Global, South America
Will Argentina’s cup runneth over? Copa América 2007
¡Hola! Alan here, making my debut on Footballing World, with a quick 15 minutes off the bench to ease me into things. As I currently find myself on the fine [...]
¡Hola! Alan here, making my debut on Footballing World, with a quick 15 minutes off the bench to ease me into things. As I currently find myself on the fine continent of South America, where the Copa America is about to reach its climax, I thought I’d run my inexpert eye over the combatants as they prepare for tomorrow’s final.
And it may come as little surprise to those who haven’t been following the fútbol over here that battling it out for the trophy will be the big two: Argentina and Brazil. The pale blue and white livery of Argentina has graced the Copa grand finale some 25 times, and if they triumph this year, their 15 victories will make them the most successful team in the tournament’s history (currently they’re tied on 14 with… Uruguay). The Samba Boys have historically saved themselves for ye olde Copa Mundials, and can boast only seven pan-American titles to their name (indeed Pele never managed to pick up a winner’s medal); but they are the holders, and undoubtedly still a force to be reckoned with.
Missing such names as Ronaldinho and Kaka, who both pulled out of the tournament due to fatigue issues, novice Tecnico and former midfield linchpin Dunga has done well to steer his reshaped team this far in the face of a hostile domestic press. Sporting a midfield that contains two unknowns in Josue and Mineiro, with doughty Gunner, Gilberto, protecting the back four, and flaky former-Gunner, Julio Baptista, roving forward, the Brazilians have relied on some luck, as well as six goals from the tournament’s leading scorer, Robinho, to book their passage - but I fancy that Argentina may be about to deny Dunga a fairytale beginning to his managerial career.
While Brazil struggled to overcome Uruguay, conceding plenty of possession and dead-ball opportunities on their way to a 2-2 draw, and sudden-death penalty triumph, Argentina thumped Mexico (who themselves saw Brazil away 2-0 in the group stages) by three unanswered goals. With the fluidity of movement provided by Messi (who chipped in an absolute peach against the Mexicans) and Tevez in the final third, and the canny tweakings of Riquelme from his ‘quaterback’ position, Argentina have oozed menace right from their opening-game thrashing of the US. My tip is for Cambiasso, Maschareno and Veron to nullify the altogether less-experienced triumvirate of Josue, Mineiro and Baptista, allowing the sublime skills of the Argentine front three to do their worst.
Even though this is my first time in Footballing World colours, I’ll even plump for a scoreline: 3-1, and a record-breaking 15th Copa for the football-mad Argentines (trust me, they are - I was there a month ago). My set-piece to look out for: Riquelme’s dink toward the far post, where United’s Gabbi Heinze will be found haring in to challenge the keeper. It worked against the US (where Crespo popped in the rebound) and Mexico - let’s see if coach Dunga has been studying his tapes…
Will favourites Argentina overcome Brazil? Share your views by leaving a comment below.
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3-0 to Brazil, y’say? I’ll get me coat…
Good piece. Almost everyone predicted Argentina to victor - and wanted them to triumph on the basis of their fabulous football - but they simply didn’t turn up and Brazil were utterly clinical and brilliantly organised. The press should lay off Dunga now!
As for Argentina, they choked as in Germany during the World Cup - they played exciting football but ultimately not winning football (a bit like Arsenal?). And Riquelme went quiet as he seems prone too in the big games. Brazil didn’t deserve to win the Copa America, but ultimately it was handed to them on a plate. What did you think of their performance?
I though Brazil played an excellent game, to be honest - far removed from their laboured victories over Uruguay and Ecuador.
Argentina seemed to suffer from being tagged as favourites and their performance was pretty insipid, full of long balls, and unimaginative set-plays. Interesting that Brazil’s match-winner, Danny Alves, only appeared because of Gilberto’s suspension and Elano’s injury; but credit to Dunga, he really suckered Basile and co.
I guess that the ‘big game mentality’ possessed by Brazil was just not to be found in the Argentine camp (a little Arsenalesque, currently, I agree). Riquelme, Messi, even Tevez were all subdued. Did you manage to catch the game in England?