With events off the pitch overshadowed by the Neymar sanction, Dunga’s team face Venezuela in a crucial game where there is no margin for error. Coutinho is expected to be used as a replacement for the Barça player in a role just behind the lone striker. A role that Tardelli is expected to fulfill although the possibility of Dunga using Firmino as a ‘false 9’ as he did in the Colombia game hasn’t been ruled out.
Brazil have been heavily criticized for their performances in their two Copa America games to date; Wednesdays defeat to Colombia and they way they just managed to salvage a win against a resilient Peru side in the last minutes of the match. With all four teams on one win in the Group C table a defeat could spell an early exit form the tournament and disaster for Dunga’s side.
Brazil do have an added advantage in playing their game after the other group game involving Colombia-Peru has finished. The outcome of that game may even condition in the way Brazil take the game to the ‘Vinotinto’ as they potentially could chose their rival in the last eight of the tournament.
Follow the Copa América timetable here.
And the day-to-day fixtures here.