The Confederaçao Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) practices catastrophic sports management. which has as a direct consequence the aimless drift in which the Seleçao currently finds itself. And the main victim of the misrule of the President of the Confederaçao, Ednaldo Rodriguesis your (interim) coach, Fernando Diniz.
The idea that the Fluminense coach would combine the position with that of interim Seleçao boss has proven to be a fiasco with historic consequences. They threw Diniz to the lions. They have made the figure of the Brazilian coach precarious, depriving him of all content and meaning, because everyone knows that all his decisions are short-term and will fall on deaf ears. Diniz doesn’t create anything that sets the course for the future, he just manages to head towards nothing, game after game.
The CBF has thrown the year 2023 into the trash with two temporary coaches: Ramon Menezes, who has now returned to his role as U20 and Olympic coach, and Fernando Diniz. Everything remains at the expense of July 1, 2024, when, in theory, Carlo Ancelotti’s departure from Real Madrid must be confirmed and he must commit to Brazil until the end of the 2026 World Cup.
There are many doubts that this could happen. We must not forget that Carleto had already left the Confederaçao behind him last summer (which he had told all the winds that he would sign immediately) when he decided to fulfill the year of his remaining contract in Chamartín.
Many were convinced of this Fernando Dinizwho won the 2023 Copa Libertadores fifteen days ago with “his” Fluminense, could impose his offensive philosophy in the Seleçao and in the end popular pressure would make him stay in office.
Neymar Jr., who is now suffering from a long-term knee injury, called for him to be confirmed as national coach on a permanent basis. And figures of the stature of Romariowho devotes himself to political life and serves as a senator for the state of Rio de Janeiro, has also expressed his unconditional support to the coach.
The reality is that the Seleçao is piling up disappointments and failures. Diniz triumphs with the flu and fails with Brazil. For the first time in the history of the “Canarinha” they suffered three consecutive defeats in the South American qualifiers for a World Cup. And one was more painful than the other.
To start the Uruguay Marcelo Bielsa (the “Loco” took over the Celeste this year) gave him an irrevocable 2-0 result on the day Neymar Jr. was broken. Already that day, FIFA had Colombia, with a “double” from Luis Díaz in three minutes, coming back into the game and winning 2-1.
On the last morning the second “Maracanazo” arrived, followed by Argentina, who in this scenario had just won the 2021 Copa América. In a game that was marked by very serious incidents between fans of both teams in the first few minutes, the world champion won 0-1 thanks to a header Otamendi at the exit of a corner.
The “Torcida” boos in the final minutes showed the Brazilian public’s discomfort with the Seleçaothat will end the year with more defeats (there are five) than victories (there are only three).
The statistics are very negative. In 2023, Brazil has lost more times than in the previous four years: With Tite (now in charge of Flamengo), they were only defeated four times in the 49 games played between 2019 and 2022.
Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is a drama for the Brazilians. Six rounds have been played and ‘Canarinha’ is in sixth place with just 7 points… while Argentina are at the top with 15 and Uruguay with 13.