[BRAZIL] Following the Brazilian soccer federation's decision to fire Dunga and his staff, speculation has turned to whom it will name as his successor. With the Brazil-hosted 2014 World Cup on the horizon, the CBF has an important decision on its hands. Here's what might happen ...

The CBF is expected to name a new coach before the end of the month. Brazil will face the USA at the New Meadowlands Stadium on Aug. 11.

Here are the five coaches the CBF is believed to be considering:

-- Luiz Felipe Scolari, recently named coach of Palmeiras. He led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title and coached Portugal for six years. Felipao says he'd love to finish his career coaching Brazil at home in 2014 but says he's not available until 2012.

-- Leonardo, most recently coach of AC Milan. He is best known to American fans for the elbow that fractured the skull of U.S. midfield star Tab Ramos and led to his suspension for the last three games of Brazil's 1994 World Cup championship run. He later returned to play for Brazil on its 1998 runner-up team.

-- Ricardo Gomes, coach of Sao Paulo. He has coached eight clubs in Brazil and three in France, where he was Freddy Adu's coach at Monaco. He also coached Brazil's under-23 team, which failed to qualify for the 2004 Olympics.

-- Muricy Ramalho, coach of Fluminense. He led Sao Paulo to Brazilian league titles in 2007 and 2008 but was fired during the 2009 Paulista state championship. He's another well-traveled coach, having worked with 11 Brazilian clubs in the last 17 years in addition to clubs in Mexico and China.

-- Mano Menezes, coach of Corinthians. Won Serie B (second division) titles with Gremio and Corinthians.

One scenario: Mano Menezes takes the job until 2012 when he's replaced by Scolari. That allows Scolari to fulfill his contractual obligations at Palmeiras and stay out of the firing line for two years. Anything less than a Brazilian title at the 2011 Copa America -- to be played in Argentina -- or gold medal at the 2012 Olympics -- Brazil has never won a gold medal in men's soccer -- would probably cost Scolari his job.