Brazil head coach Tite slammed the inadmissible pitch at Estadio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro, despite Wednesday s controversial 2-1 Copa America win over Colombia.
Tite s Brazil were forced to come from behind for their 10th consecutive win, needing a last-gasp Casemiro header 10 minutes into stoppage time to secure a dramatic victory midweek.
Luis Diaz s stunning and acrobatic volley had given Colombia a 10th-minute lead and defending champions Brazil struggled to create any chances until the second half, with substitute Roberto Firmino equalising with 12 minutes of regulation remaining.
Colombia were left seething when Firmino s 78th-minute equaliser came after the ball deflected off referee Nestor Pitana in the build-up – the official allowing play to continue rather than call for a drop-ball, leading to lengthy protests from Colombia.
99:22 Brazil’s second goal was timed at 99:22 – the latest recorded 90th minute goal in a Copa América game since Vidal scored against Bolivia in 2016 at 99:48. Turnaround.
— OptaJoao (@OptaJoao)
Casemiro s 100th-minute goal – officially timed at 99:22, the latest recorded 90th-minute goal at the Copa America since 2016, then sealed top spot for in-form Brazil in Group B.
Brazil head coach Tite took aim at the playing surface, claiming it spoiled the whole spectacle and made it hard for his side to play.
We have to understand the game within a context, Tite said at his news conference. It was a field that I won t call horrible, but very bad for playing football, it spoils the whole spectacle.
Whoever wants to create cannot. It is inadmissible for athletes from two high-level teams, who play in Europe with such a great quality of turf and a better, bigger spectacle, to come and play on a field under these conditions.
The ball is torn. The fluency of the play is all impaired. If I take all the players from Brazil and ask them to comment on it, they will say almost the same thing I am saying.
If we want a great show, we have to provide the conditions. It was very damaged. It s one of the aspects that I want to make clear.
Tite, whose Brazil had their run of six consecutive clean sheets ended, added: This game is not the characteristic of the traditional Brazil against Colombia game. All the other games were competitive, but they had more play.
We played pressured. And playing pressured is difficult, soon you want to get rhythm and you can t.
Aquela foto clássica no vestiário depois de mais uma vitória da na !
: Lucas Figueiredo/CBF
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol)
Tite was forthright on the playing surface, although he refused to be drawn on his side s controversial leveller, which occurred after the ball deflected off referee Nestor Pitana, who opted to allow play to continue.
Colombia s players protested the decision with Pitana for several minutes, after a goal was awarded despite a VAR check.
I regret what I m going to say, but Pitana has to take care, Tite said. He has to take care.
