Dorival Júnior’s Brazil a team of unknowns

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Brazil is one of the greatest football nations on planet Earth and have a rich history of success in international tournaments. With five World Cups and nine Copa Americas to their name, Brazilian national teams of the past have entertained the masses, both collectively and with their individuals.

Expectations in the country are always high when it comes to football, with the final being the very minimum a Brazil team should achieve.

This Seleção is a lot different; it is a team in transition under their new coach Dorival Júnior, who only took charge of the squad in January. The 62-year-old has overseen only four friendlies with the South American country, winning two and drawing the others.

The former Sau Paulo boss is well-known in Brazil and he will take his team to the United States with the intent of returning with the Copa America trophy.

However, Dorival would prefer to be returning from America in two years with the World Cup, with this summer’s tournament being preparation for the biggest competition of them all.

Brazil are a team in transition and if they are to win the Copa America over the coming month, it may come down to their individuals, who are also not as talented as the many that came before them.

Previous Copa America finish Brazil hosted the 2021 version of the Copa America after the tournament was moved from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This change provided the Seleção with a dream opportunity to win a major competition on home soil, but things did not work out that way. Tite’s side were the favourites heading into the tournament but ended the competition as runners-up , losing 1-0 to archrivals Argentina in the final.

The Brazilians topped their group with three wins and a draw against Ecuador in the final game of this stage.

Tite’s men would overcome Chile in the quarter-finals and Peru in the semis with 1-0 wins, which guided them to the final at the famous Maracanã Stadium. An Angel Di Maria would help Argentina bring the trophy home, leaving Brazil heartbroken over the opportunity that slipped away.

Brazil were beaten finalists at Copa America 2021 Squad Brazil finalised their squad for the 2024 Copa America this week with Dorival having to cut it down to a group of 26 players.

Some big names are absent from the final panel, who are now in the midst of their preparations for their opening game of the tournament which takes place on June 24 against Costa Rica at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Goalkeepers Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Athletico Paranaense), Rafael (Sao Paulo).

Defenders Marquinhos (PSG), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Guilherme Arana (Athletico Mineiro), Bremer (Juventus), Yan Couto (Girona), Lucas Beraldo (PSG), Wendell (Porto).

Midfielders Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Joao Gomes (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ederson (Atalanta).

Forwards Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Endrick (Palmeiras), Pepe (Porto), Savio (Girona), Evanilson (Porto).

Notable absences: Manchester City’s Ederson was removed from the camp due to the eye injury he sustained against Tottenham last month with the goalkeeper joining fellow Premier League duo Richarlison and Casemiro, who were not even included in the original squad.

The biggest name in Brazilian football will also miss the 2024 Copa America with Neymar continuing to recover from the knee injury that kept him out for the entire season.