Brazil

As the final whistle blew on Saturday's 0-0 draw between the Brazil National Team and Ecuador, boos began to ring down from fans all around the Rose Bowl. Brazil had been largely unimpressive and ineffective, punctuated only by occasional moments of magic that failed to produce anything of substance. For anyone hoping that Brazil could shake off the shackles of the 2014 World Cup and regain their spot at the top of world football, it was a depressing dose of reality. 

Neymar Jr. is both the Brazil National Team's best player and its captain, but the 24-year-old striker isn't playing in the biggest senior soccer tournament in America this summer. Because Brazil are saving him for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he's watching it from the sidelines.

The Selecao striker watched the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Willian draw with Ecuador in their first match in the Copa America Centenario while accompanied by the likes of Justin Bieber, Jamie Foxx and Lewis Hamilton.

Brazil vs Ecuador finished as a nil-nil draw after an intense and controversial 90 minutes which saw an Ecuador goal incorrectly disallowed. The result sees Peru stay atop Group B as leaders. 

Roberto Carlos struck the greatest free kick the world had ever seen against France at the 1997 Tournoi de France. Unable to classify the actions of the Brazilian, the description “banana free kick” entered the soccer dictionary. Now, 17 years later, a Brazilian compatriot named Anderson Pico has once again accomplished the impossible. 

There are a few mysteries in life we might never get the answers to. Where did we come from? Where do we go? And what goes on inside of Dunga’s head?

Photo: @futbolsapiens | Twitter

When talking about Brazilian soccer clubs, the average soccer fan will know a decent amount of them, like Corinthians who stunned Chelsea in the Club World Cup a few years ago, or the Internacional side that took down one of the strongest teams in history, 2006 Barcelona, or even the Sao Paulo squad that defeated Liverpool in the 2005 Club World Cup final.

Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo has warned tourists to stay away from Rio De Janeiro for the upcoming Rio Olympics that are set to take place this summer. 

The Brazilian legend cited the increase of violence and political turmoil as reasons to stay away from Brazil. 

When the Brazilian Federation announced that Neymar would be representing his national team at the Olympics and not the Copa America Centenario this summer, soccer fans in Pasadena, Orlando and Foxborough released a collective groan. 

Without their star player, will Brazil still be "can’t miss" as a traveling spectacle? Formerly descending upon cities like the Harlem Globetrotters with their dazzling array of tricks, skills and household names, you can’t help but feel that this Brazilian squad is comparatively poor.