Month: July 2021

You thought Brazilian football was done for the summer? Think again! There are two Olympic medals up for grabs over the next two and a half weeks, and because I’m a little tired of writing match previews, I’m going to write one big preview for both the men’s and women’s teams and maybe revisit things if either one gets out of the group stage.

Brazil Men

Coach: André Jardine

(Squad is players born on or after January 1, 1997, plus three overage players, marked with an asterisk.)

Goalkeepers: Santos*, Brenno, Lucão

Fullbacks: Dani Alves*, Gabriel Menino, Abner, Guilherme Arana

Center-Backs: Diego Carlos*, Nino, Bruno Fuchs, Ricardo Graça

Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães, Claudinho, Matheus Henrique, Reinier, Douglas Luiz

Forwards: Antony, Gabriel Martinelli, Matheus Cunha, Paulinho, Malcom, Richarlison

Well, fuck. That didn’t end super well.

We don’t need a long recap of Brazil’s 2021 Copa América campaign. A promising start, albeit one in which Brazil missed way too many chances and often started games far too slowly, fizzled out by the end of the group stage as the team had a harder and harder time scoring goals and taking control of games, ultimately losing 1-0 in the final and letting Argentina end their 28-year wait for an international trophy.

While Brazil generally dominated possession and allowed few good scoring chances to opponents, our attacking play increasingly fell apart as the tournament went on. We scored seven goals across our first two games of the Copa, but only five across our last five. We had a good 60 minutes to find an equalizer after Argentina went ahead in the final and never got particularly close.

So what went wrong? And who can we scapegoat blame?

Here we go…

Brazil vs. Argentina

Estádio Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, July 10, 2021

Kickoff: 8:00 PM EDT / 9:00 PM BRT / 12:00 AM GMT

US TV / Streaming: FS1, TUDN, Univision

My Predicted Starting Lineup: Ederson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Renan Lodi; Casemiro, Fred, Lucas Paqueta; Everton Cebolinha, Richarlison, Neymar.

Absences and doubts: Gabriel Jesus (red card suspension extended by CONMEBOL), Alex Sandro (might be fit again, but won’t start)

Notes And Storylines

Brazil vs. Peru

Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos, Rio de Janeiro, July 5, 2021

Kickoff: 7:00 PM EDT / 8:00 PM BRT / 11:00 PM GMT

US TV / Streaming: FS1, TUDN, Univision

Predicted Starting Lineup: Ederson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Renan Lodi; Casemiro, Fred, Everton Ribeiro; Richarlison, Gabigol, Neymar.

Absences and doubts: (in 30-foot-high flaming letters) Gabriel Jesus (red card suspension), Alex Sandro (missed quarterfinal with hamstring injury)

Notes And Storylines

Brazil vs. Chile

Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos, Rio de Janeiro, July 2, 2021

Kickoff: 8:00 PM EDT / 9:00 PM BRT / 12:00 AM GMT

US TV / Streaming: FS1, TUDN, Univision

Likely Starting Lineup: It’s a mystery!!!! (But Ederson will start in goal.)