Have your commentator’s notes gone out the window with news of multiple positive COVID cases in the Venezuela team and the emergency call-up of 15 additional players?
🧶Thread: Here’s the backstory to their much changed and last minute Copa America squad:
🗓31 May: Venezuela Announce Squad for World Cup Qualifiers
Yordan Osorio (CB, Parma), Yangel Herrera (CM, Man City), Yeferson Soteldo (W, Toronto), and Salomón Rondón (Dalian Pro) are all absent through injury. Darwin Machís (W, Granada) goes onto miss both games with a knock.
🗓03 & 08 June: World Cup Qualifiers vs. Bolivia & Uruguay
Venezuela lose 3-1 to 🇧🇴 in La Paz and draw 0-0 with 🇺🇾 in Caracas. Wilker Ángel (CB, unattached) tests positive for COVID and will miss the Copa América. Joel Graterol (GK, América de Cali) plays both games. #vinotinto
🗓10 June: Venezuela Announce 28-man Copa América Squad
Osorio, Ángel, Machís, and Rondón all remain absent through injury. Soteldo is called up in the knowledge he won’t be fit for at least the first two games. Yangel H. is also selected.
🗓11 June: First Day in Brazil; Multiple Positive PCR Results
@carlostaracher breaks news that 7 of the Venezuelan delegation test positive for COVID. Later, multiple sources name 7 players. Tomás Rincón did not fly to Brazil with the squad, despite being named.
🗓12 June: CONMEBOL announce 13 Positive PCR Results
Head Coach Peseiro confirms 7 of the cases were starters vs. Uruguay but does not name them. Chancellor (CB), Villanueva (CB), Rosales (RB), Otero (AM), Josef Martínez (ST) are suspected. Rincón confirms himself publicly.
🗓12 June: An additional 15 players join the Venezuela Squad
16 passed PCR tests with only Oscar González not joining the team in Brazil. His passport could not be readied in time. Jan Hurtado (ST, Red Bull Bragatino) was already in Brazil, the other 14 flew from Venezuela.
😐Who are the 15 New Arrivals?
12 play in Venezuela’s top division, @LigaFUTVE. Strikers Jan Hurtado (21, on loan from Boca Juniors), Dani Pérez (19, Club Brugge) and Eric Ramírez (22, Rubin Kazan) play overseas. 12 are uncapped for the senior national team.
⬇️Find out more.⬇️
Goalkeepers:
Schiavone (@Metropolitanos_) & Yustiz (@AraguaFC) have both played 7 Copa Sudamericana games this season.
Romero (@Portuguesa_FC) was in Peseiro’s recent domestic training module and has 4 clean sheets in 6 games.
Not likely to play.
Defenders:
20yo right back Fereira (@Caracas_FC) was part of Venezuela’s U20 World Cup team that finished runners-up to England in 2017; 2019 League Champion; 20 games across Copa Libertadores & Sudamericana.
La Mantia (@DvoLaGuaira) & Osio (@Caracas_FC) provide cover at CB.
Defenders (continued):
With 4 centre backs missing, it’s likely at least one of them will see minutes alongside Nahuel Ferraresi (@ManCity) who impressed against Uruguay. Fereira could also feature.
La Mantia has 1 previous cap: 7 minutes in a friendly vs. USA in 2017.
Midfielders:
The middle of the park was already flush with numbers in the original call-up. @Metropolitanos_ duo Bahachille (20) & Larotonda (22) are names to remember even if they do not feature: EU passport holders and two of the best CMs in Liga FUTVE.
Midfielders (continued):
Rivas (@EstudiantesMEFC) & Leo Flores (@Caracas_FC) are further options in the centre. Flores was 2019 league champion and Rivas has previously been called up without debuting.
Robinson Flores (@Metropolitanos_) &
Figueroa (@ZamoraFutbolC) are wingers.
Midfielders (continued):
Figueroa (24) is in the goalscoring form of his life: 6 goals in 8 league games in 2021 after 5 in the previous 2 seasons. With Murillo, Soteldo, & likely Otero out vs. 🇧🇷, there’s a chance of minutes from the bench for one of Figueroa and R. Flores.
Strikers:
Perhaps the most exciting & likely to be involved cohort. Hurtado was part of the 2017 U20 World Cup runner-up team and is still tipped for a big future. Ramírez has just moved to Rubin Kazan, following in the steps of Rondón, after a 17-goal season with DAC 1904.
Strikers (continued):
Ramírez was expected to be in the initial call-up by many. His absence drew significant public criticism. Made his international debut in Oct 20 vs. 🇵🇾.
Pérez signed for Club Brugge in January & made 7 sub appearances, scoring 1 as they won the league.
Conclusion:
They have the unenviable task of playing hosts Brazil in the Copa América opener. Many won’t look past the scoreline if they lose heavily – but they should. This is a severely impacted squad, many with little preparation through no fault of their own.
End Thread.
Update: 18:00 GMT - Jefferson Savarino Will Not Play vs. Brazil
The Atletico Mineiro attacking midfielder has posted on social media that he hopes to be back soon.
Wide options are now limited to Celis, Figueroa, and R. Flores. The latter two only arrived in Brazil last night.
Update: 20:37 GMT - Nahuel Ferraresi Will Not Play vs. Brazil
As reported by @carlostaracher, the defender produced a ‘doubtful negative’ from a PCR test and has been prevented from playing by CONMEBOL. This leaves Venezuela without 5 centre backs for tonight’s game.
Update: 20:45 GMT - XI to face Brazil released; 2 ‘keepers on 7-man bench
José Peseiro’s men line up in a 5-4-1 formation with four central midfielders. Lone striker Fernando Aristeguieta captains. Full debuts for four players: La Mantia, José Martínez, Cumana, Adrián Martínez.
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