Danilo Admits Brazil is‌ “One Step Behind” World Powers

Brazilian⁣ Team Lacks Organization and Planning, Says Captain ⁤Danilo

Danilo on‌ the arrival of the Brazilian team in Asunción Credit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

Brazilian team captain Danilo ⁣admitted that the country is “one step⁢ behind” world powers in terms of organization and planning. He made the statement in Asunción, where Brazil ‍faces Paraguay‍ in the eighth⁢ round of the South American qualifiers.

With the victory over Ecuador, 1-0, in the last round, and the rise to fourth place in the qualifying games,⁣ the risk⁤ of not qualifying for the 2026 World⁢ Cup was no longer a question. Danilo must make the team’s assessment if it is to be considered equal to its European rivals.

Danilo admitted that the Brazilian team does not owe anyone in terms of labor and talent, but rather in​ terms of organization ​and planning.‍ However, he highlighted that in the ⁣two years remaining for the World Cup, everything can change and that the team will certainly be in a position to fight for⁣ the sixth cup.

“I have a very clear point of view on this (which shelf Brazil is on) and I separate it into two⁢ columns. Firstly, because of⁣ the quality ⁣of the players, human material, the team remains among the best in the‍ world,” Danilo said, satisfied ​with the good⁣ harvest of young ⁤people who have been painting and with the growth of many remnants.

“I have been in Europe for 14 years and I have the property to ​talk about. ⁤Our raw material is some of the best in the world. But there is one thing that has grown a lot in football: organisation, planning, seeing ourselves in the‌ future and we left that to the other two ‌cycles, although they were well done, we did not manage to⁣ do the best, even⁤ with great seriousness,” Danilo admitted.

“At ⁢the⁤ moment ‌we are ⁣a ⁤step​ behind because of this. We had a lot of instability, a lot of names, coaches, different strategies… It ⁢took us a while to think of a path, be it a complete renewal,⁢ of maintaining and keep the team,”⁢ Danilo said.

“Nothing, however, of despair. Now, with Dorival, ⁤we started to follow a path, we have a ⁣clear plan, ⁣well made, but before that it was ​left to be desired. Time ⁤was wasted after the ​World Cup and I told the president (the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues) for this),” Danilo said.

With just under two years to go, Danilo knows that adaptation will have to be quick and alert: “You have to give it time. ⁢Patience here is different ‍to outside the team. We should‌ think⁣ if there will be ​time. There are two years left, a year ⁣and a⁤ half, and we have ‍to make the ⁢most of time and dates, in the field and with videos to arrive as ready as possible to fight against major powers ‍the world.”