ORLANDO – The commanding 7-1 victory over Haiti in Orlando on Wednesday night has given Brazil a breath of fresh air.
After a lackluster draw against Ecuador in their opening match of Copa America Centenario, and after questions from the Brazilian media if manager Dunga was the right man for job, Brazil sit comfortably atop Group B with a +6 goal differential going into their showdown against Peru on Sunday, June 12, in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
"The team greatly evolved from their last match," Dunga said after the game. "Every time Brazil plays in a tournament of this magnitude, they are expected to win. This time, it's not any different."
For Brazil, a good showing in the 2016 edition of the Copa America is something the nation desperately needs, especially after the embarrassing 7-1 defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup on home soil and the quarterfinal exit in last year's Copa America at the hands of Paraguay.
"This is a difficult tournament, very leveled," Dunga said. "There have been some games that are stronger than others, but there is a lot of competitiveness between the teams."
After their 7-1 loss to Brazil on Wednesday night, Haiti head coach Patrice Neveu had – predictably – nothing but praise for Brazil.
"They are one of the best in the world for a reason," Neveu said. They are definitely contenders in this tournament. Did you see their firepower?"
Despite the promising offensive night, Dunga feels most of the other contenders in the tournament have had more continuity than his own squad, which tried to start anew after the embarrassing semifinal loss to Germany in 2014 and is also building toward the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"We started working on this project in the last two years, unlike some of these other teams that have been together since before the 2014 World Cup," Dunga said.
Even Brazilian players do not consider themselves favorites for this year's title in the same way they have been in the past.
"Everyone has a chance in Copa America," defender Marquinhos said. "Soccer is a box of mysteries, and whoever makes the least amount of mistakes will win. I see that the strongest teams so far are Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Mexico. Others could also be champions, though; the competition right now is very leveled."
