Unexpectedly, Brazil were unable to break the deadlock with Costa Rica in their first group game, even though they controlled the tempo of the game. The Samba Army will need to be wary of this tactic, which may be a common one against weaker teams such as Paraguay.
Looking back at Brazil's last eight matches, they have only won two, so if they want to keep their place in this year's Copa América, they have to take down Paraguay in today's match. Despite having a lot of offensive talent, they seem to lack the super killers of the past - such as Ronaldo, Li Huadu, Romario and even Nima. On the battlefield, they only had three shots on goal, which is worrying.
Paraguay, on the other hand, were perhaps even better at scoring goals. It transpired after the game that this was the first time they had scored in two consecutive years. The goals were scored by Zulio Ensor, who plays for Brighton and was a big hit for the club last season. There is also Mikiel Amirão, so Paraguay are expected to pose a threat to Brazil in this match.
Both sides are desperate for a win, and Paraguay desperately need a wave of victories in order to keep their promotion hopes alive. However, the pressure may be too much for them. I'm confident that Brazil will be able to come out on top in this tight matchup.
