ORLANDO — At least the Brazilian smile is back.
Nearly two years after their humiliating 7-1 World Cup semifinal loss to Germany, the five-time world champions have their eye on two prizes this summer amid signs that their decline may not be terminal after all.
A 7-1 win over Haiti in Copa America Centenario on Wednesday means the Selecao likely needs only to draw vs. Peru on Sunday to advance to the tournament quarterfinals. Few definitive conclusions can be drawn from the rout of Haiti — it was enjoyable entertainment and little more — but the scoreline raised inevitable questions about a journey from a seven-goal hammering to a seven-goal triumph.