The CBF’s invention of placing Diniz as a bridge coach before Carlo Ancelotti’s supposed landing is being a disaster
Diniz, who combines his position with that of Fluminense coach, has three defeats in a row and Brazil is sixth in the South American group for the 2026 World Cup
The Confederaçao Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) is doing calamitous sports management, which is having as a direct consequence the aimless drift in which the Seleçao is currently navigating. And the main victim of the misgovernment 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 head of the Seleçao has turned out to be a fiasco with historical consequences. They have thrown Diniz to the lions. They have made the figure of the Brazilian coach precarious and have emptied him of any content or significance, because everyone knows that all of his decisions are short-term and will end up on a deaf ears. Diniz is not creating anything that will set the stage for the future, he simply manages game by game going towards nothing.
The CBF has thrown 2023 in the trash with two temporary coaches: Ramon Menezes, who has now returned to his role as under-20 and Olympic coach, and Fernando Diniz. Everything has been left at the expense of July 1, 2024, when theoretically the goodbye of Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid has to be confirmed and he has to commit to Brazil until the end of the 2026 World Cup.
There are many doubts that this could end up happening. We must not forget that, this last summer, Carleto already left the Confederaçao behind (which he had leaked to the four winds that he would sign immediately) when he chose to fulfill the year of his remaining contract in Chamartín.
Many were confident that Fernando Dinizwho won the 2023 Copa Libertadores with ‘his’ Fluminense fifteen days ago, would be able to make his offensive philosophy take root in the Seleçao and, in the end, popular pressure would make him remain in office.
Neymar Jr., now with a long-term knee injury, argued for him to be confirmed as national team coach permanently. And figures of the stature of Romariois dedicated to political life and serves as Senator for the state of Rio de Janeiro, has also expressed his unconditional support for the coach.
The reality is that the Seleçao accumulates disappointments and failures. Diniz triumphs in the Flu and fails with Brazil. For the first time in the history of the ‘Canarinha’ they have added three consecutive defeats in the South American qualifying qualifiers for a World Cup. And one has been more painful than the other.
To start The Uruguay of Marcelo Bielsa (the ‘Loco’ has taken over the Celeste this year) gave him an unappealable 2-0 scoreline the day Neymar Jr. was broken. Already on this date, FIFA, Colombia, with a ‘double’ from Luis Díaz in three minutes, came back in the game to win 2-1.
This last morning, the second ‘Maracanazo’ arrived followed by Argentina, who had just won the 2021 Copa América in this same scenario. In a match marked by very serious incidents in the opening minutes between fans of both teams, the world champion won 0-1 thanks to a header from Otamendi at the exit of a corner.
The boos of the ‘torcida’ during the final minutes exposed the discomfort of Brazilian public opinion with the Seleçaowhich will close the year with more defeats (there are five) than victories (it has only added three).
The statistics are very negative. In 2023, Brazil has lost more times than in the previous four years: With Tite (who now directs Flamengo), between 2019 and 2022, they were only defeated four times in the 49 matches played.
Qualification for the 2026 World Cup is a drama for Brazilians. Six rounds have been played and ‘Canarinha’ is sixth with only 7 points… while Argentina leads with 15 and Uruguay with 13.