Featured Image Credit: Getty/Cartoloucos via YouTube
Topics: Brazil, Copa America, Football, Ronaldinho
Chris Byfield
Topics: Brazil, Copa America, Football, Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho explained why he will not watch any Brazil games during Copa America.
The Brazil icon did not mince his words when asked if he was optimistic about his nation’s chances in this summer’s Copa America, which takes place in the United States.
The five-time World Cup winners’ performances have faced much criticism in recent weeks, especially after an uninspiring pre-tournament 1-1 draw with the United States earlier this week, a side who were thumped 5-1 by Colombia just days earlier.
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And Ronaldinho, who helped inspire Brazil to World Cup, Copa America and Confederations Cup glory during a glittering career, insisted he wouldn’t even bother watching the upcoming summer tournament.
“I'm not going to watch any of the games," he told the Brazilian YouTube channel Cartoloucos. "Everything is missing, determination, joy, not playing well. I’m not even going to watch one game.”
He then wrote on Instagram: “That's it guys, that's it for me.
“This is a sad moment for those who love Brazilian football. It's difficult to find the energy to watch the games. This is perhaps one of the worst teams in recent years, it has no respectable leaders, just average players for the most part.
“I've been following football since I was a child, long before I thought about becoming a player, and I've never seen a situation as bad as this. The shirt lacks love, lacks determination and most important of all: football.
“I repeat: our performance has been one of the worst things I have ever seen. A shame.
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Therefore, I declare my abandonment here. I will not watch any CONMEBOL Copa América game, nor celebrate any victory.”
Ronaldinho featured 97 times for Brazil, scoring 33 goals before retiring from the sport in 2018.
Argentina are the pre-tournament favourite to retain the Copa America and surpass Uruguay’s tally of 16 continental crowns. Meanwhile, Brazil are considered the second favourite to win the competition.
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Brazil are in a group with Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay while Argentina have been drawn alongside Canada, Chile and Peru in Group A.
Should both teams top their groups as expected it would see them avoid one another until a potential final.
The scenario would lead to a repeat of the 2021 final, which Argentina won 1-0 courtesy of an Angel di Maria goal.
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