Brazil ends year in poor shape under interim coach

Until this year Brazils national soccer team had never lost three games in a row The Selecao had never lost a World Cup qualifying match at home It had never had anything but wins against a visiting Venezuela team for many years the weakest in South AmericaInterim coach Fernando Diniz however has had to endure all those setbacks in only a few months on the job all while Brazil hopes that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will soon take overAlso ReadBatsmen to reach fastest to 10 ODI centuriesDinizs troubles and the lack of a confirmed answer from Ancelotti have increased the pressure on the Brazilian team even though qualifying for the expanded 2026 World Cup is still expected despite a 10 loss to Argentina on TuesdayThe top six teams in the South American qualifying group will gain direct entry to the 48team tournament in the United States Mexico and Canada The seventhplace team can earn a berth in an intercontinental playoffBrazil the only team never to miss a World Cup has won only three of nine matches in 2023 the national teams poorest record in years The fivetime World Cup champions are in sixth place in the 10team South American qualifying group with seven points after six matches eight behind leader Argentina Performances have been equally disappointingAlso ReadInd Vs Aus 1st T20 Players to watch out for from todays clashMany soccer analysts in Brazil say the team has struggled this year because Diniz has had little time to implement his tactics Injuries and dwindling performances have also contributed to the teams poor formThe 49yearold Diniz who took over in July has split his time with the national team and Brazilian club Fluminense That alone has drawn the ire of some of his clubs fans and those of the national team His attacking style of play is admired by many even more so after his teams Copa Libertadores title this yearThe interim coach is not a fan of positional play unlike predecessor Tite who left after six years following last years World Cup elimination against Croatia Diniz doesnt believe in spreading his players on the field Instead he concentrates them wherever the ball is so he can outnumber the opposition where it mattersThe problem for Brazil is that formula takes time to succeed as it did with Fluminense If opposing teams move the ball fast enough they will find an unmarked man at some point something that has happened to Brazil in several World Cup qualifying matchesFew Brazil players coming from European leagues have understood what the coach wants from themiquestWe have a different style It is different from what we had with Titeiquest Brazil defender Emerson Royal said WednesdayiquestIt is not easy to play like that Few teams in the world can do that What Diniz is trying to do with Brazil is a very hard thing to doRoyal one of the players who got the most jeers at the Maracana Stadium on Tuesday before the loss to Argentina is another part of the teams problems this year The right back is among the players struggling to do well for both his club and the national team but still starting matches for Brazil because of a lack of options and injuriesThat is also the case for defenders Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhatildees left back Renan Lodi midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and striker Raphinha To make it worse Brazil has lost some of its best to injury including starters like Neymar Casemiro and Vinicius JuacuteniorIf I were there I think I would have made some mess with them Neymar said on social media about the match against ArgentinaThe next South American qualifying matches will take place in September after the Copa America in the United States That long gap will allow the team to recover some of its players and give more room to promising strikers like center forward Vitor Roque currently injured and signed by Barcelona and teenage sensation Endrick who will join Real Madrid next yearCritics will have to wait until the first friendlies of 2024 to see if any lessons have been learned Brazil will play in Europe against England and Spain in preparation for Copa AmericaUntil then Brazils coach will have to deal with upset fansOur fans chanting Ole for Argentina when they passed the ball was a little too much Diniz said after Brazils lossGetting bitter about the team because it is not winning is extremely understandable We need to live with the jeers and the pressure