Brazil / Copa America.

Is there a sadder sight in football than the Brazil national side being so goddam awful?
No matter what era you grew up in you probably have great memories of Brazil - from Pele, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto, Gerson etc to Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Romario and Bebeto. You could even put Neymar in there.

At 2am Brazil will take to the field in the Copa America desperately in need of a win after a 0-0 with unfancied Costa Rica in their opener. The game was drab, despite Brazil lining up with Vinicius jr, Raphinha, Rodrygo and an all PL midfield of Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta and Joao Gomes.

Of course one group game shouldn't be used to damn a country, but their World Cup qualification has also gone to shiiit.
After winning their opening 2 games they have gone winless:
Brazil 1-1 Venezuela
Uruguay 2-0 Brazil
Colombia 2-1 Brazil
Brazil 0-1 Argentina.

That leaves them 6th in the table, 8 points behind Argentina already and just 2 points above Paraguay in the play-off place, and Chile in the higher non-qualification place. They are a bit lucky qualification has been made easier by the expansion of the world cup to 48 teams.

Will we ever see a great Brazil side again, or have they become too Europeanised?

There is growing pressure on 17 year old Endrick to become the next national hero, although may feel it is way too early for him.


Failure to win tonight is almost unthinkable against a very average Paraguay side. But if it happens they will go up against the very much in form Colombian side and will have a massive task to progress.



For those who haven't kept up with it, Argentina have 2 wins from 2, with Canada beating Peru to go 2nd. Chile and Peru have a draw between them. Argentina play Peru in the last game in the early hours of Sunday, with Canada playing Chile at the same time.


Venezuela are the surprise leaders of group B, beating Ecuador and Mexico. Both Mexico and Ecuador beat Jamaica in the other games, meaning their meeting on Monday morning is winner takes all.


Uruguay have been the most impressive side so far, beating Panama 3-1 and Bolivia 5-0 to lead group C. Panama got a shock win last night, coming from behind to beat USA 2-1 - who were reduced to 10 men early doors with a Tim Weah red at 0-0. The US had won their opener vs Bolivia and now face Uruguay in the final match. Panama will fancy their chances of beating Bolivia to give them a great chance of progression, while the US have to beat Uruguay. Both games Tuesday morning.

Group D has only had 1 round of fixtures, with Colombia beating Paraguay and that 0-0 Brazil-Costa Rica draw. Colombia vs Costa Rica is 11pm tonight, with Brazil-Paraguay at 2am, with the final games of the group on Wednesday morning (2am)