Winning the Confeds cup was probably the worst thing that could have happenes to Brazil. Fooled Scolari into thinking that a strikeforce of Fred and Jo was capable of leading the line in their own tournament - probably would have pushed harder for Diego Costa too and could have had Lucas Moura and Coutinho (maybe) in the squad, as well as Firminho who'd had a decent season in Germany.
Also think Alves and Marcelo's reputations preceded them at the world cup.