The Copa America gets underway on Friday night as tournament hosts and favourites Brazil face Bolivia for the tournament opener in Sao Paulo.
Samba Boys star forward Neymar is out with injury and so it falls to others wearing the famous canary yellow jerseys to step up in his absence.
National boss Tite has kept faith with Philippe Coutinho and now needs the Barcelona attacking midfielder more than ever.
Coutinho has occupied the role that Kaka did so successfully for many years supporting the Brazil frontline in warm-up friendlies, scoring from the spot in a 7-0 rout of Honduras last time out.
As he appears to be the Samba Boys’ designated penalty taker and may also be on free-kick duty, Coutinho is well worth considering at odds of 7/5 with Paddy Power for a wincast.
Honduras and Bolivia sit very close together in the FIFA World Rankings. Both are just outside the top 60, whereas Brazil are rated the third best men’s national team on the planet.
Hosts hot favourites to start tournament with win
Nothing other than a comprehensive home win on the Atlantic coast is expected. If the tournament were in Bolivia and at high altitude, then it may be a different outcome altogether but the Samba Boys have a clear advantage.
When their opposition from the heart of the Andes last came down from the interior, Brazil battered them 5-0.
Coutinho scored the second of five goals against Bolivia that day in a World Cup qualifier back in 2016, with Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino also later on target.
Those forwards are shorter prices in the betting on this game, leaving Coutinho as the value punt at 6/4 anytime and 7/5 for the wincast.
The Samba Boys, as when hosting the World Cup five years ago, have a very easy Copa America draw on paper and ought to be breezing the group stage.
This is a golden opportunity for Brazil and Coutinho to lay down markers before tournament rivals Argentina and Uruguay kick off their respective pools.
Bet of the Day: 7/5 with Paddy Power, Philippe Coutinho wincast in Brazil v Bolivia.
