Vinicius Out of Quarterfinals! Rafinha’s Stunning Goal Still Leaves Brazil Winless

Sayak Banerjee / 03-07-2024

Brazil enters the quarterfinals of Copa America with a sense of unease. Their group stage campaign began with a draw. Although they secured a significant victory over Paraguay in their second match, defensive issues persisted. Even after two matches, Brazil’s quarterfinal spot wasn’t guaranteed. A win in the final match would have seen them top their group. A draw was necessary to ensure progression to the knockout stage. Ultimately, Brazil advanced in second place, with various concerns still looming. Despite Rafinha’s unbelievable goal against Colombia, Brazil could only manage a draw, failing to secure a victory.

In the 12th minute of the match, Rafinha scored a stunning goal from a free-kick. However, a one-goal lead is never safe. The tension rose in the first half when Colombia equalized. In added time, Daniel Muñoz scored for Colombia, making it 1-1. The rest of the match saw Brazil trying to hold their defense. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Colombia topping the group with seven points, and Brazil advancing as the second team from the group with five points.

Already missing Neymar due to injury, Brazil faced another significant blow before the quarterfinals. Vinicius Junior, their primary attacking threat, received a yellow card, his second of the tournament, ruling him out of the quarterfinals. Without Vinicius, Brazil will face immense pressure in the quarterfinals, especially with their upcoming match against Uruguay.