Brazil’s coach Dunga has called for midfielder Philippe Coutinho to replicate his Liverpool form for his country ahead of tonight’s Copa America game against Peru.
The Liverpool playmaker scored a hat-trick in the Seleção’s second game of the tournament against Haiti, including two spectacular solo efforts. He has been encouraged by Dunga to pursue this run of form and lead Brazil to glory.
“Coutinho is taking advantage of his opportunity. With every game and every practice, his confidence is growing,” said Dunga, according to the Liverpool Echo.
“We talked with him for him to be the Coutinho of Liverpool, dictate play, lead and take risks.”
Coutinho scored eight goals and registered five assists for Liverpool in the 2015/2016 Premier League season, including two goals in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, as well as registering a goal and an assist in their 4-1 win against Manchester City at the Etihad.
Brazil are without their talismanic winger Neymar after he opted to play for Brazil at the Rio Olympics this summer instead of the Copa America, as well as Coutinho’s club team-mate Roberto Firmino, who was part of a number of star players left out by Brazil’s coach.
These exclusions from the squad have created room for someone to step up and lead the team, a role Coutinho perfected in that game against the Haitians. His three goals were part of a 7-1 victory in Orlando, which puts them at the top of Group B.
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