Brazil embarks on its 2024 Copa America journey with a new look, almost completely revamped from top to bottom. This new era is spearheaded by Real Madrid’s rising star, Vinicius Jr., leading a group hungry for redemption. The team’s journey to this point has been one of significant challenges. Following a heartbreaking shootout defeat to Croatia in the World Cup quarterfinals at Qatar 2022, Brazil endured a tumultuous period with two caretaker managers. Their hopes of securing Carlo Ancelotti as manager were dashed when the Italian extended his contract with Real Madrid. This led to the appointment of Dorival Jr., a coach renowned for his ability to transform struggling teams. Dorival’s success is evident in his previous roles, where he guided Flamengo to Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brazil titles, and later led Sao Paulo to a Brazilian Cup victory.
However, Dorival inherited a national team facing a crisis of confidence. Brazil’s struggles went beyond the World Cup exit, as they suffered three consecutive defeats in World Cup qualifiers for the first time in history. This included a historic loss to Uruguay after 22 years and the end of their 58-match unbeaten home streak in the qualifiers, resulting in their worst campaign ever with seven points from a possible 18. Adding to their woes, talisman Neymar’s season-ending injury further compounded their difficulties.
Dorival Jr.’s mission was clear: to restore confidence and pride in a young and revamped squad. Vinicius Jr. stepped up, shouldering the responsibility of becoming Brazil’s key player. With a focused two-month preparation period, Dorival instilled a sense of grit and determination in his team, leading to victories against England at Wembley and a hard-fought draw against Spain at the Bernabeu. These matches showcased the talent of teenage sensation Endrick, who became the youngest player to score at Wembley at 17 years old and also secured an equalizer against Spain, further solidifying his status as a future Real Madrid star.
The Copa America represents a significant opportunity for Dorival to build a cohesive unit and unleash the potential of his players. The tournament will be the first time he’s had the luxury of extensive training with the squad. After a three-week camp in Florida, Brazil will face Costa Rica in their opening match, followed by encounters against Paraguay and Colombia in Group D. While Argentina and Lionel Messi, now playing in the MLS, will be the center of attention, Brazil enters the Copa America with a different perspective, unburdened by excessive expectations. This is a familiar territory for Dorival, who has consistently proven his ability to guide teams to success under pressure. The Copa America provides him with a platform to demonstrate his coaching prowess and guide this new generation of Brazilian talent to a historic victory.
