By Louis Smith.
Saturday evening marks a new era for the Brazilian National Team when they take on England at Wembley Stadium in what will be their first fixture in England since 2017 when the sides drew 0-0.
Brazil come into this battle in poor form, following a difficult start to their 2026 World Cup Qualifying campaign, which had been marked with the possibilities that Carlo Ancelotti would overtake interim boss Fernando Diniz, but that would prove not to be the case as the Italian signed a new contract at Real Madrid.
Diniz took charge of six matches, winning two, losing one and losing three times, which saw the Brazilian FA decide not to change his term from interim to permanent, instead, they have hired an experienced manager, Dorival Junior, whose managerial career started just a few months before Ronaldinho lobbed David Seaman at the 2002 World Cup.
After winning a few state titles, the Recopa Sudamericana and a Copa do Brasil from 2002 to 2012, Dorival went on a slight trophy doubt, then in 2019, he was diagnosed with prostate Cancer which was removed a month after diagnosis.
Then in 2020, his managerial career went in an upward spiral, first, he lifted the Campeonato Paranaense before, moving to Ceara who helped win six out of six matches in the Copa Sudamericana group stages, becoming the first side to do so. Then when Flamengo were seeking a manager after the sacking of Paulo Sousa, they called on Dorival to become their manager for a third time and boy did it pay off.
Flamengo first lifted the Copa do Brasil before, claiming South America’s greatest prize with a 1-0 victory over Athletico Paranaense in Guayaquil, despite this, Dorival’s contract was not extended at the end of the season, meaning his next destination would take him to Sao Paulo.
Whilst at São Paulo, he helped guide them to their first-ever Copa do Brasil title with a 2-1 victory over his former side Flamengo, before he was asked to take over the national team job in January of this year.
“It’s going to be the most exciting day of my life,” Dorival said ahead of his debut game and, despite it only being a friendly, there’s no time for error with the Copa America looming and Brazil need to up their performances from what they have shown in the last 12 months.
There are 11 potential debutants: Bento, Léo Jardim, Rafael, Fabrício Bruno, Lucas Beraldo, Murilo, Wendell, João Gomes, Pablo Maia, Galeno and Sávio. In what is a relatively inexperienced 26-man squad.
All eyes will be on the talented youngster Endrick who has begun 2024 on a positive note.
Here’s how Brazil are expected to line up in their clash with the Three Lions.
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