November 23, 2024 07:34 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
'Third World War has begun:' Ex-Ukraine military commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny | UK-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations to resume in early 2024 | UK can arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits country based on ICC warrant | Centre to send over 10,000 additional soldiers to violence-hit Manipur amid fresh violence | Chhattisgarh: 10 Maoists killed during encounter with security forces in Sukma
With or without Neymar, Brazil worry us: Bolivia coach
Image Credit: twitter.com/neymarjr

With or without Neymar, Brazil worry us: Bolivia coach

| @indiablooms | 07 Jun 2019, 05:06 am

Sao Paulo, Jun 7 (Xinhua): Bolivia head coach Eduardo Villegas has rejected the notion that Brazil will be vulnerable during the Copa America in the absence of their injured talisman Neymar.

Bolivia and Brazil will kick off the tournament in Sao Paulo on June 14 and Villegas said the tournament hosts have the depth in talent to cope without their No 10.

"We are equally worried about Brazil with Neymar or without Neymar," Villegas told a news conference at the team's training base in Cotia, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, on Thursday.

Neymar was ruled out of the continental tournament earlier on Thursday after suffering ankle ligament damage during Brazil's 2-0 win over Qatar in a friendly on Wednesday.

According to Villegas, other players such as Philippe Coutinho assumed greater responsibility after Neymar left the pitch midway through the first half.

"In the time that he [Neymar] was on the pitch we saw the influence that has on the team," Villegas said.

"But there is an important point. When Neymar came off, Coutinho took over the leadership on the pitch. I noticed that he was very motivated and played with much more aggression."

Bolivia will prepare for the tournament with a friendly against Brazilian Serie D club Portuguesa on Friday and another match against a still undetermined local rival on Sunday.
Bolivia will also meet Peru and Venezuela during the Copa America group phase.

Image Credit: twitter.com/neymarjr

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.