Neymar-less Brazil will want to get off to the perfect start when they play Ecuador in their Copa America Centenario opener on Saturday. With injuries and a lack of a sense of adventure holding the latest Brazilian crop back a little, Ecuador will fancy their chances of coming away with a victory from the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena.
Watch Brazil vs Ecuador highlights
The biggest problem for Brazil, in their hopes of winning this Copa America 2016 edition, is the absence of Neymar. The Barcelona forward, without doubt, is their best player and creative force when it comes to anything going forward. However, with Neymar being picked for the Rio Olympics, Dunga will have to make do without his talisman.
Another key player missing from the squad is Douglas Costa, who was a late withdrawal due to injury.
"Obviously we'd like to have Neymar here, but this is a top team," Dunga was quoted as saying by Four Four Two. "Some of them are very young, but they have quality. This is an opportunity for these players to show they deserve to be on the first team."
Ecuador will not be an easy proposition for Brazil. Under Gustavo Quintero, Ecuador have turned into a really dangerous, exciting team, something that Brazil would have been described as a while back. Instead, for this match, it will be Ecuador who will be the more eye-catching unit.
Quintero's side currently top the South American World Cup qualifiers table along with Uruguay, which is pretty impressive considering they have played six matches. Doing well in the qualifiers and actually producing in a major tournament are completely different, though, and that is where Ecuador could trip up. They need to show that they are capable of maintaining their high standards and playing quality football in a tournament setting as well.
"To be in the final four would be fantastic," Quinteros said when asked of his team's ambitions for this Copa America Centenario. "In soccer, it seems like reaching a final is impossible, but sometimes when you have something within your reach it becomes possible.
"Why can't Ecuador go far? We have an historic opportunity, and this is our chance to change our history."
Where to Watch Live
The Group B match between Brazil and Ecuador is scheduled for a 10 p.m. ET (3 a.m. BST, 7.30 a.m. IST) start. Below are the TV and live streaming options to watch the Copa America 2016 match.
India: TV: Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD. Live Streaming: Sony Liv.
USA: TV: Fox Sports 1. Live Streaming: FoxSoccer2Go.
Brazil: TV: SporTV.
South America/Latin America: TV: DirecTV. Live Streaming: DirecTV live.
UK: TV: Premier Sports. Live Streaming: Premier Player.
Mexico: TV: Univision, TDN, Azteca.
Canada: Univision.
Australia, France and Spain: TV: Bein Sports (Spain also Canal + and Movistar Futbol). Live Streaming: Bein Sports Connect.
China and Hong Kong: TV: PPTV Sports and LeTV.
Singapore: Singtel. Live Streaming: Singtel Go.
Thailand: TrueSport 1.
