By G.D. Morrill
I attended the Brazil-Ecuador game Saturday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Before an announced crowd of 58,000, mostly Brazil fans and many other Latinos, Mexicans, and Americans. Everybody entered the stadium with great anticipation for a great match. Unfortunately, they didn’t get one. Brazil without major stars Neymar Jr., Marcelo, David Luiz, Hulk, and Oscar, played hard but couldn’t find the goal. Almost unheard of for any Brazilian team over the years.
Neymar, had to choose between the Olympics, to be held in Brazil and the Copa America. His club, Barcelona decided that he couldn’t participate in both and be ready for the next season of Spanish League play. Dunga, the Brazilian coach, doesn’t like Marcelo, who plays for Real Madrid, and we have no reasons for not playing other regulars.
Ecuador, for their part played hard, but the ball was always on their side of the field, but they defended their goal well, not allowing a goal. They had a few chances for a goal, but never mounted sustained attacks. The attacks were few and far between. Hard to judge them by this game, but they are consistently a powerhouse in South America.
In other action, Peru beat Haiti, although they dominated for the greater part of the game. Costa Rica and Paraguay played to a zero, zero tie, probably helping the USA, who is in the same group.
Today’s games, Venezuela vs the Raggae Boys of Jamaica, and one of the most anticipated games, Mexico vs Uruguay, unfortunately without “the biter” Luiz Suarez.
