Flamengo's fans are counting down the hours until Flamengo's debut in the semifinal stage of the Liga das Américas. The games will take place on Friday (February 28.02), Saturday (March 01.03), and Sunday (March 02.03) in Mexico, against Cocodrilos de Caracas, Uberlândia, and Halcones Xalapa, respectively. José Neto's squad is already in the state of Veracruz, where the three matches will be played. Among the players, Olivinha is one of the most motivated and knows that all the matches will be tough.

"I believe that in the second phase, the games will be much more difficult. It's only the best teams from all the initial groups. We know it won't be easy. I think it's unlikely that a difference like the one in the first match (123-90, over Capitanes de Arecibo) will occur, but we're working towards that. It will be very important for the rest of the competition if we have the opportunity to play a game like that first one," he said.

Altitude continues to affect Flamengo. Xalapa, the city in Veracruz where the games will be held, is almost 1500 meters above sea level. Nothing that should bother you. Recently, the Mais Querido professional soccer team also played in Mexico, against León, at an altitude of 1800 meters, and striker Hernane stated that the players didn't feel it. In Quito, where the Rubro-Negro played in the first phase of the Liga de las Américas, the situation was different. Playing on a court that was almost 3000 meters above sea level, the Flamengo players experienced shortness of breath.

"The whole team definitely felt it. We didn't play at the same pace we're used to in Brazil. It was tough. We'd sprint two or three times and then gasp for air. Some players came off and had to use oxygen masks brought by our coaching staff. I had headaches during the day and had to take medication. But the team did well, fought hard against this challenge, and managed to qualify," said Olivinha.