Brazil is again! Why this squad is the perfect Selecao we have seen in a very long time

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil — Fourteen video games undefeated, a goalkeeper unbeaten for his nation since March (603 minutes, plus stoppage time, and counting), a coach who oozes confidence, forwards who convert possibilities (and return the favor), a water-tight protection and a midfield creator who’s regaining his mojo away from the Camp Nou.

Oh, and no Neymar.

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That is sufficient for Brazil to keep up its unofficial Southern Hemisphere title belt towards the everlasting rival, Argentina. The Albiceleste have been dispatched 2-Zero in an engrossing recreation that epitomized the Copa America: house supporters near rapture, scything tackles, arsenic glares, point-and-cuss melees and moments of elegant talent. Most of all, it was exhausting: to observe and, presumably, to play in. Which is what the Copa must be.

Dani Alves — kicks and flicks at 36 — belted out the nationwide anthem, supported by a frenzied crowd of 55,000-plus, as if it have been his personal private Haka: eyes broad, jaw quivering. All that was lacking was the flicking tongue and elbow bash. He was there the final time Brazil and Argentina squared off within the Copa America (as was Lionel Messi) in 2007 and he was right here on this very stadium, watching helpless from the bench as Brazil succumbed to the “Mineirazo,” the notorious 7-1 World Cup semifinal horror present towards Germany in 2014. He is aware of greater than most how lengthy it would take to expiate that day and he is aware of it would take greater than a victory over Argentina. Nevertheless it’s a step alongside the lengthy path again to the place the Selecao belongs.

Brazil went some option to exorcising the ghost of their crushing World Cup semifinal loss on the similar stadium. Getty

Argentina had not crushed Brazil in a aggressive recreation since earlier than the Messi period, in June 2005. To search out the final time that they had crushed the Selecao in Brazil in a event, you could dial the clock again greater than half a century, to the 1964 competitors organized to have fun the Brazilian FA’s 50-year anniversary.

However the Copa America, whereas drenched in historical past, cares little for what has gone earlier than. Tite, Brazil’s human beta-blocker of a coach, knew this all too properly. A lot can occur in 90 minutes, and infrequently does, when these two meet. Tackles have been flying from the outset, Nicolas Tagliafico was the primary to enter the guide (seven others would comply with, together with Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni) inside 10 minutes and Gabriel Jesus must momentarily go away the pitch with a blood damage shortly thereafter.

However Brazil can do each snuff and avant-garde cinema, and the sequence that led to the opener was proof of this. Philippe Coutinho nutmegged Leandro Paredes, Alves pulled off a “sombrero” and a no-look move that launched Roberto Firmino broad on the best. A swift, laborious cross and Gabriel Jesus was there to show it into the again of the online.

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The gang howled with elation, solely to be reminded that Argentina are not any home of playing cards when Sergio Aguero despatched Messi’s free kick towards the crossbar. It dropped tantalizingly outdoors the objective line, teasing the Argentines earlier than it was cleared away. The truth is, Scaloni’s crew had loads of endeavor, however Tite had his recreation plan: a diamond in the midst of the park with Casemiro and Firmino prime and backside, Coutinho and Arthur both aspect. “It gave us the premise to restrict Messi and management the midfield,” Tite stated afterwards. “The speedy guys on the flanks did the remaining.”

Tite described Messi as “extra-terrestrial” and you might see what he meant. The Barcelona star might have been restricted, nevertheless it solely takes him a second to do critical injury. A fierce shot hit the publish to Alisson’s proper, moments later he despatched a ball whizzing throughout the goalmouth, of the kind that the slightest contact turns right into a objective or, if you happen to’re unfortunate, an personal objective. Moments later, considered one of his patented accelerate-and-swerve strikes prompted a free kick from simply outdoors the field: Alisson acquired two massive paws to it because it headed for the highest nook.

Then got here the nail within the coffin in a traditional reversal. Aguero bumped into Alves as he cleared the ball and stayed down, maybe claiming a foul. Argentina did not fairly cease, however they stuttered lengthy sufficient for Brazil to engineer a devastating counterattack which noticed Gabriel Jesus pores and skin Nicolas Otamendi and sq. it for Firmino’s tap-in. The Brazil bench emptied, the gang rejoiced, Maracana-bound. Moments later, the mantra would rise from the stands: “E-LI-MI-NA-DO! E-LI-MI-NA-DO!”

Argentina captain Lionel Messi suffered but extra heartbreak at a serious worldwide event. Getty

And, certainly, Argentina have been, although they go away with their heads held excessive. Not as a result of, in a recreation of tiny margins, they will level to the 2 instances they hit the woodwork and to a penalty shout mysteriously not given by a VAR that appeared to take the evening off. Relatively, as a result of they grew stronger because the event progressed, (largely) held their nerve in troublesome circumstances and seemed like one thing aside from Leo and 10 pick-n-mix footballers assembly for the primary time. This was the primary event since June 2016 that Argentina fielded the identical XI in consecutive video games. Who knew that it’d truly enhance chemistry?

“By way of high quality of play in the present day we should be taking part in within the remaining,” Scaloni stated afterward, overstating issues just a bit, earlier than blaming the referee. “I do not like him.” His contract is up and his future is within the steadiness, however he is proper when he says that, regardless of some obtrusive weaknesses, there’s a base from which to construct.

Argentina’s touring supporters evidently agreed, furiously waving their flags like lassos on the remaining whistle, refusing to be drowned out by the green-and-gold jubilation throughout them. Even after the longest evening — and it is now 26 years and counting since their final trophy — comes the daybreak.

As for Brazil, we’re properly previous daybreak and into Excessive Midday territory on Sunday on the Maracana (dwell at four p.m. on ESPN+). From again to entrance, the items are in place and the mentality is true, too. There is a selflessness and a confidence about them that carries them by the bumpy patch. This is not essentially the most gifted Brazil squad in historical past — although they’re nonetheless oodles forward of most different nations — however it could be essentially the most environment friendly, clever and single-minded Selecao we have seen in a very long time.