Successful Copa America on house soil a morale increase for Brazil in its quest for World Cup glory

One of many nice issues about soccer is that each sport unfolds another way. The identical two groups can meet one another twice and produce totally different narratives. Fortunately for the ultimate of the 2019 Copa America, the second assembly between Brazil and Peru proved very totally different from the primary.

Within the group sport in Sao Paulo, Brazil steamrolled their option to a 5-Zero victory. Little greater than two weeks later, and a 45-minute flight away in Rio de Janeiro, that they had issues a lot more durable, with the result unsure till close to the top of their Three-1 victory.

Earlier than the kickoff, there was a minute’s silence in Maracana Stadium for Joao Gilberto, the bossa nova maestro who died the day earlier than. A soccer fan, Gilberto would usually watch video games whereas gently strumming on his guitar, reacting to misplaced passes with a grotesque mixture of discordant notes.

Moments of this match, although, would have impressed some extra tuneful chords. One, for instance put Brazil within the lead.

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Dani Alves, even at 36 such an vital a part of the aspect, handed lengthy down the best flank. Gabriel Jesus picked up, shimmied his means exterior his marker and crossed to the far submit, the place reverse winger Everton scored with an excellent, first-time end. Simply as within the first sport, Peru had been undone down the flanks. It was the primary aim in a Copa America ultimate since 2011, and it grew to become the primary Copa America ultimate wherein each side scored since 2004.

Peru had proven their resolve proper from the beginning. The important thing query for his or her attacking aspirations was whether or not they could be courageous sufficient to get males up the sector in help of centre-forward Paolo Guerrero. Within the opening exchanges, they performed excessive up the sector, and earlier than they went behind after 15 minutes, that they had loved a lot of the play.

Within the group sport, they folded as quickly as they went behind. This time, they caught to their weapons, caught to their plan and located themselves on stage phrases, scoring the primary — and solely — aim Brazil conceded in the course of the course of the competitors. It got here from a penalty, maybe harshly awarded for a handball by Thiago Silva, whose arm was on the bottom as he threw himself to the ground to dam a harmful assault. However the putting factor was the way in which Peru had pressured the scenario by committing males ahead. The mix of Edison Flores and the full of life Christian Cueva had pierced Brazil’s line of defense. For his or her boldness, Peru deserved to be on stage phrases, and Guerrero coolly struck house from the spot.

There’s a motive Brazil below Tite have misplaced simply two video games in virtually three years — the World Cup quarterfinal in opposition to Belgium and a pleasant in opposition to Argentina when an experimental aspect was fielded. Tite has a extra fashionable strategy than his compatriot coaches. A lot of Brazilian soccer has turn out to be reactive, defending to interrupt the sport. Tite is extra proactive. The defensive stability of his crew is achieved not solely via the person high quality of his again line; Brazil search to swarm across the ball within the place the place it’s misplaced. Tite desires his crew to regain possession as early as potential, and this was very important within the second aim, a swift response to the Peruvian equaliser.

Brazil lifted their first main title in 12 years — since their final Copa America crown. CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Photographs

Roberto Firmino misplaced possession together with his again to aim, however he chased again and simply managed to nick it away and into the trail of Arthur, who sensed the scenario, realising that Peru may very well be caught on the mistaken foot, enjoyable on the again after pondering that the ball was theirs. Arthur surged ahead, and performed a beautiful little cross into the trail of Jesus, who had made an clever transfer to his left. One on one with the goalkeeper, Jesus produced a delicate end contained in the far submit. It was simply earlier than half-time, and Brazil had conjured a aim worthy of profitable the title.

However they ended up having to do it the onerous means.

There’s a draw back to the defensive work executed by the strikers. They will apply themselves with extra enthusiasm than ability to their defensive duties, particularly in a high-pressure event corresponding to a ultimate. The coach had already warned Jesus to relax when he was despatched off with a bit greater than 20 minutes remaining. The second yellow card might have been harsh, however Jesus’ first was for a badly mistimed sort out. For all his protests, he was off, and Brazil needed to defend their lead with 10 males.

Off got here Philippe Coutinho, changed by Eder Militao at right-back, with Alves pushed into midfield. Tite then sought to guard his proper flank. An alarm had simply come down that aspect when Peru left-back Miguel Trauco obtained in behind the road, however the angle was slender, and Alisson made a routine save. As Peru’s strain mounted, a corer was cleared to Flores, who chested down and volleyed narrowly broad.

Brazil have been biting their nails, till the hero of the marketing campaign got here good as soon as extra. Perky left winger Everton lower in on aim, the ball appeared prone to find yourself within the arms of the goalkeeper, and so the foul by Carlos Zambrano was pointless. However a foul it was, and Richarlison stepped as much as the penalty spot and sealed the title for Brazil.

Brazil, then, retain their report of profitable each Copa they’ve hosted. A era of Brazilian gamers have had an unmatched alternative to win titles at house: the 2013 Confederations Cup, the 2014 World Cup, the 2016 Olympics and now this Copa. All went to the hosts, excluding the one that basically issues. And in time, this new triumph should be positioned within the context of the buildup to the massive one, the 2022 World Cup.

There’s a lot to have fun — past, in fact, the title. The defensive stability of this Brazil aspect seems higher than it was final 12 months. The emergence of Arthur is vital. He skipped via the midfield giving a man-of-the-match efficiency, and has an important function to play in the way forward for the aspect.

Alves, although, can’t go on without end and doesn’t seem to have a pure substitute. Extra choices are wanted at centre-forward. The aspect in possession haven’t reproduced the exuberance of the World Cup qualifiers within the second half of 2016 and all via 2017.

The large take a look at, as latest years have made clear, is supplied by a Western European crew within the knockout phases of the World Cup. That take a look at will certainly come alongside once more in Qatar. However profitable the 2019 Copa America is a pleasant morale increase alongside the way in which.