Brazil’s Head Coach Tite Accepts Criticism After 0-0 Against Venezuela

What many of the football fans sensed when looking at Brazil’s first game at Copa America, happened last night. The Brazilian national team couldn’t defeat Venezuela, and managed to get with only one point from this match, 0-0.

The majority of the fans were saying that this team isn’t playing well at all, and that was pretty much obvious after the last night’s match.

Selecao was way below the expected level, and instead of posting a routine victory against the Venezuelan team, they couldn’t even score a goal.

To be honest, Brazil did score on two occasions, but the referee Bascunan from Chile canceled all of those goals. And he was right each time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuE7NUIDntQ

Gabriel Jesus scored the first one after precisely 60 minutes of play. Manchester City’s striker was inside the box when he used a nice cross to beat Farinez. But after looking at VAR review, the decision was overturned because of offside.

Three minutes before the final whistle, Philippe Coutinho scored and set the frustrated crowd on fire. But that happiness lasted for a few minutes because Bascunan again looked the replay and saw another offside position.

Following the match, Brazil’s coach Tite stated that he has no complaints against referees decisions, adding that the VAR system worked perfectly each time.

“VAR was correct. I have absolutely nothing to demand. We got justice,” Brazil coach Tite said. “They made the right call with both [VAR] goals.”

On the other side, the head coach of Venezuela Rafael Dudamel was thrilled because of the VAR system.

“Long live VAR,” he said to the reporters.

Brazil, couldn’t breach the though and disciplined defense of the rival despite dominating the pitch and having a far higher percentage of ball possession. That was especially noticeable in the first half when that number went up to 75%. The most interesting situation in that period was when Roberto Firminho fell in the box, with home team players demanding a penalty.

The Chilean referee didn’t want to point toward the penalty spot, and confirmed that decision after reviewing the replay.

“We played an almost perfect game against a team of brilliant individuals,” said Dudamel.

After the end of the match, the fans at Arena Fonte Nova were angry, and the scenes saw at Morumbi when spectators booed and criticized the players happened again. Tite knows that his players failed to meet the demands and that Brazil. His side underachieved in the opening two matches, even though they have four points. Because of that, he didn’t want to make any excuses, but instead, accepted the criticism of the fans.

“We have to understand the supporters, they want to see goals and if I had been in the crowd I also would have wanted to boo us,” Tite added.

Brazil had three goals disallowed in their goalless draw with Venezuela.

But boss Tite agreed with every decision…

👉 https://t.co/IqtXXN3DaB pic.twitter.com/6L1St0uhiO

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 19, 2019

Coming into this competition as the No.1 favorite for the title, because of all the names on the roster and the fact that they host the tournament, Brazil is now in a difficult situation. They are under heavy pressure to take the trophy and snap a long period during which this team didn’t saw any notable success.

Brazil is without a leading star Neymar, who picked up an injury before the start of the tournament. But that can’t justify the poor performances this team posted in the opening two rounds.

On the other hand, Venezuela recorded results above expected. They came to Brazil as one of the weakest teams at Copa America, but after the first two rounds have two points, after posting draws against Peru and the hosts.

Dudamel’s boys have a nice chance to qualify for the next phase and repeat the success from the 2016 edition when they also reached the quarterfinals. Their next opponent is Bolivia, who is not last in Group A, without any points.

If Venezuela wins this game, they are in through regardless of the result in the match between Brazil and Peru.

As for the Brazilians, they must’ lose against Peru. That game is set for this Saturday.