Brazil coach notes team's progress despite qualifying struggles

Brazil's coach Dorival Jr is optimistic about his team's progress, even though they are currently in fifth place before important World Cup qualifiers. Brazil has faced pressure after winning only two of their last five matches. They drew 1-1 in their last games against Venezuela and Uruguay. Dorival acknowledges the team's recent struggles but believes they can return to form. Brazil will play against Colombia in Brasilia on Thursday. He emphasized the need to improve their defense and attack to achieve consistency. The team has been underperforming since their knockout in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup. After a year with interim coaches, Dorival took over in early 2024 but has won only six of 14 games. Brazil finished their Copa América campaign in the quarterfinals after losing to Uruguay. Currently, Brazil is fifth in the South American qualifiers, just ahead of Paraguay but behind Colombia and Ecuador. Only the top six teams will qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Brazil faces a challenge with several key players at risk of suspension due to yellow cards. Neymar, who was expected to return from injury, will miss the match due to a muscle issue. Dorival praised forward Joao Pedro, noting his versatility and potential contribution to the team. He remains hopeful for Neymar’s swift recovery as the team looks to strengthen ahead of their upcoming matches.