It’s been a hard summer now for Brazil national team manager Dunga ever since he announced his 23 players to contest the Copa America Centenario in the United States this month. No one player can win a game alone so we must play as a team. I think taking a double chance with a draw as well is probably a safer bet but betting on an outright Ecuador win has a lot of value to it as well.
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But along with the Copa America, Dunga will be looking towards the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where Brazil are searching for their first gold medal. The fact that they don’t have a decent holding midfielder like Luiz Gustavo is a huge factor on their eventual performance in the tournament and will have to rely mainly on the attack that consists of Willian, Philippe Coutinho, Hulk, Jonas and Gabriel Barbosa.
“It’s just our history”, Dunga said.
“Against Brazil, every team wants to play at their best which makes it tough for us, so it’s important we show our quality. The FEF [Ecuadorian Football Federation], on its own, is seeking another pitch for rent and we can meet the work schedule privately”, he told El Universo.
Ecuador, ranked 13th, has had two fourth-place finishes in the Copa America, most recently in 1993, and none higher. Nonetheless, the team coached by Gustavo Quinteros has a power attack composed of Enner Valencia, Miller Bolaños, and Jefferson Montero who will give the Brazilian defenders a very hard match. “And that does not give us any advantage”.
A new generation of Brazil stars will take to the stage when they face Ecuador in their opening Copa America match.
Miranda is expected to be replaced in the back four by Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos for Brazil’s opener against Ecuador on Sunday but the Selecao remain hopeful he will return for their clash with Haiti on Wednesday. “In soccer, it seems like reaching a final is impossible, but sometimes when you have something within your reach it becomes possible. Together we can go far in the competition”, Willian was quoted as saying by his club, Chelsea’s website on Friday.
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“Unfortunately we had to change everything planned”.
