Brazil x England: Dorival debuts in the national team – 03/22/2024 – Sport

Coach Dorival Júnior debuts in charge of the Brazilian team this Saturday (23), in a friendly match against Gareth Southgate’s England.

The clash pits an English team with long-term work, which began eight years ago, against a Brazil that is still looking to find its footing after the 2022 World Cup.

The Brazilians arrive at Wembley with a negative post-World Cup record. They were defeated by Argentina (1-0), Colombia (2-1), Uruguay (2-0), Senegal (4-2) and Morocco (2-1).

The team only managed victories against Guinea (4-1), Bolivia (5-1) and Peru (1-0), as well as a 1-1 draw against Venezuela, at Arena Pantanal, in Cuiabá (MT).

Dorival took charge after the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) left the Brazilian team without an effective coach for more than a year.

Fernando Diniz remained in the role on a provisional basis while CBF directors negotiated the hiring of Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti.

With announcements and retreats from the Brazilian top hats – and even a temporary removal of the entity’s president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, from his position due to a court decision –, the Italian coach ended up renewing his contract with the Merengue club. Dorival emerged as a plan B after good recent work for Flamengo and São Paulo.

England won eight of the ten games after the 2022 World Cup – results that qualified the English for this year’s European Championship.

On the edge of the field, Gareth Southgate has eight years of experience leading the England team. Even without successful campaigns in the two World Cups he played as coach, the former defender maintains the confidence of the directors to pursue long-term work.

The last clash between the two teams ended in a goalless draw, in November 2017, at the same Wembley where the Brazilians and English will return this Saturday.

The starting lineups have changed a lot since then — in the case of Brazil, largely due to injuries. Only midfielder Casemiro from the starting 11 of 2017 was called up by Dorival for the match, but ended up being cut after being injured.

“We have just received a report from Dr. Rodrigo Lasmar. From a preliminary list made by the technical committee of the Brazilian team with 50 names, 13 of them were already away due to injury at their clubs. Unfortunately, we also lost Casemiro. Therefore, Pepê , from Porto, a native striker who now plays as a midfielder, is called up”, said Dorival last Saturday (16).

Southgate keeps five of the 11 starters in the current squad: Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Joe Gomez and Kyle Walker.

The friendly match between Brazil and England brings new protagonists to the scene and puts players who have created rivalries in Europe’s main tournaments face to face.

Vinicius Júnior is the main active Brazilian player. It will be the first time he faces Jude Bellingham since they both formed one of the most lethal duos in European football at Real Madrid.

“When he [Vinicius Júnior] He plays like that and with that attitude, he’s the best in the world, in my opinion […]. Bellingham is second, then comes Rodrygo, Valverde, Camavinga”, said Ancelotti, in February, after Real Madrid beat Girona 4-0, with three goals from the duo Vini and Bellingham.

If with Bellingham Vinicius has improved his performance, against right-back Kyle Walker the Brazilian left winger has found it difficult in recent Champions League clashes.

Brazil still needs to deal with setbacks in the defensive line. Full-backs with little experience wearing the Brazilian shirt were called up, such as Ayrton Lucas, Wendell and Yan Couto.

In defense there are three newcomers: Beraldo, Fabrício Bruno and Murilo. Only Bremer, from Juventus, has played for the senior team.

Goalkeepers Bento (Athetico-PR), Léo Jardim (Vasco) and Rafael (São Paulo) also do not usually appear in Brazil’s squads. They appear as an alternative to the absences of Ederson (Manchester City) and Alisson (Liverpool), injured.

The depleted defense will try to contain the English attack, which has players in good form, such as Phil Foden (Manchester City), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) and Harry Kane (Bayern Munich).

Brazil faces England on Saturday, at 4pm (Brasília time), in a friendly at Wembley Stadium, in London. After the match, the team travels to Madrid to face Spain, on Tuesday (26), at the Santiago Bernabéu.