Vinícius Júnior ‘virtually excellent’ as Brazil get again on observe

Brazil coach Dorival Júnior hailed the show of Vinícius Júnior after the ahead scored twice to assist the Seleção get again on observe on the Copa América with a 4-1 win over Paraguay in Las Vegas Friday.

Brazil and Vinícius struggled within the workforce’s opening sport of the competitors, a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica Monday, during which the Actual Madrid star didn’t have a shot at aim and was substituted halfway via the second half.

However he was switched on from the beginning in opposition to Paraguay, placing Brazil forward after 35 minutes with a low end after an help from Lucas Paquetá. After Sávio had made it 2-0, Vinícius gave Brazil a 3rd aim earlier than half-time when he closed down Paraguay defender Omar Alderete and diverted his tried clearance into the online.

Vinícius might have had a hat-trick however as a substitute took a backseat, permitting Paqueta, who had missed from the spot within the first half, to step up and rating a second-half penalty.

“Right this moment, he performed virtually an ideal match,” Brazil coach Dorival mentioned of Vinícius via an interpreter. “He was dynamic.”

The objectives have been Vinícius’ first non-penalty objectives for Brazil since scoring in opposition to South Korea on the 2022 World Cup and his first multi-goal sport in what was his thirty second look.

“I all the time say that I by no means play for myself, I’ll all the time play for my workforce,” Vinícius mentioned in an on-field interview following the sport. “Once I’m enjoying for Brazil I play for my nation, I all the time attempt to do the perfect issues but it surely’s not all the time potential.

“And at this time I managed to play an important sport on the degree of a participant that I’m. And I do know that I can nonetheless enhance lots to assist the Brazilian workforce, to assist this workforce that works arduous day-after-day to have the ability to put Brazil within the place it deserves. We’ll proceed to work arduous to realize this aim, which is to win the Copa América.”

The victory was fairly the response from Brazil after its disappointing starting to the match in the US and put the nine-time winners on the verge of a spot within the quarterfinals.

With 4 factors, Brazil is 2 behind group chief Colombia, which defeated Costa Rica 3-0 earlier Friday. A victory or tie by Brazil in opposition to Colombia on Tuesday ensures one of many group’s two spots within the knockout stage. Brazil additionally has a six-goal differential benefit over Costa Rica, so a loss doubtless will not maintain out the nine-time Copa América champions.

“There was a sure degree of disappointment for the shortage of ends in the primary match,” Dorival mentioned. “However I feel our efficiency was of an important degree. We have made nice progress in little or no time. We virtually by no means have 20 days to work collectively.

“I advised you be affected person as a result of this workforce is trending on the precise path.”

Data from Reuters, The Related Press and ESPN Stats & Data contributed to this report