Costa Rica halt Brazil

Whenever Costa Rica faces Brazil their strategy remains clear - defend till the last breath and deny the Selecao from scoring. We still remember the Costa Rican stubbornness at Turin during the Italia 90 and Russia 2018, but still the Selecao broke through. 

Meanwhile in the 1997 Copa America and 2002 World Cup - the game plan was crushed by a bunch of extraordinary players in the form of Romário, Ronaldo and Rivaldo. 

Those days are gone. 

In this year's Copa America Brazil are not the favourites but they're not that bad to end a goalless draw against a below par Costa Rican unit. 

Brazil dominated the possession. Attacked. Retained possession quickly. But lacked conviction. 

Costa Rica reduced the spaces. 

Brazil then tried to work as if it were futsal. 

Short passes, tables and quick play. Rodrygo Goes  even had the first good chance, but it was not productive. 

The clearest opportunities came when the team attracted Costa Rica and found space to fit long passes at speed. Too bad for Brazil that Raphinha lost when trying to slice the ball and cover up goalkeeper Sequeira.

The aerial ball also seemed like a viable alternative for Brazil.And a goal even came from Marquinhos, but it was disallowed. 

VAR took a while - about four minutes -  but caught the defender being offside, after Rodrygo's header was deflected, in the 32nd minute of the first half.

The second half was very similar to the first. 

Costa Rica sat deeper. 

Brazil kept trying, insisting.

After an hour or so - Endrick and Savinho entered, while Vinicius Junior and Rafinha left.

The team increased the pace and occupied the rival field.

Until then, the best opportunity was an attempt by Lucas Paqueta from outside the area. 

Contrary to the strategy of exchanging passes into the goal, he took a risk from outside the area, but the ball exploded onto the post.

With Endrick on the field, the attempt was to have more presence in the area, someone who would bother Costa Rica's defenders.

With Vini around - Brazil were able to especially neutralize the movement of bringing the ball from the edge to the middle.

Not only for his shot at the post, Paqueta appeared more in the game. 

Savinho also gave a boost when he entered the right and created a play that was Brazil's last effort. But Bruno Guimaraes went over the top.

Brazil ended without striking gold.

Thank You 

Faisal Caesar