Brazil sees Copa test as springboard to 2014
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China Daily, June 22, 2011
Reigning champion Brazil will be looking beyond next month's Copa America to the World Cup it will host in 2014, coach Mano Menezes said on Monday.
The 'auriverde' will use the Copa as a springboard to what they hope will be a sixth world crown but the latter tournament will be the clear priority - even though they hope to put one over rival Argentina, which hosts the continental showpiece from July 1.
"We are going to use all the opportunities (afforded by the Copa schedule) to prepare ourselves well for the World Cup," Menezes said in Rio as the squad prepared to set off to Argentina on Tuesday in advance of its first pool meeting with Venezuela on July 3.
Recent friendlies have not shown the flair in abundance which Brazil fans crave - their last outing was a 1-0 win over Romania in Ronaldo's final goodbye to the fans and that came somewhat limply on the heels of a goalless draw with 2010 World Cup finalist Holland.
But Menezes, who replaced Dunga after Brazil lost to the Dutch in the World Cup quarterfinals, insists he is building a strong side.
"We have the basis (of a side) which has been used in most (recent) matches and that will form the backbone for Venezuela," before further pool games against Paraguay and Ecuador.
"Theoretically, Paraguay are the strongest of the three teams (in Brazil's pool) but that doesn't mean the others won't pose problems," said Menezes.
"We can say Argentina are the favorites as they are playing at home - by the same token Brazil will be favorites for the World Cup in 2014 - well that's the theory," said Menezes.
Earlier, AC Milan's Brazilian defender Thiago Silva made Argentina and Brazil joint favorites to lift the Copa.
"Between Brazil and Argentina, it'll be 50/50 - Argentina can be seen as favorites as they'll be at home but we are also seen as the team to beat as we won the last two editions," Silva said.
But he also forecast that World Cup semifinalist Uruguay would pose a threat. Santos stars Elano, Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso will join the squad after they play their Copa Libertadores final return against Uruguay's Penarol on Wednesday.
