Brazil has sacked head coach Dorival Jr. after a 4-1 loss to Argentina, their worst qualifying defeat. His tenure featured only seven wins in 16 matches, raising concerns from the CBF about the team’s performance. As Brazil struggles in World Cup qualifying, Jorge Jesus has emerged as a potential replacement in a challenging period for the national team.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced the dismissal of head coach Dorival Jr. following a significant 4-1 loss to Argentina in a World Cup qualifying match. This defeat marks Brazil’s heaviest loss in qualifying history and comes after a year of inconsistent performance and management changes. Appointed in January 2024, Dorival failed to establish a strong connection with the team, overseeing a lackluster record of seven wins in 16 games.
Dorival’s tenure followed his successful spell with Flamengo, where he won notable trophies including the Copa Libertadores. Despite this, the CBF expressed concerns about his progress after a disappointing Copa America run and chose to reassess the coaching situation ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in June. Ultimately, the decisive loss to Argentina led CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues to terminate Dorival’s contract.
Currently, the CBF is seeking a replacement, with reports indicating that Al Hilal’s Jorge Jesus is the favored candidate. The team has been struggling significantly since their quarter-final exit from the 2022 World Cup, resulting in a series of unprecedented failures, including five losses in 14 Qualifying games and setting several unfortunate records. Brazil currently finds itself fourth in the South American qualifying standings, facing potential failure to qualify for the World Cup.
The dismissal of Dorival Jr. underscores the Brazilian Football Confederation’s dissatisfaction with the national team’s recent performances, particularly following an embarrassing defeat to Argentina. With a mounting series of negative records and difficult qualifying matches ahead, the CBF is actively searching for a new coach to lead Brazil during a critical phase in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Original Source: www.channelnewsasia.com