It’s a good thing Dorival Junior has a reputation as a firefighter when it comes to management, because he faced a real fire when he took over in January. He became the team’s third coach since the 2022 World Cup, just over a year ago, and the third who wasn’t Carlo Ancelotti, the man the Brazilian federation had been waiting for to lead the team at this Copa America and beyond.
On the pitch, the performances were poor and the results even worse: Brazil lost three of their first six World Cup qualifying matches, leaving them sixth in the ten-team South American group, behind Venezuela and Ecuador, who started the campaign with minus three points. Dorival inherited a team lacking confidence and direction, moving forward in the dark.
It would be an exaggeration to say that everything is now roses and wine, but the outlook has certainly changed since that difficult period.
The 62-year-old, friendly and paternalistic, has been a breath of fresh air, unifying the team and restoring an intangible sense of calm around the squad. He is well-liked by journalists, many of whom have come to know him well during his two decades in Brazilian football.
Tactically, he is more flexible than didactic. “I never come with a preconceived system,” Dorival explained at his first press conference. “I prefer to evaluate what I have and then decide on the tactics.”
