Who's up and who's down in the Brazil squad for Copa América?

Dorival Júnior had the opportunity to rotate the Brazilian National Team roster in the last tests before the Copa América.

The coach employed 23 of the 26 players called up in the two friendly, which resulted in a 3-2 victory over Mexico and a 1-1 tie with the US.

Only goalkeepers Bento and Rafael, and defender Gabriel Magalhães did not play in these two matches.

With the Copa América approaching, it's time to assess who's on the rise and who's slipping following these two friendlies.

On The Rise 👀

Endrick ⬆️.

He played 29 minutes against Mexico and 25 minutes against the United States, coming off the bench in each game.

Despite this, he scored the game-saving goal against the Mexicans with a perfect header in the 50th minute of the second half.

Dorival Jr. has been cautious with the 17-year-old, but Endrick has shown that he may be a valuable asset in the Copa America.

Rodrygo ⬆️.

He is the second-most essential player on the Brazilian national team, trailing only Vini Jr.

With his Real Madrid teammate being relatively subdued (see below), it was left to Rodrygo to take the initiative up front.

He did not play against Mexico, but was the finest player on the pitch against the United States, scoring Brazil's only goal.

Savinho ⬆️.

Dorival envisions a perfect attack consisting of Raphinha, Rodrygo, and Vinicius Júnior.

However, the Girona forward has given the coach cause for concern, particularly after his performance in the first game.

Even if he starts the Copa América from the bench, he is an intriguing prospect for adding speed to the attack and changing the game.

Raphinha ⬆️.

Despite his strong performance, Savinho may not be given a starting spot because his main competition stood out as well.

The Barcelona attacker helped Rodrygo score Brazil's goal in the 1–1 tie with the United States.

Furthermore, he was active throughout the game, particularly at the start, taking shots from outside the box and causing problems for the opposing defense.

On The Decline 👀

Alisson ⬇️.

Until recently, he was the (nearly) uncontested starter at goalie for the Brazilian National Team. Today, the situation is different.

Even with Éderson injured, some fans are criticizing Alisson and clamoring for Bento to start.

The three goals allowed in the two friendlies—particularly the goal by the United States—have fueled criticism.

Following his error on Wednesday (12th), he made excellent saves to avoid a defeat. So, does Alisson deserve to start?

Lucas Paquetá ⬇️.

He reported to the Brazilian National Team shortly after learning of an inquiry into possible betting impropriety.

Off-field concerns appear to have impacted him. He lost the ball, which resulted in Mexico's opening goal.

He couldn't match his prior intensity. With strong competition, Paquetá's spot in the Copa América is under peril.

Vini Jr ⬇️.

He is the star of the Brazilian National Team, an uncontested starter, and a contender for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

Because of this, supporters expected more from him. He couldn't compete with the United States.

To make matters worse, he squandered a clear chance that would have given Brazil the win in the dying moments.

He needs to rediscover his top-level form in order to lead Brazil to victory and move closer to individual accolades.

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