Brazil’s Copa América Debut Disappoints Fans as Vinicius Júnior Frustration Grows

INGLEWOOD, California USA (AP) — From one of the boxes at the SoFi stadium, Neymar raised both hands to his sides. The injured star did not understand why coach Dorival Júnior had just taken Vinicius Júnior off the field, in a game that was tied without goals and with 13 minutes left to play.

Neymar’s feeling of frustration was shared on Tuesday by millions of Brazil national team fans, disconcerted to see the Real Madrid star abandon a match against Costa Rica in the defining moments.

Dorival’s explanation? “We wanted a solution and we tried a change.”

The entry of the youthful Endrick for Vinicius had no effect. Brazil was never able to break Costa Rica’s defensive lock and had to settle for a 0-0 draw in its debut.

“We changed Vini during the game. We put him inside then he went outside, but he was very well marked,” said Dorival, who has only been in charge of Canarinha for six months. “We were winning most of the balls and needed alternatives, but we were not successful in the end.”

To relieve Vinicius, the Brazilian strategist tried Endrick, who will join Madrid starting next season. But the 17-year-old prodigy — who has already inherited the iconic No. 9 shirt — didn’t have many opportunities to score the fourth goal of his short career with the senior team.

“I think the game was well played, but we lacked depth movements and more work on the last line,” said Dorival. “That was the main problem, we didn’t finish the plays, but there will be games like that.”

To face the Copa América, Dorival dispensed with several experienced players, such as Casemiro, Richarlison, Thiago Silva and Gabriel Jesús. This earned him criticism not only from fans but also from historical figures.

“It’s all friends, I’ve had enough. “It is a sad time to enjoy Brazilian football, it is hard to find the courage to watch the games,” Ronaldinho said before the start of the tournament. “It is perhaps the worst moment in recent years, there is no leader, only average players for the most part.”

That was a hard blow for Vinicius Júnior after a season in which he stood out to give Madrid its 15th European Cup, as well as the Spanish League title. Close to turning 24, the attacker is one of the favorites to win the next Ballon d’Or.

But Vinicius has not yet shined with his national team – just three goals in 31 games – as with his club. This Copa América, with Neymar absent due to a knee injury, seemed like the perfect opportunity to show himself with the Canarinha. But he was obliged in the debut.

“We know that we have to improve,” acknowledged Vinicius. “I also know that I can improve, that I can evolve, that I can do more for our country. “We have a new coach and new players. We need time to build something important. Of course our fans want an immediate response, but we have to go step by step.”

Vinicius and Brazil will have another opportunity to redeem themselves next Friday when they face Paraguay on the second date.

While that happens, Dorival and the squad will have nothing left but to continue receiving poisonous darts.

“It was a bad game because against Costa Rica it was not necessary to have two midfielders, there was no need to worry about defense. The change took too long, at half-time Endrick had to come in and remove a steering wheel,” former player Walter Casagrande told the UOL portal. “It was disappointing for me. “It was the worst match for the Brazilian team with Dorival”

Dorival took over to relieve Tite, who stepped down after two quarterfinal exits in the last two World Cups.

Since the elimination in Qatar 2022 and a half years, the team had Fluminense coach Fernando Diniz as interim coach, but the team lost three consecutive games in the playoffs for the first time in its history.

Uruguay beat the Brazilians for the first time in eight years, Colombia did so for the first time in a tie and then they succumbed to Argentina, causing the departure of Diniz and the arrival of Dorival, who was champion with Sao Paulo.

In preparation for the Copa América, Brazil showed improvement with a 1-0 victory against England, then a 3-3 draw against Spain and a 3-2 victory against Mexico, in addition to a 1-1 draw against the United States. Joined.

“Brazil is evolving,” Dorival insisted. “We tied, but we did a lot of good things. We had a quick recovery, but we didn’t find the roads. We are going to fight to achieve our classification.”

2024-06-25 17:31:00
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