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‘Brazil’s Copa America preparation different to World Cup’
Santiago: Defender David Luiz says Brazil’s preparations for the Copa America have been different from those for last year’s World Cup.
Former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was fired after Brazil’s 7-1 World Cup semi-final loss to Germany in July, often held short training sessions to keep his players fresh during the tournament, reports Xinhua.
His successor Dunga, who has since led the Selecao to 10 straight victories, has been known to extend training sessions beyond two hours.
“We always prepare the best way possible,” the Paris Saint-Germain centre-back said on Thursday.
“The players who were part of the World Cup have matured. This preparation is different. We are working every day to learn, grow and try to win the competition.”
Brazil fine-tuned their Copa America preparations with a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Sunday and a 1-0 defeat of Honduras on Wednesday.
Dunga’s team has been drawn in the same group as Colombia, Peru and Venezuela for the quadrennial tournament in Chile.
The Selecao will play their first match against Peru in Temuco on June 14.
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.