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Sports, Football

Brazil confront Ecuador


Bangladeshpost
Published : 26 Jun 2021 09:13 PM

Agencies

Having already confirmed their first-placed finish in Group B, Brazil will look to finish the Copa America group stage with a perfect record as they take on Ecuador in their final game before the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, their opponents still have plenty to play for, currently finding themselves in a battle for the final qualification spots with Sunday their final opportunity to pick up points.

Host nation Brazil come into the game with no real need for a result in terms of their qualification bid, but will be hoping for another win to finish a perfect group campaign and build more momentum for the quarter-finals nonetheless.

They are somewhat lucky to still boast a perfect record, though, having scraped past Colombia in their last group outing.

That came after much more comfortable victories over Venezuela and Peru, winning 3-0 and 4-0 respectively, as Marquinhos, Neymar and Gabriel Barbosa got on the scoresheet against Venezuela before Neymar again found the net alongside Alex Sandro, Everton Ribeiro and Richarlison in the following match.

Given their need for a result against a dangerous Brazil side, Ecuador may be forced to move to a more cautious system, with Xavier Arreaga expected to come in to form a back five.

Winger Ayrton Preciado will be a key man going forward, having found the net in both of the last two Copa America games.

He will support striker Leonardo Campana, who remains in search of his first international goal.

With an important quarter-final clash looming, Brazil are expected to continue to rotate their squad, having made several changes for each group game so far.

With each of the three goalkeepers in the squad having played one group game, Manchester City's Ederson and Liverpool's Alisson will likely battle for the spot for the remainder of the tournament, with a chance to earn their place for the quarter-finals if they can step up on Sunday.

Tite should revert back to the centre-back pairing of Eder Militao and Marquinhos, giving 36-year-old Thiago Silva a rest after two games in quick succession for the Chelsea defender.

Neymar will remain a prominent man in the front line, having hit two goals and two assists in their three games so far.