SEATTLE - With the Copa América 2024 around the corner, The Latin Times has you covered with everything you need to know ahead of a new edition of the biggest international tournament in the Americas. And we start with Brazil.
The nine-time winners will hope to have a better tournament than the last time the Copa América was held in the United States, when they were eliminated in the group stages for just the second time and first since 1987. Brazil has reached each of the last two Copa América finals. The only time they reached three finals in a row was between 1995-1999, winning two of them.
Brazil's Copa América quick facts
Group: D
Best result: champions (9 times); only Argentina and Uruguay have more (15 each)
Coach: Dorival Júnior (appointed January 2024); 1-0-1 W-L-D record
Brazilian top scorer in Copa América: Zizinho (17 goals)
Where is Brazil playing?
All of Brazil's group stage games will take place in the West coast of the United States. During the Copa América Centenario in 2016, Brazil played its opening group stage game against Ecuador at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
June 24: Brazil vs Costa Rica - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
June 28: Paraguay vs Brazil - Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
July 2: Brazil vs Colombia - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
26-man list for Copa América
Only seven players from Brazil's Copa América 2021 roster return for this year. Alisson, Danilo, Marquinhos, Militão, Douglas Luiz and Vinícius Júnior are the only ones in the 26-man list for 2024; Lucas Paquetá, the West Ham midfielder, could miss the tournament due to a possible suspension for alleged betting rule breaches in the Premier League.
Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker (Liverpool), *Rafael (São Paulo) Bento (Athletico-PR)
Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Yan Couto (Girona), Guilherme Arana (Atlético-MG), Wendell (FC Porto), Lucas Beraldo (Paris Saint-Germain), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Eder Militão (Real Madrid), Bremer (Juventus)
Midfielders: Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), João Gomes (Wolverhampton), Lucas Paquetá (West Ham), Éderson (Atalanta)
Attackers: Endrick (Palmeiras), Martinelli (Arsenal), Evanilson (Porto), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Girona), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), Pepê (Porto)
São Paulo's goalkeeper Rafael will replace Manchester City's Ederson as he will miss the tournament due to injury. The deadline to submit the final squad ahead of Copa América 2024 is June 15.
LINK: https://x.com/CBF_Futebol/status/1792302183397884178
Notable absence
Neymar
It will be the first time Neymar misses a major tournament with the 'Seleçao' since the Copa América 2019. The Al-Hilal star has been out since October of 2023 with an ACL injury.
Neymar is Brazil's all-time goal scorer (79) and ranks second all-time in caps (128). Out of his 79 goals for Brazil, five of them were scored in Copa América games.
Player to watch
Endrick
The 17-year-old will be one of Brazil's main attacking threats during Copa América 2024. Endrick made his senior debut for Brazil in November of 2023 and scored his first goals for the 'Seleçao' against England and Spain during the March international break, becoming the fourth youngest goal scorer for Brazil all-time and the youngest since Ronaldo in 1994.
It could be a busy summer for Endrick, who might also represent Brazil at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He played seven games during the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament, scoring two goals.
After scoring his first goal for the Brazilian national team, Dorival Júnior had nothing but praise for the young star. "If he keeps up the attitude he has shown up to now, he will be a very important name in Brazilian football and world football," he said.
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