The 36-year-old Santos striker has called on his colleagues to join together and lead the Selecao’s charge at the Copa America this summer as a collective unit
Brazil striker Ricardo Oliveira has called on his colleagues to step up and lead the Selecao’s charge at the Copa America in the absence of Neymar.
The Barcelona attacker will sit out of June’s tournament in USA in order to play August’s Olympic Games in Rio.
Dunga’s side have been criticised for an overdependence on Neymar, but 36-year-old Santos forward Oliveira insists he and his colleagues are ready to share the burden usually carried by their captain.
“I think we'll take on our responsibilities as players of the national team,” he said.
“We will feel the absence of a great player, of our captain, but I think the team needs other players who can take this responsibility.
“We need to come together and share the responsibility. We can all take on a leading role and must not let the burden fall on one player.”
Neymar has scored 11 of the 41 goals that have been scored in the 22 matches since Dunga’s July 2014 appointment, despite the Barca star missing six of those games.
Veteran Ricardo Oliveira returned to the national team in September 2015 after an eight-year absence from international football and has since bagged two goals in five Selecao appearances.
He is tipped to lead the line at Copa America next month but insists he and his colleagues are not feeling the pressure, despite expectations of a good showing after they fell at the quarter-finals of last year’s Copa America to Paraguay.
“We are not feeling weighed down by the competition,” he said.
“Brazil must go in search of the title in every competition that we play. As always, we will give our best and focus on winning the trophy."
Brazil have been drawn in Group B at the Centenary version of the Copa America, alongside Ecuador, Haiti and Peru.
Dunga’s side will have one last chance to test themselves ahead of the tournament when they take on Panama as the Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour hits Denver on May 29.
..... - Goal