Brasilia: Brazil will take on Venezuela in the opening game of the Copa America 2021 in Group A at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia on Sunday. The organisers have been facing difficulties with the hosting of the tournament. Due to the surge of COVID-19 in South America, the first match shifted from Uruguay to Argentina and then to Brazil.
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None the less as per reports, the outbreak is unlikely to force the cancellation of any matches with CONMEBOL stating on Friday that they would allow the sides unlimited substitutions for players who are ruled out because of positive COVID-19 results or contact with infected people and also all the teams will undergo mandatory testing every 48 hours.
The movements of the entire staffs and players will be restricted and they travel between the four host cities on chartered flights. As per the teams are concerned, Brazil will defend their title with their side looking very balanced for the first time in recent years. Quality options are there for coach Tite at every position on the pitch with Neymar being the obvious talisman.
Lucas Paqueta has re-emerged just at the right moment and will possibly feature on the starting XI. It will be interesting to what formation the hosts will opt for in the first game. Casemiro will be the vital cog in the midfield alongside Manchester United’s Fred and Paqueta.
Richarlison will be a key player to going forward with his notable prowess in the air. Defensively hosts have a concern. Besides the first choice Marquinhos and Thiago Silva, they lack options for good center-halves although Eder Militao can aid both as a full-back and centre-back as well. Renan Lodi might get his start with a possible return for Allison Becker under the bar.
As for Venezuela, they already had their fair share or problem even before taking onto the field with calling up 15 new players as emergency replacements due to COVID-19. Despite that, they will take on the defending champions on Sunday afternoon.
