The Last Word On The Copa America
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Nick Dorrington
By Nick Dorrington
Published on 07/25/2007
The Copa America ended last week, with Brazil winning the final. Nick Dorrington muses on the tournament, the final, and the fantastic looking South American ladies that made the games eminently more watchable.
The Copa America ended last week, with Brazil winning the final. Nick Dorrington muses on the tournament, the final, and the fantastic looking South American ladies that made the games eminently more watchable.
The Last Word On The Copa America
So the Copa America is over, done, finito; no more long range goals; no more sublime skills; and no more dodgy refereeing decisions. For many, the scantily clad South American girls in the crowd will also be sorely missed.
It was unfortunate that after a tournament of open play and goals galore, pragmatism came out on top in the final. From the moment Brazil took the lead within the opening five minutes, the pattern had been set for the rest of the game. Dunga’s team sat back and defended their lead in numbers, with counter attacks offering their only attacking input into the game. Argentina succumbed twice on the break, leaving Brazil to lift the trophy for the eighth time in their history.
Brazil’s tactics were maybe what would have been expected of an Argentina side in the nineties, but to see the Samba Boys succumb to a winning at all costs attitude resonated somewhat deeper in the psyche. Argentina weren’t particularly successful during their defensive periods, but with Brazil winning the Copa America in this style it will be worrying to see the effect this has on South American football as a whole.
Whilst Brazil’s tactics throughout disappointed many, it cannot be ignored that in Robinho, Brazil had the player of the tournament. Whilst those around him were all of a strong, athletic build, Robinho was the one luxury Dunga afforded his side, and with the freedom to create, the Real Madrid forward showed the world why he was rated so highly before his move to Spain. His hat-trick against Chile in the Group stages was outstanding; his third goal something of pure brilliance. Without Kaka and Ronaldinho in the side, Robinho seemed to thrive on the extra responsibility, and it will be interesting to see how Dunga intends to fit all three of them into the same side.
Argentina will be wondering how, after dominating the tournament, they were so lacklustre in the final. The Argentine press had billed the game as a chance to gain revenge for their defeat in the last Copa America final, but as Brazil packed the midfield, the lack of width in Argentina’s side meant that doing so never looked likely.
Few would argue that in full flow this Argentina side are up there with the best in terms of value for money. Riquelme flicks, Tevez tricks and Messi clips, amongst other things, make them an immensely watchable side, and so it proved in their run to the final. Few will forget the inch perfect through ball from Riquelme to play in Messi for a neat finish over the keeper against Peru or Messi’s exquisite lob against the Mexicans. Argentina looked the team to beat throughout and had analysts everywhere purring with delight each time they took to the field.
Once they got to the final, against the team the Argentine media disparagingly referred to as ‘Brazil B’ it looked certain they would come out triumphant. Unfortunately for them, having scored the early goal, the defensive nature of the Brazilians made it nigh-on impossible for Argentina to find a way through. Each time Riquelme or Messi received the ball they were fouled almost before they had an opportunity to turn, and without their two main players on the ball, Argentina suddenly looked distinctly average. Their coach Alfio Basile will now have much to ponder, with a plan B involving some width his top priority.
Elsewhere in the tournament, spectacular goals were aplenty, as were red cards. A few players managed to distinguish themselves from the crowd, Mexico’s Nery Castillo and Humberto Suazo of Chile the most impressive. However, with so many South American players now playing in Europe, spotting that diamond in the rough is unlikely to happen as frequently as it may have done in years gone by.
The host nation Venezuela did well to progress from their group and even though they exited at the quarter final stage, the country still seemed behind the tournament until the very end, with almost every single game a sell-out. The Venezuelan government definitely did an impressive job of hosting the Copa America for the first time.
Finally, we must come to my pre-tournament outside bet, Chile. They did make it through the group stage, but a crushing 6-1 defeat to Brazil in the quarter finals brought their tournament to an abrupt close. Six of their players have now been banned by the Chilean FA for twenty matches each, after a breach of discipline before the Brazil game. Their coach Nelson Acosta resigned following their exit. Had they kept it together I think it is entirely possible they could have given Brazil a good game, but as it is I apologise to anyone who was foolish enough to back my tip in the first place.
I, and a few others may be down in the money stakes, but for three weeks of explosively spectacular football, I think it was probably worth it. There are now only a few more weeks until the major leagues all around the world kickoff their new seasons and one can only hope that the Copa America was an indication of things to come; Goals galore.
It was unfortunate that after a tournament of open play and goals galore, pragmatism came out on top in the final. From the moment Brazil took the lead within the opening five minutes, the pattern had been set for the rest of the game. Dunga’s team sat back and defended their lead in numbers, with counter attacks offering their only attacking input into the game. Argentina succumbed twice on the break, leaving Brazil to lift the trophy for the eighth time in their history.
Brazil’s tactics were maybe what would have been expected of an Argentina side in the nineties, but to see the Samba Boys succumb to a winning at all costs attitude resonated somewhat deeper in the psyche. Argentina weren’t particularly successful during their defensive periods, but with Brazil winning the Copa America in this style it will be worrying to see the effect this has on South American football as a whole.
Whilst Brazil’s tactics throughout disappointed many, it cannot be ignored that in Robinho, Brazil had the player of the tournament. Whilst those around him were all of a strong, athletic build, Robinho was the one luxury Dunga afforded his side, and with the freedom to create, the Real Madrid forward showed the world why he was rated so highly before his move to Spain. His hat-trick against Chile in the Group stages was outstanding; his third goal something of pure brilliance. Without Kaka and Ronaldinho in the side, Robinho seemed to thrive on the extra responsibility, and it will be interesting to see how Dunga intends to fit all three of them into the same side.
Argentina will be wondering how, after dominating the tournament, they were so lacklustre in the final. The Argentine press had billed the game as a chance to gain revenge for their defeat in the last Copa America final, but as Brazil packed the midfield, the lack of width in Argentina’s side meant that doing so never looked likely.
Few would argue that in full flow this Argentina side are up there with the best in terms of value for money. Riquelme flicks, Tevez tricks and Messi clips, amongst other things, make them an immensely watchable side, and so it proved in their run to the final. Few will forget the inch perfect through ball from Riquelme to play in Messi for a neat finish over the keeper against Peru or Messi’s exquisite lob against the Mexicans. Argentina looked the team to beat throughout and had analysts everywhere purring with delight each time they took to the field.
Once they got to the final, against the team the Argentine media disparagingly referred to as ‘Brazil B’ it looked certain they would come out triumphant. Unfortunately for them, having scored the early goal, the defensive nature of the Brazilians made it nigh-on impossible for Argentina to find a way through. Each time Riquelme or Messi received the ball they were fouled almost before they had an opportunity to turn, and without their two main players on the ball, Argentina suddenly looked distinctly average. Their coach Alfio Basile will now have much to ponder, with a plan B involving some width his top priority.
Elsewhere in the tournament, spectacular goals were aplenty, as were red cards. A few players managed to distinguish themselves from the crowd, Mexico’s Nery Castillo and Humberto Suazo of Chile the most impressive. However, with so many South American players now playing in Europe, spotting that diamond in the rough is unlikely to happen as frequently as it may have done in years gone by.
The host nation Venezuela did well to progress from their group and even though they exited at the quarter final stage, the country still seemed behind the tournament until the very end, with almost every single game a sell-out. The Venezuelan government definitely did an impressive job of hosting the Copa America for the first time.
Finally, we must come to my pre-tournament outside bet, Chile. They did make it through the group stage, but a crushing 6-1 defeat to Brazil in the quarter finals brought their tournament to an abrupt close. Six of their players have now been banned by the Chilean FA for twenty matches each, after a breach of discipline before the Brazil game. Their coach Nelson Acosta resigned following their exit. Had they kept it together I think it is entirely possible they could have given Brazil a good game, but as it is I apologise to anyone who was foolish enough to back my tip in the first place.
I, and a few others may be down in the money stakes, but for three weeks of explosively spectacular football, I think it was probably worth it. There are now only a few more weeks until the major leagues all around the world kickoff their new seasons and one can only hope that the Copa America was an indication of things to come; Goals galore.