They both suffered a lot.
They were on the verge of depression.
They failed in the position they dreamed of most during their careers.
It was a difficult, terrible start again.
But finally Fernando Diniz and Dorival Júnior regained the right to smile.
Both achieved what almost no one in the football world believed.
They dispatched the favorites and structured Cruzeiro and Fluminense from the semi-final of the Copa do Brasil.
Clubs that, by the way, were fired, in painful, unforgettable ways. Dorival in 2007, after qualifying the Minas Gerais team for the Libertadores.
And Diniz, in June 2024, after taking the Libertadores cup to Laranjeiras for the first time.
Corinthians and Vasco make the most unlikely decision in 2025.
Overcoming, dedication, hard work, with more limited squads and a much smaller number of tactical options.
Foreigners Leonardo Jardim and Luiz Zubeldía were surpassed by two Brazilian coaches.
Fernando was born in Patos de Minas and Dorival, Araraquara.
More ‘roots’ impossible.
If Hugo and Léo Jardim are on the covers of portals and in the hearts of fans, defending decisive penalties, which eliminated Cruzeiro and Fluminense, it was the work of the last two Brazilians to command this country’s national team that guaranteed the decision of the Copa do Brasil to two giant clubs, tormented by debt, fighting against transfer bans every month.
Without human potential to compete in the Brazilian Championship, with its 38 matches, they focused on the shortest path to redemption.
The Copa do Brasil, with its battles that required more blood, fight, dedication and strategy.
With the unbelievable support of two passionate fans, who transformed Itaquera, São Januário and Maracanã, bunkers for the wild, capable of making every Corinthians and Vasco fan leave their soul on the pitch, blindly following what was determined by Diniz and Dorival.
It was a delivery for those who needed it, and didn’t know if they would receive their salary at the end of the month. From anyone who has ever felt a lack of money.
“In the Brazilian Championship, the results were not what we would have liked, I recognize, but the path showed that something could happen and we are looking for it in the Copa do Brasil.
“There are two final games.
“My fifth decision in my career, thank God my sixth semi-final, let’s make sure everything happens as it deserves, to everyone who believed in the work of the entire team here”, said the Corinthians coach.
He tried to revive his self-esteem, which had been so crushed, when he left the Brazilian team. Dorival knew he was being pressured to make Corinthians react.
And that he could even lose his job if his team didn’t react. It was like this last Wednesday, when, in Belo Horizonte, at Mineirão, Cruzeiro by Portuguese Leonardo Jardim doubled.
In Itaquera, Cruzeiro launched the attack, to reverse the 1-0 defeat. And with Arroyo he scored two goals. 2-0 would guarantee a place in the decision.
But Dorival had undergone surgery. He added Garro and Raniele and changed the course of the match.
Matheus Bidu scored after an impressive blitz from Corinthians. Pushed by the cheers of the fans, Corinthians almost tied the match. Cássio and the post saved Cruzeiro.
“Cruzeiro had, from a certain moment on, both midfielders playing a lot. We were trying to make a correction to seek greater compaction and it wasn’t happening. We changed our stance, we changed our understanding.
“The players believed, we conceded the goal early on, it was a sin. Then, we played an almost flawless second half. We deserved a little better luck in relation to the volume and opportunities we created”, summed up, proudly, Dorival.
He’s absolutely right.
Corinthians deserved to win the place in the 90 minutes.
But the first decision of the Copa do Brasil semi-final came on penalties.
Cássio saved Yuri Alberto’s charge, in a bad phase.
And it brought all the drama.
The decision was tied at 4-4.
All it would take was for Gabigol to score his goal and the team from Minas Gerais was in the final.
But showing, once again, what a mistake his media hiring was, the reserve put on a lot of pose and made Hugo’s defense easier.
Wallace, visibly tense in the face of responsibility, hit very poorly and Hugo ‘grew up’ under the goalposts and saved.
Finally, the duel was between Bidon, 20 years old, against his idol, Cássio, 38 years old. The charge was perfect.
Corinthians 5 a 4.
Club classified for the decision.
The enriched Cruzeiro eliminated, without winning any title in 2025. And with reformulation in sight.
Gabigol is the first name not to follow in Toca da Raposa.
But there was the Maracanã classic.
Vasco had won the first game 2-1.
Fluminense de Zubeldía would fight for a turnaround.
And he went on the attack.
The Argentine coach knew that his team, worn out by too many games during the year, only had enough stamina for a while. And they sought to win the classic, and define the classification, in the first 45 minutes.
And they managed to score 1-0, after a lot of pressure, Paulo Henrique scored against, in the 35th minute.
Diniz had assembled his team to counterattack. And he was also betting on his rival’s fatigue in the second stage.
And Vasco created several chances to end the game.
He didn’t make it.
The second penalty shootout in the Copa do Brasil came.
And then, Léo Jardim shined.
If Vegetti despaired the Vasco team, wasting his shot in the middle of the goal, facilitating the defense of the spectacular Fábio, Jardim was sensational.
Defended the charges of John Kennedy and Cannobio.
Vasco 4 to 3 at Fluminense.
The goalkeeper, who had already been the character of the classification in the quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil, when he saved Alex Tellex’s shot, and eliminated the favorite Botafogo, gave great joy to the Cruzmaltino club, which had another terrible year.
And he had to resort to a loan of R$80 million from the president of Palmeiras, Leila Pereira, so that the club would not get stuck, with lack of payments to players and their employees.
But the one who caught the attention was Fernando Diniz.
He was excited to take Vasco to the final. He doesn’t forget how he suffered when he was fired from the national team.
And he was very excited about the classification.
“It was a moment of deep ecstasy, of joy, seeing the fans celebrate something that they very much deserve. We took another step towards a dream of every Vasco fan.
“Vasco knew how to improve in difficult moments. I think we also imitated the fans in this sense. The more we are tested, the more we fall in love, the more we show dedication and declare ourselves more and more in love with Vasco.
“The team, when it came down, faltered, we recognized our mistakes, and came together and closed as a team. In this way, we arrived very strong to play these games against Fluminense.”
The first match will be in Itaquera, on Wednesday.
And the decision, at Maracanã, Sunday.
Regardless of the champion, there are two winners in this final.
Dorival Júnior and Fernando Diniz.
Reborn for achievements.
After his traumatic stints with the Brazilian national team…
The texts published here do not reflect necessarily the opinion of the Record Group.
