Miami, Florida—The Samba Boy’s quest to add the Copa America crown to their collection of international titles got off to a stuttering start as a dominating Brazil was held to a scoreless draw by resolute Costa Rica in their Copa America Group D opener at the Sofia Stadium.

Tite’s men fashioned a dominant performance in possession, peppering the Costa Rican goal with attempts, but lacked the cutting edge up front. With little imagination to break down an organized defensive display, they missed their injured Neymar, the attacking spark who usually ignited them in the final third.

Marquinhos’ joy, back in the 30th minute, did not last longer than necessary—the VAR check ruled out his header for a foul in the setup. The angst mounted on Brazil as Patrick Sequeira, Costa Rica’s goalkeeper, withheld the barrage of shots at the goal by Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr., and Lucas Paquetá. Second-half introductions of Raphinha and exciting young talent in Endrick could not get this team off and running right.

Costa Rica’s disciplined display deserves immense credit. Their compact backline absorbed the pressure, frustrating Brazil with their defensive strategy. This result has significantly altered the dynamics of Group D, with Colombia maintaining their top position after a victory against Paraguay.

This result underscores the pressing need for Brazil to sharpen its attacking tools before its next game against Paraguay. Tite will be banking on his attacking stars to find their scoring boots again, ensuring that no upsets occur in its pursuit of Copa America glory.