Santiago, Oct 8 (IANS): Brazil coach Dunga has called on his players to take on a boxer's mentality as they prepare to begin their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Selecao will embark on the road to Russia against Jorge Sampaoli's Chile at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago on Thursday.

Dunga has won each of his seven matches against Chile during his two spells in charge of Brazil by an aggregate score of 24-3.

But he is aware that Thursday's fixture will be a different proposition against the Copa America champions.

During a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Brazil's 1994 World Cup-winning captain vowed the team would attack at every opportunity, Xinhua reported.

"Modern football has showed us that if you only defend, you aren't going to win," Dunga said. "With the quality of the forwards, shots from long distance, we have to attack like a boxer.

"If you just defend it's only a matter of time before the opposition lands a punch. Football is like that. We have to maintain a balance between defence and attack."

The Selecao will have five days to recover from Thursday's match before their next qualifier against Venezuela in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza.