Image Courtesy: Instagram/neymarjr
On Sunday with a 3-0 triumph over Venezuela, Brazil began a Copa America competition that has been criticised by several members of its team.
Marquinhos, Neymar, and Gabriel Barbosa scored at Brasilia’s Mané Garrincha stadium, just a day after numerous Venezuelan players tested positive for COVID-19.
CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American soccer, selected Brazil as the host country less than two weeks ago, despite the country’s worrying COVID-19 figures, after Argentina and Colombia were ousted as co-hosts.
Despite his objections to the tournament being held in his native country, Casemiro, Brazil’s captain, stated that the defending champions planned to keep their title.
“It could be a friendly, Copa America, World Cup qualifiers, we play it to win,” he said. “Venezuela had the idea of defending, they wanted a draw. But we were focused and we were aggressive in the last third of the pitch.”
After eight members of the Venezuelan squad tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, the team was forced to call in 15 new players on short notice, and the disruption was seen on the pitch. The Seleço squandered opportunities while facing little opposition from Venezuela.
Brazil took the lead in the 23rd minute as Marquinhos scored a close range goal from a corner kick.
Tite, who was also against the competition being held, brought Lucas Paquetá off at halfway but kept Roberto Firmino on the bench. Everton Ribeiro, on the other hand, continued to give greater dynamism to the right-wing.
Danilo was pushed to the ground after Ribeiro spotted him on the right edge of the box. In the 63rd minute, Neymar calmly scored from the penalty spot to make it 2-0. He took his shot to the left of Venezuelan goalkeeper Joel Graterol after looking to his right.
In the 89th minute, Neymar dribbled past Graterol and crossed for Barbosa to chest the ball into an empty net. Barbosa, a washout at Inter Milan and Benfica, is a superstar at Flamengo, a Brazilian club that wants him to play for the national team more often.
Tite stated that he is experimenting with different combinations in preparation for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Brazil’s second match will take place at the Nilton Santos stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday. On the same day, Venezuela will meet Colombia in the Olimpico stadium in Goiania.