Bruno Guimaraes disappointment on the day his £100m Newcastle United release clause expired

Bruno Guimaraes got his Copa America campaign off to a stuttering start by drawing 0-0 with Costa Rica.

Brazil entered the tournament under immense pressure after winning just two of their last eight games. That run has now stretched to nine, with new Selecao manager Dorival Junior struggling to find a settled team.

Despite 19 shots and 74 per cent possession, Brazil failed to break a stubborn backline down as Costa Rica earned an unlikely point. Newcastle United talisman Guimaraes played the entire game on a day when his £100million release clause expired.

Speaking post-match, his best friend, West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta, insisted Brazil “played great” despite the scoreline. He said: "We played a great game. We fought until the end, I had three chances myself, we were frustrated not to win, but we leave with confidence. We played our game, we have to improve our finishing, myself in particular, so that we can win."

Dorival, the national coach, blamed poor finishing for the game remaining goalless. Brazil take on Miguel Almiron’s Paraguay in their second Copa America clash this weekend.

"We had to find a solution, I was trying to make a change,” he said. “We tried various alternatives and several situations were created but, in the end, we were unsuccessful with our finishing.

“Our ball recovery was impressive. In my opinion, what was missing too much was that we failed to do this job of spreading the opponent's backline more. We had to find a solution. I was trying to make a change."