Copa America 2007

COPA AMERICA 2007

The Copa America 2007 has just finished and it has been a spectacular tournament with a glut of goals. Holders Brazil, with a new look team and new manager following their disappointing World Cup performance began hesitantly and were defeated 2-0 by Mexico in their first game. By contrast, favorites Argentina, with their experienced and class-filled side, swept aside most of the opposition to reach the final with 16 goals in 5 games. Brazil meanwhile were being made to work, despite thrashing controversy-wracked Chile twice, 3-0 and 6-1, their 1-0 win over Ecuador was unconvincing and they only succeeded in getting past a determined Uruguay on penalties to reach the final.
The final was a classic encounter, with the class of Argentina pitted against the youthful exuberance of the Brazilians. Key for me was the Brazilian coach Dunga, who is showing all the gritty winning qualities as a manager that he did as a player. Realizing if Brazil tried to out-football the classy looking Argies they would get turned over, he adopted a very unbrazilian strategy. He packed his midfield with young tigers and told them to outtackle the Argentines and hit them on the break. Conditions in Maracaibo were on their side, with heat and humidity reducing the somewhat ageing Argentinians’ combativeness. In the 4th minute Brazil got the break they wanted when a swift move out of defence saw Julio Batista produce a devastating strike from the edge of the area. 1-0 Brazil. But the Argentinian quality was not to be denied and Riquelme struck the post with what would have been a superb equalizer. Twice the young Brazilian keeper Doni had to produce fine saves to preserve his team’s lead. Just before half time, however came the critical moment. Brazil were exploiting the Argentinian defence’s lack of pace with lightning breaks. Twice already their central defenders had resorted to desperate clearances, until finally it was the captain, Ayala, who, beaten by a wicked, whipped-in cross, hammered the ball into his own net. 2-0 Brazil.
Brazil came out for the second half looking confident. Their defence, captained for the day by the magnificent Juan, was cutting out everything the Argentines, reduced ever more to speculative long balls, could throw at them and although their foul and bookings count was rising alarmingly, it was another classic counter attack that produced the killing blow. A long clearance out of defence found Wagner Love in the middle of the Argentine half. His inch-perfect pass met defender-come-midfielder, Daniel Alves, sprinting up to drill home a perfect finish. Brazil, without Kaká, Ronaldinho and their unluckily suspended captain, Gilberto Silva, were ecstatic with their victory.
Whilst most of the Argentines will now bow out of international football, the resurgent Brazil have showed that, as ever, they have an almost inexhaustible supply of talent. Robinho, with six goals, was “artilheiro” of the tournament and showed that he is wasted on the bench at Real Madrid. How I would love to see him playing alongside Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, whose style he perfectly matches, instead of the overrated Tevez, who at the end of this game was reduced to a series of petty fouls. Defensively too Brazil were awesome. Juan, who was consistency itself, showed why he is rated one of the best centre backs in the world and the towering Alex left the opposition with few aerial options. They have a splendid young keeper in Doni, whose saves kept them alive in the penalty shoot-out with Uruguay; Gilberto Silva is the best holding midfield player in the world, though I suspect he will have his work cut out at Arsenal next season, and Daniel Alves looks like one of the best utility players around at present, certainly one of the best young talents. Of course there is still room for improvement. Diego showed flashes of brilliance but still looks inconsistent and was correctly dropped for the final, but it was remarkable what Dunga was able to achieve in creating what Brazil had so clearly lacked in the World Cup, a magnificent team spirit. - IGF