Defender Marquinhos is one of the leaders of the Brazilian National Team at the Copa América. The Paris Saint-Germain player has been on the national team for more than ten years and has 114 call-ups and 84 games wearing the Yellow jersey. With so much experience, the 30-year-old from São Paulo is always attentive to help the younger ones in the National Team. He is one of coach Dorival Júnior"s trump cards in the dispute for the continental competition, which will open on Thursday (20).
“Before I worked with people who I was a fan of, with great idols, people who made their names in the National Team. Today, I play this role [of inspiration for the youngest]. It"s all a matter of time, history, daily life with them. I live normally, I try to get closer and closer to the players who are with me, because I know that Thiago, Miranda, David Luiz were important to me," said the player, who was a starter in the draw against the United States on the 12th, in Orlando. In the friendly match, he formed a duo with Beraldo, his club teammate in France.
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“You have to be careful with your attitudes, behave in the best way. There is always someone watching. I am living like this. I know my role, I try to bring to the National Team ways to help these boys who are arriving," added the former Corinthians player.
The National Team debuts in the Copa América on Monday (24). Brazil will face Costa Rica in Los Angeles. The opening of the tournament will be on Thursday (20), when Argentina and Canada face each other in Atlanta. Colombia and Paraguay will also be Brazil"s opponents in the first phase of the competition.
Brazil has been preparing since May 30 in Orlando for the Copa América dispute. During this period, the team led by Dorival Júnior drew with the United States and defeated Mexico 3-2 on the 8th in Texas.
Marquinhos has already played four editions of the Copa América and stated that Brazil is one of the favorites to win the continental competition.
“Brazil will always be one of the favorites, but there are others too. The field will say a lot. Teams with good moments, perhaps not the champions. Others who are not experiencing good moments can win. Everyone is preparing. With us it will be no different. On the field it says much more than the surroundings," said the defender, when asked about the favoritism of the Argentines, the current world champions.
