Luiz Gustavo may not be the first player that comes to your mind when you think of Brazil. However, he is one of the favourites of Scolari who values Gustavo very highly. While he is one of the few players in the squad who don't possess the ‘Samba flair', his tactical awareness and disciplined positioning make up for more than that.
After spending two years at Bayern Munich, he moved to Wolfsburg after the Confederations Cup. Unlike Bayern, where his contributions went unrecognized, he is a highly valued player at Wolfsburg which can be taken from the fact that he has featured in 29 games this season and scored 4 goals.
He uses his tall frame to his advantage in aerial duels with the opposition. He is very good at spotting and perceiving the movement of his teammates, something which prompted Scolari to give him the nod ahead of other defensive midfielders. His partnership with Paulinho has been very good as both men have quickly struck up a good understanding.
Considering both of them are defensive midfielders predominantly, their movement has been unrestricted. Should one of them progress further up the pitch, the other can hold his line to protect the defense. Scolari has been intent on playing two defensive midfielders ever since he took charge. Seeing as that system delivered results last year and has continued to do so in the friendlies, it is unlikely that he would change it.
And seeing as that's the case, Luis Gustavo is a vital player who would have to step up and make sure he holds his line for the back four to remain secure.
