COPA AMERICA-BRAZIL/TRAINING Brazil's Fred says team is focusing on the Copa America, not on FIFA controversy

Record ID: 150048

  • Title: COPA AMERICA-BRAZIL/TRAINING Brazil's Fred says team is focusing on the Copa America, not on FIFA controversy
  • Date: 3rd June 2015
  • Summary: TERESOPOLIS, BRAZIL (JUNE 03, 2015) (REUTERS) BRAZIL DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER WHO PLAYS FOR SHAKHTAR DONETSK IN UKRAINE, FRED, WHO WAS CALLED UP TO REPLACE INJURED BRAZIL DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER LUIZ GUSTAVO, ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF FRED AT START OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZIL DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER WHO PLAYS FOR SHAKHTAR DONETSK IN UKRAINE, FRED, SA
  • Embargoed: 18th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2OWKL9PYJOHNJODKHBCUOOWA0
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Brazil were back on the practice pitch on Wednesday (June 3) to prepare for the upcoming Copa America 2015 in Chile.
    Midfielder, Fred, who was called up after Wolfsburg's Luiz Gustavo was sidelined due to a knee injury, told journalists between training sessions that the team was trying to keep their focus on the field and not on the controversy surrounding soccer's governing body FIFA. President Sepp Blatter unexpectedly quit on Tuesday (May 2) in the face of a corruption investigation that has engulfed FIFA in the worst crisis of its history.
    "And I think if we lose focus and think outside the field everything will come unravelled. So I think… the CBF gives us the ability to work on the field to do our best on the field, so I think this is our time. It is time for us to clear everything from our heads, put everything aside and just think about the Copa America. The practices, the games and to go for the title of this Cup," Fred, who plays for Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk said.
    Brazil will play two friendlies in preparation of the South American championship, the first against Mexico on June 7 and another against Honduras on June 10.
    Most of the team was present for the second full day of training at the team's Granja Comary training complex surrounded by mountains in the city of Teresopolis, some 90 kilometres (55 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro.
    Though some of the biggest names, including Barcelona's Neymar who will play in Saturday's (June 6) Champions League Final, were still coming off play in Europe.
    The 22-year-old Fred, who is of age to play for Brazil's Olympic squad, said younger players were focused on the Copa America as well as the Olympics which will be hosted in Rio de Janeiro as well as several other Brazilian cities next August.
    "We also have to think about the Olympics next year. I think this new crop (of players) has to work hard for this. And I am really happy to be here being a young player playing in the Copa America so we can enjoy this championship which for me it is great to be here," he said.
    The Copa America tournament will be held in Chile from June 11 to July 4.
    Brazil will play the group C matches along with Peru, Colombia and Venezuela.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register