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Sluggish Brazil hopes to improve
http://www.sina.com.cn 2004/07/13 11:17  Shanghai Daily

  Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira cautioned Brazil to be extremely careful to avoid being surprised by Costa Rica in the Copa America today (Shanghai time).

  "Costa Rica is a great team, they have a lot of quality," Parreira said on Saturday after Brazil's last practice before the Group C match. "They are very fast, we need to pay extra attention to their counterattacks."

  Brazil, which shares the group lead with Paraguay, defeated Chile 1-0 in its opener, and can earn a quarterfinal berth with a win against Costa Rica.

  "They showed against Paraguay that they can play," Parreira said. "They deserved better than to lose at the end."

  Costa Rica lost to Paraguay 0-1 on a late penalty, and needs to beat Brazil to keep alive its hopes of advancing from group play.

  The Brazil coach said he had "80 percent" of his starting lineup set for today's match.

  "I already have a team in mind, but I want to wait for Costa Rica's lineup before making my final decision on the changes," Parreira said.

  Midfielder Kleberson, the only member of Brazil's 2002 World Cup champions in the squad, was almost sure to return to action.

  Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said the Manchester United player was fully recovered from the left thigh muscle injury that kept him out of the opener.

  "I'm set to go," Kleberson said on Saturday. "I don't feel the injury anymore, I'm ready to help Brazil out there."

  Other possible changes include Monaco right back Maicon for AS Roma's Mancini, and CSKA Moscow sensation Vagner Love, one of Brazil's hottest players during practice sessions.

  Love scored three goals last Friday when Brazil's bench players defeated Arequipa's Atletico Universidad 4-1 in training. Internazionale's Adriano would lose his spot.

  Parreira added he was confident Brazil will improve from its below-average performance against Chile.

  "It's expected we play better," Parreira said. "We can settle down now that we put that always difficult first game behind us."

  Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto is still trying to get over the controversial 86th-minute penalty that sealed the team's opening loss.

  "There was no penalty, it was just a very disputed play," Pinto said. "Unfortunately, it cost us."

  The Costa Ricans, seeking their first Copa America title, played well against Paraguay, but failed to capitalize on their numerous chances.

  "We created a lot of scoring chances, it was unfortunate the ball didn't go in," Pinto said.

  Costa Rica should be at full strength against Brazil, fielding the same lineup that played Paraguay.

  Brazil, a six-time Copa winner, routed Costa Rica 5-0 in 1997 in Bolivia in the only Copa America match between them. Brazil also came out victorious in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, winning 5-2 in group play.

  (The Associated Press)




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