Brazil faced a goalless draw against Costa Rica in their Group D opener at Copa America 2024, with coach Dorival Junior expressing disappointment over his team’s performance. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous opportunities, including a disallowed goal by Marquinhos reviewed by VAR and missed chances by Raphinha, Brazil failed to find the net.
“We controlled the game, circulated the ball well, and created good chances,” Junior stated on Brazil’s official website. “However, our finishing was lacking. Overall, there were positive aspects to our play. Moving the ball effectively and maneuvering around the opponent’s defense proved challenging due to their quick marking and the compact field.”
Costa Rica’s defense, organized under Gustavo Alfaro, successfully limited Brazil’s scoring opportunities, prompting Alfaro to praise his team’s defensive effort. “Our defenders and midfielders did a commendable job restricting Brazil’s chances,” Alfaro remarked to The Athletic.
Reflecting on Costa Rica’s performance, Alfaro humorously likened his team’s resilience to Bruce Willis’s character in ‘The Sixth Sense’: “We were like Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense. Everyone thought we were out of the game before it even started.”
The match concluded with both teams sharing the points in Los Angeles, setting the stage for their upcoming fixtures in Group D.
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