this morning. So, let's go for a solid 3-0, shall we? Why not.
Right, both sets of players are entering the field of play now, my friends. We've got both national anthems coming now. Is it wrong to say that Honduras' musical effort is a little weak? Sounds like Jedward composed it after a five-day binge on toilet duck.
I can confirm that Brazil's anthem has no lyrics because none of the players sung along, apart from David Luiz, who must've been talking to himself.
KICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off. Brazil, playing from left to right, get us underway. Let's go.
SHOT! We've seen the first shot already, my friends, as Andy Najar capitalises on an error from Miranda before embarking on a hugely audacious effort from goal but it sails well over.
Incidentally, I can confirm that Neymar is one of several big-name players on the bench for Brazil. Will we see him? Most definitely.
One Brazilian woman is already crying in the stands! She either a) loves Brazil b) remembers that 7-1 defeat by Germany or c) her boyfriend just broke up with her via text. Let's hope it's the first one.
SHOT! It's only 2-0 to Honduras in shots, folks, as Emilio Izaguirre of Celtic fame fires another audacious effort well over the bar from range. Jefferson was never worried.
20/1? Really? Honduras aren't bad you know, despite the fact they're overwhelming underdogs. The visitors are pressing Brazil well, hunting in packs to negate the likes of Coutinho in the final third. 10 minutes in and so far so good if you're Honduran.
Really good training ground routine here, as Willian looks like he's going to float a free kick into the box, before it's sneakily tapped to Coutinho, who floats a ball in for Luiz as the PSG defender heads back across goal but goalkeeper Valladares thwarts the danger. It's the first we've seen from Brazil thus far.
Brazil slowly but surely beginning to dominate now. They've had the ball for about three minutes straight and Honduras look to be struggling to recreate the intensity evident in the first 10 minutes or so.
SHOT! Looks like Brazil have been working hard on these training-ground routines ahead of the Copa America, as Willian's disguised free kick is met by Luiz, who can't get enough power on his shot to beat Valladares. Better from the hosts, though.
CHANCE! Yep the Selecao are definitely growing in control here, and it's brilliant work from Coutinho to make the chance as the Liverpool man plays in Firmino, who only has Valladares to beat, but the Hoffenheim hitman can't beat the visiting goalkeeper. They're getting closer and closer and it seems like a goal is imminent.
SHOT! Full-back Emilio Izaguirre looks to open the scoring with a fierce free kick that flies over the bar.
Is it just me or does Roberto Firmino look quite a lot like Leonardo Ulloa? You decide.
© Getty Images
CLOSE! Brilliant intuitive play by Fred, whose excellent flick releases Firmino, but his shot has the sting taken off it by Palacaios before Valladares gathers before it can cross the line. It's safe to say we can see why Honduras are 20/1.
This one is about as 'friendly' as a clash between Israel and Palestine. We've seen some hard-hitting challenges, and Fernandinho may or may not have just elbowed somebody in the mush. I hope the referee isn't reluctant to dish out cards in friendlies.
OFF THE POST: Willian, who has been brilliant in this opening half-hour, flashes a shot against the outside the post from the tightest of angles. Pass might've been better mate.
BOOKING: We said this one is a friendly in name only, and Filipe Luis has gone into the book for a shocking challenge on Garcia. Studs showing. Above the ankle. Gruesome, and Garcia is being driven off the field. Best of luck to him.
GOAL! Brazil 1-0 Honduras (Roberto Firmino)
This is a brilliant goal. Luis, perhaps lucky to still be on the field, embarks a lung-busting run after latching on to Coutinho's through ball. The Chelsea left-back then prods the ball into the path of Firmino, who casually puts it between the legs of Valladares with his first touch to fire the hosts 1-0 ahead.
In our pre-match prediction we said 3-0, right? Early days, but I'm confident. One thing for absolutely sure is that there are more goals left in this one for Brazil. No doubt pals.
Cesar Azpilicueta must be a brilliant left-back to keep Chelsea teammate Filipe Luis out of the team. The 29-year-old, with the exception of that rash challenge, has been top drawer thus far and bagged a wonderful assist for Firmino's opener.
Speaking of that gruesome challenge, Garcia has since been replaced by Mario Martinez.
Looks like it's going to be 1-0 at the break, my friends. It's gone a little flat in recent minutes unfortunately and both sides just thinking about the half-time oranges now I suspect.
HALF TIME: Brazil 1-0 Honduras
That's all she wrote in this half then folks. Fairly straightforward for the Selecao it has to be said. They led 1-0 thanks to an excellent counter-attacking goal that was coolly finished off by Roberto Firmino, who grabbed his third in a yellow shirt.
Honduras looked decent in the first 10 minutes or so; pressing Brazil's midfield hard and allowing them very little time on the ball but they've been unable to sustain that intensity and it's been one-way traffic from, say, the 11th minute?
Filipe Luis, who set up the goal, is perhaps a touch lucky to stay on the field after inflicting a bone-crunching challenge on Boniek García, who left the field through injury. It earned the Chelsea man a yellow card but, had it been a competitive outing, he'd have been sent off. No question asked.
RESTART: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back underway in Porto Alegre, ladies and gents. Honduras, trailing 1-0 after Firmino's first-half opener, kick us off once more.
There's THREE Brazilian subs to tell you about. First, David Luiz makes way for Thiago Silva, with Douglas Costa replacing Philippe Coutinho in midfield. And last, but by no means least, Willian leaves for Neymar. Sure they'll build on their one-goal lead? Time will tell.
SHOT! This isn't far away at all as Andy Najar digs into his bag of tricks before earning a sight at goal from outside the box, but his fierce, low drive is drilled narrowly wide. Better from Honduras and that near miss will do the visitors the world of good.
CLOSE! Much better from Honduras again as Anthony Lozano - a name we haven't said much this morning - taps wide after capitalising on a goal-mouth scramble. He might've done better there in truth.
Andy Najar isn't a bad player at all. He's been so good tonight that he wouldn't look out of place in a yellow shirt and that's the best thing I can say about him at the minute. He's been a real livewire.
Oh lord. Mario Martinez is taken aside by the referee to re-tie his bootlaces. Taxi for you, my friend.
This one has gone a little flat in recent minutes ladies and gents. Brazil are doing what we said they'd do before kickoff - kill the game. It's only 1-0 but they're very comfortable.
SAVE! What a brilliant save this is from Valladares, who pulls off a strong wrist to push away Neymar's goal-bound effort. Brazil are going for it now. Big time.
Neymar's been excellent since coming on. He's won about 10 fouls and remains Brazil's only goal threat in this half.
We haven't mentioned Robinho yet but he's also on the bench - and it looks like he's going to come on soon. He's a rather enigmatic player, isn't he? Still, he's got bags of talent and Honduras defenders won't be happy to see him.
SUB: Yep, Firmino, who scored the only goal of the game with a fine finish, makes way for Robinho. The ex-Man City man goes to the wing, while Neymar plays through the middle. It can't finish 1-0 with this kinda team on the field, can it?
Robinho looks to roll back the year; nutmegging some poor bugger outside the box before his curling effort cannons off the face of Leveron, who probably saved a goal because Valladares looked in no mans land.
SAVE! Robinho has caused all sorts of problems so far. His deep corner is met by the boot of Miranda, whose shot looke certain to be heading for the net but Valladares, and not for the first time this morning, makes a fine save to preserve the one-goal deficit for Honduras.
It's all gone a little flat once again folks. I'd be hugely surprised if this doesn't end 1-0. Honduras need a kick up the you know what but Brazil are killing this game brilliantly. It's one-way traffic.
SHOT! Just as I say that, Neymar goes fairly close to a spectacular second after his free kick whistled narrowly wide of the mark. Did he sack his hairdresser and start doing his own hair? That's what we're reduced to talking about folks because there ain't much else.
Two minutes of normal time to go and it looks like it's going to finish 1-0. We said 3-0, which was still cautious given that Honduras were, hmm, 20/1 before kickoff. It could be about six or seven if not for Valladares, who's having a blinder between the sticks.
THREE MINUTES ADDED ON:
FULL TIME: Brazil 1-0 Honduras
Well that's all she wrote, my friends. Roberto Firmino scores the only goal of the game as Brazil beat Honduras 1-0 in their final warm-up clash before the Copa America. Wasn't a great match, but they got the job done in another professional manner. Anywho, that's all from us folks. Thanks for joining our live text coverage and we'll see you again. Until next time....
Written by
Shane Callaghan
Shane Callaghan
