Opposed to a selection of Venezuela diminished by the Covid-19, the Auriverdes have imposed themselves widely but without shining (3-0).
Brazil, in the absence of an exciting game but with a still decisive Neymar, opened the Copa America by pushing a Venezuela (3-0) strongly handicapped by cases of coronavirus, Sunday in Brasilia. “Ney”, in search of his first major title in the selection, still managed the combined goal plus assist, by transforming a penalty obtained by Danilo (64th) then by sending an offering to Gabigol, who only had to push the chest ball in the empty cage (89th).
The number 10 had already managed this type of double in the previous two matches (2-0 against Ecuador and Paraguay in early June in qualifying for the World Cup-2022). Neymar is now 67 goals in 106 caps, just ten lengths from Pelé’s national goalscoring record. Before him, his Paris SG teammate, defender Marquinhos, opened the scoring (23rd) for the defending champion Brazil and host of the tournament.
Venezuela was handicapped by the absence of eight players who tested positive for the coronavirus, in addition to a few injuries. The coach, José Peseiro, suddenly called on 15 new players to compete in the competition, most of them new to the national team and playing in the Venezuelan league. The Vinotinto, therefore cruelly lacking in experience, nevertheless defended well as a whole, in a “very closed” way according to Marquinhos, but ended up breaking down. La Seleçao, rather dull, camped in the opposing camp and monopolized possession, but lacked sharpness.
Untenable neymar
However, Neymar offered some flashes, like these two tumbled down all in speed and dribbles completed by a strike from just off target (30th, 83rd), and sent a few well-felt passes and crosses, but his teammates were not in a big way. day.
“When we manage to place him in a more advanced area of the field, (Neymar) is more protected, because there the opponent is afraid of making a firmer marking, a fault in an important area. We structure the team so that it receives fewer balls, but in a more efficient way to create opportunities, ”explained coach Tite. His counterpart Jose Peseiro said he was “proud” of his players. “3-0 is 3-0. Brazil was better. But we all thought it was going to be worse ”. In this group B, Brazil will face Peru on Thursday, while Venezuela will meet Colombia, who also won their first match, against Ecuador (1-0).
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