Dani Alves to replace Neymar as Brazil team captain at Copa America

Last updated on: 28 May,2019 07:54 am

Dani Alves will replace Neymar as the captain of the Brazilian national team in the Copa America.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Dani Alves will replace Neymar as the captain of the Brazilian national team in the Copa America, the country s football federation (CBF) announced Monday.

"The decision was communicated to Neymar by (coach) Tite on Saturday," CBF said in a statement about the striker, who was handed a three-match suspension for lashing out at a spectator following Paris Saint-Germain s shock defeat by Rennes in the French Cup final earlier this month.

Eight-time winners Brazil face Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru in the group stage, which starts on June 14, after two friendlies against Qatar and Honduras.

Neymar, 27, missed the humiliating 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat by Germany in 2014 due to injury after fracturing his back in the previous round.

A year earlier, he was named player of the tournament at the Confederations Cup as Brazil won the competition for a record fourth time.