By Sergio Silva
05 Jul 2024, 20:55 PM EDT
The Brazilian national team will face Uruguay in the quarter-finals of the Copa America USA 2024 with the absence of their star player, Vinícius Júnior, due to an accumulation of yellow cards, which gave Endrick the opportunity to take his place in the starting eleven this Saturday.
Canarinha coach Dorival Júnior had no problem confirming the presence of the young talent in place of Vinícius Júnior who ended up cautioned in the draw against Colombia (1-1), a result that left the Brazilians in second place in Group C.
“Raphinha, Endrick and Rodrygo”was the first thing the Brazilian coach said at the press conference on Monday prior to the match against La Celeste, one of the toughest rivals in this competition after having achieved three victories in its first three appearances.
Dorival Júnior assured that he hopes that the presence of Endrick in the starting eleven due to the absence of Vinícius Júnior will allow him to maintain the game plan that they have wanted to capture in this Copa América 2024, the first official tournament for the coach on the Canarinha bench.
“I hope we can continue to find the way to goals. The team’s job is to provide the forwards with scoring opportunities. It will be no different. We lose an important player but we find a player who looks for opportunities.”the coach continued at the press conference.
The Brazilian coach also took the opportunity to recall the level of the rival that Brazil will face this Saturday at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where one of the tickets to the semifinals of the 2024 Copa América will be at stake, where both teams look like candidates.
“It is a great South American derby, important for Brazil and Uruguay. A team that deserves all our respect, they are in a process of evolution like Brazil. I have no doubt that Uruguay will also have problems facing our team.”Dorival Junior pointed out.
The former Sao Paulo coach also wanted to highlight the work of Marcelo Bielsa, the Argentine coach of the Uruguay National Team, who he demonstrated had studied well his style of play and with which he said he feels identified.
“I like their individual marking work, they go up in total synchrony, they have movements of the men from outside to inside. From there they have long plays, always looking for the attack”said the Brazilian about what he expects to see on the field from La Celeste.
The winner of this duel between Brazilians and Uruguayans will face the winner of the match between the Colombian and Panamanian national teams in the semifinals of the 2024 Copa América, which will also take place this Saturday.
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