SAO PAULO, June 5: Amid a possible player revolt, Brazil beat Ecuador 2-0 on Friday to win its fifth consecutive match in South American World Cup qualifying.
It now leads the round-robin tournament with 15 points, four ahead of second-place Argentina. It appears all but certain that Brazil will qualify for four direct spots for Qatar 2022.
Richarlison opened the scoring in the 65th minute at the Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre and Neymar added the second from the spot in added time. Both goals were celebrated with the entire team around the coach.
But a crisis looms over the team since its country was appointed as host of Copa America. Players suggested Friday that they are not willing to play the tournament at home because the COVID-19 pandemic continues to kill thousands of Brazilians per day.
More than 470,000 have died so far. Tite’s post-match press conference was one of the team’s most anticipated in years after he spent the day hearing rumors he could resign before Copa America begins.
The coach admitted on Thursday his players had discussed with the president of the Brazilian soccer confederation (CBF), Rogerio Caboclo, whether they should play the continental tournament. A final answer on the issue is expected for after the match against Paraguay on Tuesday.
Copa America was originally scheduled to be co-hosted by Colombia and Argentina. Two weeks ago, Colombia was forced to withdraw because of social unrest. And this past week, Argentina declined to host it because of a similar worsening of the pandemic.
Watched by almost 15,000 fans, Spain and Portugal drew 0-0 in Madrid in a warm-up match for the European Championship which attracted the biggest crowd Friday for any event in Spain since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a festive atmosphere not seen in soccer matches in the country in more than a year, the 14,743 fans at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium chanted and waved flags, and jeered nearly every time Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo touched the ball.
“It was beautiful,” Spain’s Pablo Sarabia said. “Fans are a crucial part of soccer. It had been strange to play in empty stadiums. It’s amazing to have the crowds back with us.”
Spain’s national team hadn’t played in front of its home fans since November 2019, when it defeated Romania 5-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano in qualifying for Euro 2020.
The 36-year-old Ronaldo remained six goals away from tying the all-time scoring record for a men’s national team. The record of 109 goals is held by former Iran striker Ali Daei, the only other male soccer player to surpass the 100-goal milestone. Ronaldo’s best chance of scoring on Friday was with a header that just missed in the 67th minute.
It was mostly a lackluster match, with neither team creating many scoring opportunities. There was more action in the second half but nobody could capitalize on their opportunities.
Portugal had a goal by José Fonte disallowed in the 22nd for a foul by the defender before he headed the ball into the net. Álvaro Morata missed chances for Spain in the second half, hitting the crossbar in a breakaway in stoppage time.
Spain’s final warm-up match for Euro 2020 will be on Tuesday against Lithuania at the Butarque Stadium in Leganés, just outside Madrid. Defending European champion Portugal will host Israel on Wednesday to close out its preparations.
Portugal will play in a difficult Group F that also includes Germany, France and Hungary, which edged Cyprus 1-0.
Spain is in Group E along with Sweden, Poland and Slovakia.
Italy put on a convincing display in its last warm-up match before Euro 2020 with a 4-0 win over the Czech Republic. Ciro Immobile provided Italy’s opener in the 23rd when the Lazio forward controlled a loose ball and fired it in with his right foot. Nicolo Barella doubled the lead three minutes before halftime with a shot that took a deflection off a defender before finding the net.
Immobile set up Lorenzo Insigne to make it 3-0 in the 66th before Domenico Berardi added a fourth.
Roberto Mancini’s Italy faces Switzerland, Turkey and Wales in Group A at Euro 2020. Giacomo Raspadori made his debut for Italy when the 21-year-old Sassuolo forward came on as a substitute.
The Czechs are in Group D with England, Croatia and Scotland.
Finland lost 1-0 to Estonia before it plays in Group B against Belgium, Denmark and Russia.
North Macedonia routed Kazakhstan 4-0 as it gets ready to face Austria, Netherlands and Ukraine in Group C.
In matchups of teams not playing at Euro 2020, Slovenia routed Gibraltar 6-0, Kosovo beat Malta 2-1, Latvia beat Lithuania 3-1, and Iceland edged the Faroe Islands 1-0. (AP)
