Brazil has fired head coach Dorival Junior after the shameful 4-1 defeat of the five-fold world champions by Argentina, according to reports from South America.
The defeat on Wednesday in Buenos Aires left Brazil fourth in the qualifying table of South America, a huge 10 points behind Argentina, and as reports predicted, he paid the price.
There is little chance that Brazil will not be eligible for the 2026 World Cup. There will be 48 teams in the final, which means that six South American countries will automatically qualify. Brazil are six points free from Venezuela in the seventh, with four more rounds.
But the results had been bad during Dorival's reign. The 62-year-old won only five of his 15 games that he took over since he took over in January 2024, including elimination by Uruguay from the quarter finals of Copa America last summer.
That tournament was won by Argentina and it is the gap between Brazil and their greatest rivals – and the subsequent spot – which Dorival puts under the most pressure.
On Wednesday, with Argentina 4-1 forward and little time left in the game, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez decided to juggle the ball in his own box.
When Brazil Raphinha made the mistake of talking big before the game, Argentina did not let him forget with players who sang about the 'death' of Brazil.
The problems of Brazil date from before Dorival, but apart from the 'mineiros' 7-1 that is beaten by Germany in the semi-final of the World Cup 2014 in Brazil's home floor not even beyond the quarterfinals since they last canceled the trophy.
This can help to explain why the Brazilian FA (CBF) likes to hire the Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, although the Italian, who never worked in international football, would be their first non-Brazilian coach.
The CBF recently aimed the 65-year-old in 2023 when his second spell at the Bernabeu seemed to take.
According to athletics, the federation has again had contact with the Italian to replace Dorival. The report also says that Madrid claimed not to be aware of contact between their manager and the CBF. Ancelotti's deal with Real Madrid, runs until 2026.
Reports have also claimed that Pep Guardiola has been added to a shortlist with three people to become the new Selecao boss.
Comments