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• Paraguay v Brazil: Dorival approach will work for Selecao, believes Arana

  Dorival Junior will get things right despite Brazil's underwhelming start to the Copa America, believes left-back Guilherme Arana, as the Selecao prepare to face Paraguay.

  Brazil were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Costa Rica in their opening Group D match on Monday, losing ground on Colombia, who started with a win over Paraguay.

  While Dorival praised aspects of his team's performance in that match, he acknowledged more will be needed in the final third if the Selecao are to challenge for a 10th South American crown. 

  Atletico Mineiro full-back Arana, who played the full 90 minutes last time out, praised Dorival's approach as he opened up on the coach's reaction to the result. 

  "As soon as we entered the dressing room, he praised our pressing after we lost the ball, it was very good, we didn't concede anything defensively," Arana said.

  "He encouraged us, gave us morale. I think that's the thought not only of him but of all the players.

  "The result of the debut was bad, but we still have two games to go. In other words, two great opportunities. That's the thinking. 

  "Of course it's a new job, Dorival arrived recently, the players are new too, but we're focused together with him.

  "Dorival knows what he's doing, he's an excellent coach and he's going to help us a lot."

  Paraguay were beaten 2-1 by Colombia in their opener, leaving them likely needing to cause an upset to have any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

  Head coach Daniel Garnero believes there were plenty of positives to take from that match, saying: "We have a clear idea of our gameplan and the feeling is that we competed at all times.

  "I think it was an even game, we did not manage to bring home the points but we tried to match our opponents. 

  "With Argentina [and Colombia], these were the two teams that arrived at the Copa with great superiority. 

  "There were many positive elements and when we take stock of this match we'll see this."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Paraguay – Julio Enciso 

  Enciso attempted 11 dribbles against Colombia in Paraguay's Copa America opener, the joint-most of any player in the opening round of fixtures at the tournament (tied with Richard Ríos of Colombia). 

  The Brighton and Hove Albion player completed six of them, the second-highest figure in the first round, behind Rios' eight.

  By netting his nation's consolation goal, he became the second-youngest player to score for Paraguay at a major tournament this century (20 years, 153 days), after Ernesto Cristaldo versus Chile at the 2004 Copa America (20 years, 117 days).

  Brazil – Vinicius Junior

  Brazil failed to make their superiority count against Costa Rica, making more passes (695) than any other team across the first matchday of the competition, but only registered three shots on target from the 19 they attempted. 

  Vinicius was withdrawn for future Real Madrid team-mate Endrick 71 minutes in after failing to register a single shot, though he did create a game-high three chances.

   

  He has been substituted in each of the Selecao's last six competitive matches, versus Costa Rica and in three World Cup qualifiers last year, as well as their last two fixtures at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

  After scoring 24 goals and adding nine assists for Los Blancos last season, Vinicius will be expecting to produce a better display on Friday.

  MATCH PREDICTION: BRAZIL WIN

  Brazil recorded 49 entries into Costa Rica's penalty area on matchday one, their joint-highest figure in a Copa America match since such data began being recorded in 2011 (also versus Paraguay in 2019).

  More penetration – and better finishing – will be required next time out.

  Paraguay have not lost any of their last five matches against Brazil at the Copa America, recording one win and four draws.

  This equals the second-longest unbeaten streak against Brazil in the history of the tournament, behind Argentina's eight-match run between 1923 and 1946 (seven wins, one draw), tied with Paraguay's own streak between 1963 and 1983 (two wins, three draws).

  However, Paraguay have only won one of their last six games in all competitions (two draws, three defeats), so Dorvial's team go into the match as strong favourites.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Paraguay – 13.4%

  Brazil – 69.6%

  Draw – 17%

• Venezuela through and Jamaica out as Mexico's hopes hang in the balance

  Venezuela are savouring a famous win after defeating Mexico 1-0 to reach the Copa America quarter-finals.

  Mexico's hopes of progression from Group B will now rest on the final matchday, with Ecuador still in the mix to advance after defeating Jamaica 3-1 in Wednesday's other game.

  Jamaica are now the first team to be eliminated from the tournament, as Venezuela celebrate joining defending champions Argentina in the last eight with a game to spare.

  Salomon Rondon converted a second-half penalty to secure the crucial victory, sending Mexico goalkeeper Julio Gonzalez the wrong way.

  It was the veteran striker's 42nd international goal, extending his record tally for the country having also hit the post earlier in the contest.

  Mexico had a huge opportunity to level the match from the spot, but Venezuela keeper Rafael Romo repelled a spot-kick from Orbelin Pineda three minutes from time.

  Romo is the seventh keeper, and the first from Venezuela, to save a penalty in the competition since 2011 (excluding shoot-outs). 

  "Sometimes we were not in possession of the ball, but we never gave up," Venezuela coach Fernando Batista said. "They give it their all and that makes me very proud."

  Mexico play Ecuador in Arizona on Sunday to determine who will progress with Venezuela.

  Venezuela will still be targeting at least a point in their last match against Jamaica, as that would ensure they top the group and likely avoid a clash with Argentina in the quarters.

  Romo was the star man for Venezuela, making five saves including the penalty, and Mexico can consider themselves unfortunate not to have scored, racking up an expected goals (xG) total of 2.52 from their 18 total shots.

  Mexico coach Jaime Lozano said: "If you generate opportunities as we did, if the man of the match is the opponent's goalkeeper, then yes, things weren't as we expected.

  "But there are 90 minutes ahead. No one is getting off this ship. And we will make it. I am sure we will make it."

  But Ecuador go into that clash with Mexico on a high. They went ahead against Jamaica courtesy of a Kasey Palmer own goal and were two up before the break after Kendry Paez scored from the spot.

  Ecuador will be excited about Paez, whose goal at the age of 17 years and 53 days made him the youngest Copa goalscorer since Johnnier Montano, who netted for Colombia against Argentina in 1999 as a 16-year-old. 

  Paez attempted the second-most shots (six) by an Ecuador player in a Copa match since Opta began recording this data in 2011. Only Enner Valencia, with seven against Mexico in 2015, has had more attempts in a game.

  Jamaica did score their first-ever Copa America goal thanks to West Ham striker Michail Antonio, but Alan Minda made sure of the win for Ecuador by capping a late counter-attack with a goal.

• Lucy Bronze to leave Barcelona on free transfer

  Lucy Bronze is leaving Barcelona after two trophy-laden seasons with the Catalan giants, they have announced.

  Bronze joined Barca as a free agent in June 2022 after her contract with Manchester City expired and has gone on to make 70 appearances for the club.

  She has won two Women's Champions League titles and two Liga F crowns – the second without losing a single game – as well as one Queen's Cup and two Spanish Super Cups.

  The England right-back will depart when her contract expires on June 30, though, with a return to the Women's Super League with City mooted in some circles.

  The 32-year-old could instead opt for a move to the United States, with National Women's Soccer League outfit Angel City another potential destination.

  A statement from Barcelona read: "The club wishes Lucy Bronze good luck and success in her new stage, both personally and professionally."