Brazil boss quiet on likely changes

Brazil boss quiet on likely changes

Published Jul. 8, 2011 10:33 a.m. ET

There are likely to be changes when Brazil takes the field against Paraguay in the Copa America on Saturday, although coach Mano Menezes is not ready to confirm them.

Brazil was held 0-0 by Venezuela in its opening Group B match, prompting rumors that Robinho might be benched.

Menezes said on Thursday he will wait until just before kickoff to announced the starting 11.

Venezuela faces Ecuador in the other Group B match on Saturday.

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''We are working on getting ready for the match, and we'll reveal the lineup just before the match,'' Menezes said.

Reports suggest Menezes will replace Robinho with Lucas, and Ramires with Elano at midfield.

Robinho and Ramires were removed from the first-team formation in the second half of practice on Wednesday.

Robinho and 19-year-old Neymar are usually among the most animated in training, but Robinho was frowning in the practice.

''We can only think about winning the match,'' Menezes said. ''Paraguay is a tough team that plays well from top to bottom. We need to be careful with them.''

Group B is dead even after the first round with all four teams on one point.

''We'll see what happens in the match, but we have to be ready for any kind of attack that Paraguay comes up with.''

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