Copa America Business End Arrives with 1st True Test for Brazil

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 26, 2015

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It is set to be a telling weekend for Brazil and their Copa America quest. The eight-time continental champions take on Paraguay in the quarter-finals, having topped Group C with two wins from three.

Since the cup adopted its current format back in 1993, Brazil have either crashed out at this stage or gone on to reach the final. Four years ago, the Selecao fell to the opponents that stand in their way in Concepcion on Saturday.

Both sides failed to find the net during a goalless draw, but Brazil’s misery was compounded in the resulting penalty shootout, when all four of their takers—Elano, Thiago Silva, Andre Santos and Fred—failed to make their efforts from 12 yards count.

The first stage of the knockout portion of the tournament presents arguably the first real test Dunga has faced since returning to the national fold. With only 12 teams starting the tournament and eight progressing to the quarter-finals, it was easier to progress than face elimination.



Given that Brazil were drawn in a group alongside Colombia, Peru and Venezuela, they could have finished third and still reached this stage. The number of even the most pessimistic Brazil fans who expected them to be sent packing at the first hurdle was negligible.

Now, it is all business. One slip up, as the side were afforded in the group stage against Colombia, will be punished.

As confirmed by Globo Esporte, Miranda will now captain the side in the absence of Neymar. The defensive line all but picks itself. With Jefferson between the sticks, the back four of Dani Alves, Miranda, Thiago Silva and Filipe Luis has played together in the last two outings—the defeat to Colombia and the nervy, 2-1 win over Venezuela.

The most interesting changes are likely to be in the midfield, where the initial trio of Fernandinho, Elias and Fred failed to form any sort of cohesion.

Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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