Rivaldo criticises Brazil for lack of a No. 10: 'I felt great sadness when watching'

Posted Tuesday, June 07, 2016 by ESPN

World Cup winner Rivaldo has criticised Brazil's national team for playing without a No. 10 for most of Saturday's 0-0 draw with Ecuador in the Selecao's Copa America opener, saying it caused him "great sadness."

The two-time World Player of the Year was the principle playmaker for his country in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups in which Brazil finished second and first respectively. The former Barcelona superstar also helped his country to a Copa America title in 1999, finishing top scorer in addition to being named the tournament's top player.

With usual No. 10 Neymar not participating, Santos star Lucas Lima is wearing the famed jersey for Brazil's current Copa campaign, while Sao Paulo's Ganso is also suited to the role.

Brazil struggled to create quality scoring chances against a compact and athletic Ecuador side on Saturday, and Rivaldo took to Instagram to lament the Selecao's lack of a No. 10 -- made famous by Pele, Zico and others -- on the pitch.

"Yesterday I felt great sadness when watching Brazil's game and I saw that the No. 10 was on the substitutes' bench," Rivaldo's post read. "Before the shirt was a reference four national team. Though Neymar, our No. 10 is not in the Copa America, the 10 shirt remains with Lucas Lima, a great player, that only received an opportunity 40 minutes into the second half. In my opinion Lucas Lima or Ganso deserve more opportunities."

Rivaldo -- whose post featured images of iconic Brazilian No. 10s Pele, Rivellino, Zico, himself, Ronaldinho and Kaka -- then called for Benfica striker Jonas to be sacrificed, citing his lack of goal-scoring chances without a playmaker on the pitch to supply him.

"If you don't have a No. 10 on the pitch, the first to be sacrificed will be Jonas, who won't have opportunities at goal because the ball doesn't find him."

Brazil will face Peru in their second group stage game on Wednesday, June 8 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.