The Copa América begins on Sunday night with a match between
Brazil and
Venezuela but that is not even half the story
By Tom Sanderson for Yellow & Green Football
Tite’s
Job is safer now than it was the last time Brazil were preparing to host the Copa América, just two years ago. But his job security has little to do with the fact that he led the team to glory at that tournament, giving Brazilian fans their first major silverware in 12 years. Rather, his position has been strengthened after an argument over where – and whether – this year’s Copa América should be played. Brazilian
Football is in such a crisis off the field that it cannot deal with any more disruption on it.
The Copa América was meant to be co-hosted by Colombia and
Argentina this year but, after social unrest erupted in Colombia and Covid-19 cases surged in Argentina, Conmebol bafflingly decided to move the tournament to Brazil, even though the country is suffering from both of these issues. More than 480,000 people have been lost to the virus in Brazil, where similar numbers have taken to the streets to protest against the mishandling of the pandemic by president Jair Bolsonaro.