The question remains as to whether the phlegmatic coach has enough time and the right players to complete the job of turning Brazil from a rough, counter-attacking outfit into a team capable of winning the 2014 World Cup in the style expected of them.
Menezes took over the five-times world champions following the 2010 World Cup, just as they realised that they had been going down the wrong path for two decades.
Spain's 2010 World Cup win coincided with arguably the most joyless team Brazil have ever fielded, and, despite all the talk of efficiency from coach Dunga, they went out in the quarter-finals.
Menezes, who led Gremio and Corinthians, two of Brazil's biggest clubs, out of the second division during his club career, was given the job of knocking everything down and starting again.
There have been plenty of setbacks, notably defeats against Argentina, France and Germany, combined with a quarter-final exit against Paraguay in last year's Copa America, and Brazil have slumped to a modest seventh in the FIFA world rankings.
Yet, against Bosnia on Tuesday, it was clear that Menezes is making progress in restoring Brazil's old identity. They dominated possession, took their game to feisty, defensive opponents and never resorted to tactical fouls in midfield.
"I always tell the players that it is not always possible to produce a pass which puts somebody in front of goal, and it's not necessary," he said.
"In fact, it's very difficult to do this. But if it's not possible, then it's absolutely fundamental that we don't lose the ball.
"Everybody praises Barcelona and their great merit is that, when it is not pos
