Copa America preview: Brazil host tournament without poster boy Neymar

Brazil host their second major international tournament in the space of five years and will hope this summer’s Copa America fares better than their exploits at the 2014 World Cup.

The Selecao made it to the last four of the 2014 World Cup only to be dealt their heaviest ever defeat in the competition’s history, losing 7-1 to eventual winners Germany. Brazil lost Neymar to injury in the quarter-finals but Tite won’t even have the Paris Saint-Germain star to call on at all this summer.

Neymar was ruled out of the tournament last week after rupturing ankle ligaments in Brazil’s 2-0 win over Qatar in preparation for the 2019 Copa America. The 27-year-old has now suffered two serious ankle injuries this year and three in the last 12 months.

Neymar’s absence for Brazil is an obvious blow to their hopes of winning their first Copa America title since 2007. It will be up to Tite to find a solution and for the others in the squad to step up and fill the void left by the PSG forward.

Even without Neymar, however, Brazil are still the favourites to win the Copa America. It goes against everything we have become accustomed to seeing from Brazil sides at major tournaments, but they could end up winning this summer’s Copa America due to their robustness rather than flair and skill.

Brazil no longer have a world class forward in their ranks but they are well stacked in defence and midfield. Tite has the pleasure of picking between Alisson and Ederson in goal and Filipe Luis and Alex Sandro at left-back, while two of Casemiro, Allan or Fernandinho will likely only make the bench. 

Fernandinho is the highest WhoScored rated player (7.31) in Brazil’s squad heading the Copa America but has notably struggled for the national team and is not expected to start much this summer.

Neymar’s absence could actually prove a blessing in disguise for players like Philippe Coutinho, who has endured a rotten campaign for Barcelona. The 26-year-old’s dream move to Barcelona appears in tatters and he is already being linked with a move away after just 18 months at the club.

Coutinho was one of Brazil’s better performers at the 2018 World Cup and even more will be expected of the 26-year-old this summer. Coutinho only netted five times in the league last season but is said to already look like his former self now with the national team. He is still expected to occupy a deep midfield role for Brazil but is the natural replacement to fill Neymar’s role in the team. Guiding Brazil to Copa America glory would be the perfect way to respond to his Barcelona critics.

Coutinho is not the only Brazilian who could benefit from added attention this summer. With Coutinho in Tite’s midfield three, someone will have to take Neymar’s spot on the left flank and that could be Ajax starlet David Neres, who is a target for a number of Premier League clubs.

The 22-year-old played a direct hand in 16 goals (eight goal, eight assists) in 29 league appearances for Eredivisie champions Ajax last season and scored Champions League knockout goals against Real Madrid and Juventus.

Richarlison, meanwhile, has been tentatively linked with a £50m move to Manchester United in recent months after just one season at Everton. The 22-year-old more than doubled his Premier League tally (13) from his sole campaign at Watford (five) and is expected to feature prominently for Tite.

Furthermore, Gabriel Jesus will hope to use this summer’s tournament to remind Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola of his qualities after dropping below Sergio Aguero in the pecking order at the Etihad last season.

Despite still managing a goal or an assist every 102.2 minutes of Premier League action in 2018/19, Guardiola placed his trust in Aguero over the 22-year-old. Jesus is, however, the top scorer in Brazil’s squad (14) now that Neymar is sidelined and he will expect to edge Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino in the starting XI for the tournament opener against Bolivia.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Filipe Luis; Arthur, Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho; David Neres, Gabriel Jesus, Richarlison