Menezes ponders changes against Paraguay
Reuters - Thursday 07 July 2011, 22:34
BUENOS AIRES - Brazil could drop Robinho
and Ramires for their Copa America Group B clash with Paraguay
in Cordoba on Saturday going by coach Mano Menezes's
practices this week.
The holders were wobbly in a 0-0 draw with Venezuela in
their opening Group B match in La Plata on Sunday.
"As we have been looking at variations we're going to wait [to make a decision] just before the match," Menezes said on
Thursday after trying out a probable first team without Robinho
and Ramires.
"I said that in the second week [of the tournament] I'd look
at variations to see how the team responded," he said as he
considers the option of playing 2010 World Cup veteran Elano
from the start in place of Ramires.
Menezes appears to also be thinking of fielding gifted
18-year-old Lucas instead of Robinho up front as he ponders two
changes that conform with substitutions he made against
Venezuela.
"From the national team as a whole I expect an improvement
with more continuous production. To make individual criticism
now confuses more than it helps," he said.
There were intermittent hints of the traditional Brazilian
attacking style Menezes is trying to revive against Venezuela,
the weakest team of the group on paper.
A goal has yet to be scored in the group after Paraguay and
Ecuador also finished up goalless in Santa Fe on Sunday.
The Ecuadoreans travel to Salta to face Venezuela on
Saturday.