Brazil’s coach Dorival Jr emphasized the importance of focusing on the basics and taking things one step at a time as his team advanced to the Copa America quarterfinals after a 1-1 draw with Colombia. Dorival, who only coached four games before the Copa America, led his team to the last eight as runners-up behind Colombia in Group D. Brazil could have had a more convincing group campaign if they were more clinical in front of goal. Dorival highlighted the importance of the process and stated that no team skips stages in their development.
Brazil’s performance in the Copa America has been a mixed bag so far. They drew 0-0 with Costa Rica in their opener and had a convincing 4-1 win against Paraguay but struggled in the match against Colombia. Dorival acknowledged that there will be fluctuations in their performance and results will show mistakes, successes, and flaws. The team is still in the process of formation, and the coach hopes that the team continues to grow in the basics as they progress in the tournament.
Looking ahead to the quarterfinal clash against Uruguay, Brazil will have to do without winger Vinicius Jr, who received his second yellow card in the group stage. Dorival mentioned that the team will have to learn to play without star players like Vinicius Jr and Neymar, who is out due to injury. He emphasized the importance of other players stepping up in these situations and expects a tough game against Uruguay. The coach stressed the need for a collective effort from the team.
Colombia, on the other hand, came into the match against Brazil on the back of a 25-game unbeaten run and were tipped as favorites. Despite failing to win, coach Nestor Lorenzo expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance. He acknowledged the challenge of facing a strong team like Brazil and praised his players for giving their all. Colombia is in a good moment as a team and is confident in their growth. While they did not secure a win, the coach was pleased with the team’s effort and performance.
The upcoming Copa America quarterfinal matches promise exciting encounters. Argentina will face Ecuador on Friday, followed by Venezuela against Canada on Saturday. The clash between Colombia and Panama will take place on Sunday, along with the highly anticipated match between Uruguay and Brazil. With the competition heating up, it will be interesting to see which teams will emerge victorious and secure a spot in the semifinals. Fans can expect thrilling performances from the participating nations as they battle it out for glory in the prestigious tournament.
