Author: Monojit Mandal
On the eve of his first call-up as coach of the Brazilian national team, Fernando Diniz is faced with a dilemma involving two crucial positions. The long-awaited call-up is scheduled for this Friday, September 18, with upcoming matches against Bolivia on September 8 and Peru on September 12, both vital for South American qualifying.
According to reliable information from UOL, Diniz is now considering possibilities for the right-back and striker positions, which have created recurring problems in previous years. A good example is the World Cup in Qatar, when coach Tite deployed Danilo and Daniel Alves in these roles. Unfortunately, Danilo was injured throughout the competition and Daniel Alves struggled to gain the coach’s full confidence, which resulted in Milito being drafted in.
Caio Henrique, from Monaco, is one of the main candidates for the right-back position and his presence is highly anticipated. Vanderson and Samuel Xavier, both from Monaco, are vying for the same position. However, Tottenham’s Emerson Royal doesn’t seem to have impressed in his previous opportunities, which will probably leave him out of the next squad.
Meanwhile, the position of striker in Brazilian soccer remains an unknown, with no player capable of making a name for himself. Diniz had originally hoped to use Gabriel Jesus or Tiquinho Soares in this role. However, both are out of the game due to injuries, making it impossible for them to take part in the next FIFA match. As a result, Richarlison will surely reclaim ninth place.
Fernando Diniz’s career as a coach began with Oeste in Brazil’s Serie B. His time in charge paid off in 2017, when Oeste were promoted to Serie A. He then took charge of São Paulo, leading the team to victory in the 2018 Campeonato Paulista. In 2019, Santos called him up, resulting in a remarkable run to the 2019 Copa do Brasil finals, where he was beaten by Athletico Paranaense. His contract with Santos expired in 2020.
Diniz’s career took him to Fluminense in 2021, where he led the team to the final of the Copa do Brasil, narrowly missing out on victory against Atlético Mineiro. He is now Fluminense’s coach.