BRAZIL
Brazil confirmed team news: Is Endrick playing against USMNT?
The Real Madrid-bound youngster scored a late winner against Mexico last weekend and is tipped to get his first start for the senior national team.
So far Dorival Junior’s stint in charge of the Brazil national team has been a success. He oversaw a 1-0 win over England at Wembley Stadium in his first game, before drawing with Spain and beating Mexico in their most recent outing.
But while those results look fairly promising for the new boss, things could easily have been very different. In each of Dorival’s three games in charge, 17-year-old sensation Endrick has come off the bench to score a crucial late goal. However, despite those goal-scoring cameos, Endrick will start on the bench as Brazil take on USMNT in Florida.
Brazil confirmed team: Alisson Becker, Danilo, Marquinhos, Lucas Beraldo, Wendell - Joao Gomes, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta - Raphinha, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes
Will Endrick start for Brazil at Copa América?
When he turns 18 next month Endrick will finally be eligible to make his long-awaited move to Real Madrid. The Spanish giants agreed a €35 million deal, potentially rising to €60 million, for Endrick in December 2022.
But despite the understandable interest in the young starlet, Dorival Junior has been eager to ease his transition into the senior national team. Speaking at College Station ahead of the USMNT game, the Brazil coach said that he would be “very careful” with Endrick’s progression.
“A lot is happening to him in a very short time. He has to keep working hard. I’ve seen his beginnings at Palmeiras, he’s been important and he’s generated attention. We have to look at what he has achieved in such a short time,” Dorival said. “I hope he does not lose that essence that he has been showing to everyone so that the processes are completed as soon as possible and he continues to give good results to both his club and his national team.”
Endrick has elbowed his way into the Copa América squad with his precocious early performances and Brazil are lacking a world class central striker. Richarlison has had a difficult spell with Tottenham Hotspur, while Porto striker Evanilson has never found the back of the net with any real regularity. If Endrick can impress in the final pre-tournament fixture he could well find himself leading the line in Brazil’s Copa América opener against Costa Rica.