Dorival Júnior accepts Brazil's defeat: 'After conceding the goal, we lost our way'

After Brazil’s 1-0 defeat to Paraguay in Asunción in the early hours of Wednesday, head coach Dorival Júnior found himself under increasing pressure as the team suffered their fourth defeat in eight matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The loss saw Brazil slip further down the qualification standings, raising concerns about their form and ability to secure a comfortable path to the tournament.

Dorival Júnior, who had expressed confidence earlier in the week about Brazil's chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup final, appeared resigned after the match. In his post-match press conference, he candidly admitted that Brazil’s performance did not warrant a victory. "We didn’t deserve to win," he said, reflecting on a match that was marked by Brazil's disorganization after conceding an early goal. Diego Gómez scored the decisive goal for Paraguay in the 20th minute, and from that point on, Brazil seemed to unravel. Dorival admitted that the team struggled to find their rhythm and described the first half as the worst he had seen since taking over as head coach.

“I think the expectation was very positive for us to have a more consistent game and to play calmly,” Dorival said. In the opening stages of the match, Brazil appeared to be on course for a competitive performance. Dorival explained that the team was attempting to control possession and push Paraguay back into their own half through well-timed passes and movement. However, the momentum shifted dramatically after Paraguay’s goal. "From the moment we conceded the goal, we lost our way," Dorival noted. The team struggled to regroup, and what had been a promising beginning fell apart quickly. “Everything we had been building until the end of the first half, we let go of,” he said, acknowledging that the collapse was comprehensive. "It was the worst half since I’ve been here, and it contributed to the final result."

Despite the setback, Dorival was quick to defend his players, particularly Vinícius Júnior, who was under heavy scrutiny for his performance. The coach took responsibility for the team’s poor showing in the first half and highlighted the need for improvement in several areas. "It’s not that the players were out of form or that it was due to the situation," Dorival explained. "It’s a natural instability that can happen in a match." He acknowledged the team’s struggle to execute their game plan and recognized that there are specific details they need to refine to be more effective. “We’re missing things like penetrating runs and more decisive moments to be incisive and direct,” he said, pointing to key aspects of the game where Brazil fell short.

Dorival emphasized that the lackluster performance wasn’t just limited to Vinícius Júnior. "You could feel it, not only with Vini but across the team," he admitted. The coach underscored his accountability in this regard, stating, "I am responsible for that first half. I don’t want to penalize any individual player, but we have to work harder to reach the level we want." For Dorival, it’s not simply about fixing a few mistakes, but rather understanding the broader challenge of elevating the team to meet the expectations of the Brazilian fans and football community. "It’s not simple, it’s not easy, but it’s a process, and we have to put in the work to get on the right path," he concluded.

The defeat has left Brazil in fifth place in the South American World Cup qualifying table, with ten points from eight matches. Ahead of them are Ecuador (11 points), Uruguay (15 points), Colombia (16 points), and Argentina (18 points), with Venezuela (10 points), Paraguay (9 points), Bolivia (9 points), Chile (5 points), and Peru (3 points) trailing behind. The top six teams from this qualifying campaign will secure direct spots for the 2026 World Cup, with a potential seventh team advancing through a playoff.

This loss puts further pressure on Brazil to secure victories in their upcoming matches, as their current position in the standings is far from the dominance traditionally expected from the five-time World Cup champions. Dorival Júnior’s task now is not only to ensure that Brazil qualifies for the World Cup but also to restore confidence in the team’s ability to compete at the highest level. With critical matches ahead, the team will need to refocus and find the consistency and drive that have historically been hallmarks of Brazilian football.