Brazil's coach Dorival Jr acknowledged that the team still has significant room for growth and improvement after their Copa America quarterfinal elimination by Uruguay on Saturday. Despite Uruguay being down to 10 men in the second half, they managed to hold off Brazil during regular time and won 4-2 in a penalty shootout to proceed to the semifinals against Colombia. Brazil's performance in the tournament was lackluster, with two draws in the group stage and only a victory over Paraguay before their consecutive quarterfinal exit after the 2022 World Cup.
Dorival, who has been at the helm for only eight matches, emphasized the ongoing renovation of the team and took full responsibility for the exit. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but stressed the need for continued growth and improvement, with the primary goal being World Cup qualification. Currently sixth in the CONMEBOL standings, Dorival expressed dissatisfaction with their position.
He also commended Bielsa's Uruguay, noting their well-defined pattern and long-term teamwork, which Brazil aspires to emulate. Dorival is confident that Brazil will achieve similar success but acknowledges the need for time to implement necessary corrections. The team faced initial issues in the tournament but made significant corrections, though the short timeframe for preparation made it challenging.
In other matches, James Rodriguez led Colombia to a 5-0 victory over Panama, scoring one goal and assisting two more, setting up a semifinal against Uruguay. Rodriguez, named player of the match, expressed optimism about reaching the final. The semifinals will feature Argentina versus Canada and Uruguay against Colombia, both scheduled for early morning kickoffs.
