Internationals | Gomes makes competitive Brazil debut

27th June 2024

Having picked up three senior friendly caps, Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes made his competitive debut for his country this week when he started Brazil’s 2024 Copa America opener against Costa Rica.

Gomes became Wolves’ first Brazilian international at a major tournament when he stepped out for Selecao in the early hours of Tuesday morning as he tries to help Brazil regain the title they last won in 2019.

As well as the Copa America, Euro 2024 is also in full flow, but it’s been a difficult few days for the Wolves contingent, and wolves.co.uk rounds up all the international action featuring Old Gold players from this week.

Gomes | Brazil 0-0 Costa Rica

Gomes lined up in the centre of the park out in California as Brazil were held to a goalless draw in their first game in Group D.

Playing alongside Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes and West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta, Gomes was on the SoFi Stadium pitch for 83 minutes before being replaced by Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli as Brazil head coach Dorival Junior tried to add more attackers to his team in search of a late winner.

During his competitive debut, Gomes produced a solid display and achieved 95 per cent pass accuracy, as his Brazil struggled to break Costa Rica down.

The result leaves Brazil second in the group behind leaders Colombia, after their 2-1 win over Paraguay. Gomes will hope to be back in the Brazil side as they face the Paraguayans in the early hours of Saturday morning (2am).

Lembikisa | Ecuador 3-1 Jamaica

Starring for Jamaica at right wing-back in their narrow defeat to Mexico in their Copa America opener at the weekend, Wolves Academy graduate Dexter Lembikisa was back in the side against Ecuador last night.

It was another difficult result for Lembikisa and his country, who fell behind inside 15 minutes when a cross deflected off the boot of Coventry City’s Kasey Palmer and looped over the keeper and into the top corner of the net.

A contentious penalty also went against Jamaica before the break to give Ecuador a two-goal lead heading into half-time, but West Ham’s Michail Antonio halved the deficit on 54 minutes when he turned the ball home from a corner.

Lembikisa was replaced on 88 minutes, and shortly after the Wolves defender left the pitch, his side conceded a decisive third. Two defeats from two means Jamaica cannot advance to the next round, whatever their result against Venezuela on Monday, and they became the first side to be eliminated from this season’s Copa America.

Sa, Semedo, Neto | Georgia 2-0 Portugal

Following impressive performances in both of Portugal’s opening two games of Euro 2024, Pedro Neto was handed a start by Roberto Martinez for the final game of Group F on Wednesday evening.

Turning out at left wing-back, Neto produced some moments which almost turned to goals for his country, but on an underwhelming night for Portugal – who already had their place as group winners confirmed going into the match – it was their opponents who came out on top.

It took less than two minutes for Georgia to take the lead when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia slid the ball under Diogo Costa, before the minnows made it two from the penalty spot after the break.

Before that, Neto almost equalised for his side when his curled corner was palmed away by Giorgi Mamardashvili, while Nelson Semedo, who once again came off a bench which also included Jose Sa, tested the keeper when he got onto the end of a Ruben Neves cross.

But Georgia were able to hang on to achieve the greatest result in their footballing history and claim a third place spot and advance to the knockout stages. Defeat doesn’t change anything for Portugal, who will now face Slovenia in the last 16 on Monday at 8pm.