No previous Brazil coach can realistically claim that during his tenure a goalkeeper was his star performer. It is arguable, though, that Dunga can, for Julio Cesar has been simply brilliant since his appointment in August 2006.

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1979, he represented local giants Flamengo for seven years starting in 1997, helping them win four Campeonato Carioca titles. During this period, he gained a reputation as an expert penalty kick specialist - one he has maintained throughout his career.

Julio Cesar joined Inter Milan in 2005 and after a period on loan at Chievo, where he did not receive any first-team action, he returned to the San Siro. From there he managed to usurp the highly-rated Francesco Toldo as the club's first-choice goalkeeper, and the Brazilian has not looked back since.

He has been an indispensable figure in Inter's monopolizing of Italian football, pocketing a string of domestic honours along the way.

Julio Cesar made his Brazil debut in 2004 and, that same year, made a significant contribution to their Copa America triumph, saving a crucial penalty in the shootout against Argentina in the final. He was his nation's third-choice goalkeeper at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, although he was confined to the bench throughout the finals.

Since Dunga's appointment, however, Julio Cesar has firmly established himself between the Brazilian sticks. Alert, commanding and an excellent shot-stopper, the Carioca missed the Copa America 2007 but thrived in Brazil’s flawless FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 campaign as well as South Africa 2010 qualifying. The keeper further cemented his status as one of the Seleção’s major assets throughout the qualifying stages, conceding a remarkably low .61 goals per match.