Brazil Maintains Optimism With Dorival Junior At The Helm For Copa America

Guilherme Arana is confident that Dorival Junior will steer Brazil to success despite their slow start in the Copa America. The Selecao are gearing up to face Paraguay after a goalless draw against Costa Rica in their opening Group D match. This result left them trailing Colombia, who secured a win over Paraguay.

Dorival acknowledged the need for better finishing if Brazil are to compete for their 10th South American title. He praised his team's pressing and defensive efforts but stressed the importance of improving in the final third. "As soon as we entered the dressing room, he praised our pressing after we lost the ball, it was very good, we didn't concede anything defensively," said Arana.

Arana, who played the entire match against Costa Rica, highlighted Dorival's positive influence on the team. "He encouraged us, gave us morale. I think that's the thought not only of him but of all the players," he added. Despite the disappointing result, Arana remains optimistic about their chances with two games remaining.

Paraguay suffered a 2-1 defeat to Colombia in their opener, making it crucial for them to secure an upset to advance to the quarter-finals. Head coach Daniel Garnero found positives in their performance, stating: "We have a clear idea of our gameplan and the feeling is that we competed at all times." He noted that they matched their opponents well despite not securing points.

Garnero also mentioned that Argentina and Colombia arrived at the tournament with significant superiority. "There were many positive elements and when we take stock of this match we'll see this," he said.

Players to Watch

Paraguay - Julio Enciso: Enciso attempted 11 dribbles against Colombia, tying for the most in the opening round of fixtures (with Richard Ros of Colombia). He completed six dribbles and scored Paraguay's consolation goal, becoming the second-youngest player to score for Paraguay at a major tournament this century.

Brazil - Vinicius Junior: Despite Brazil's dominance against Costa Rica with 695 passes, they only managed three shots on target from 19 attempts. Vinicius was substituted after 71 minutes without registering a shot but created three chances. He aims for a better performance after scoring 24 goals and providing nine assists for Real Madrid last season.

Match Prediction: Brazil Win

Brazil made 49 entries into Costa Rica's penalty area on matchday one, matching their highest figure in a Copa America match since 2011. They need more penetration and better finishing next time out. Paraguay have not lost any of their last five matches against Brazil at Copa America, recording one win and four draws.

This streak equals the second-longest unbeaten run against Brazil in tournament history, behind Argentina's eight-match run between 1923 and 1946. However, Paraguay have only won one of their last six games in all competitions (two draws, three defeats), making Brazil strong favourites.

Opta Win Probability

The upcoming match is crucial for both teams as they aim to progress further in the tournament. While Brazil are favoured to win based on recent performances and statistics, Paraguay will be looking to defy expectations and secure a vital victory.