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FBL-COPA-2019-BRA-PER PREVIEW
Brazil banking on defense in Copa America final with Peru
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 6, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Brazil will be looking to
maintain their defensive invincibility against Peru in Sunday’s Copa America
final, midfielder Casemiro says.
The hosts have yet to concede a goal in the tournament, including when
they thrashed Peru 5-0 in a group-stage match earlier in the competition.
And keeping their goal intact will be key to lifting a ninth Copa crown,
according to the Real Madrid man.
“Ending the competition without conceding a goal is one of our aims,” said
Casemiro.
“And if we don’t concede a goal, it’s not just thanks to the guys at the
back, those up front help us a lot and that makes the difference.”
The woodwork also made a difference in Brazil’s 2-0 semi-final victory
over arch rivals Argentina, as did referee Roddy Zambrano’s refusal to
consult VAR twice when Lionel Messi and his team-mates were claiming a
penalty.
Sergio Aguero headed against the bar in the first half and Messi rattled
the post after the break, while Brazil captain Dani Alves and midfielder
Arthur both got away with blatant off-the-ball fouls inside the area on
Manchester City pair Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi respectively.
Argentina have complained to South American football’s governing body
CONMEBOL over the refereeing in that semi-final, although to no avail as the
result will not be changed.
Brazil have identified the main threat to their defensive invincibility on
Sunday at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium: Peru forward Paolo
Guerrero.
He’s a player well known to Brazilian fans having spent the last seven
years playing in the country.
The 35-year-old scored the winning goal for Corinthians in the 2012 FIFA
Club World Cup final against Chelsea.
Currently playing for Internacional in Porto Alegre, he previously helped
Corinthians win the Sao Paulo state championship in 2013 and Flamengo to do
likewise in the Rio state championship four years later.
“He’s a player who deserves special attention for everything he’s done in
the past,” said center-back Marquinhos.
“I know him well, I played with him for a bit at Corinthians and I’ve
played against him several times for the national team.”
– Respect needed –
One of those was two weeks ago at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo when
Guerrero was kept quiet while Peru when into a defensive meltdown.
They’ve bounced back spectacularly from that set-back, though, first
ousting Uruguay on penalties in the quarter-final, in a match in which they
were clearly second best, and then in a stunning performance to beat the
outgoing champions Chile 3-0 in the last four.
“It’ll be a great final, a really difficult match. We can’t think it’s
already won, we have to play it,” said Casemiro.
“They’ve eliminated great teams — Uruguay and Chile — we have to respect
them.”
It’s only the second time Peru have reached the Copa final in its 103-year
history.
They beat Colombia in a play-off in Caracas in 1975 after each side had
won at home in a two-legged title decider.
And their first title in 1939 on home soil came at the end of a single
five-team tournament played in a round-robin format.
“We’ve got to approach it calmly. It’s true that we’ve achieved something
very important after many years,” said forward Raul Ruidiaz.
“We’re aware and calm that there’s one more step to glory.
“We need to play with our feet on the ground and give everything on the
pitch to make it happen.”
Brazil, in stark comparison, have won the Copa eight times and finished
runners-up on a further 11 occasions, a record bettered only by Uruguay and
Argentina.
From 1997 to 2007, Brazil won four out of five editions of the Copa,
missing out only in 2001 when the Selecao turned up in Colombia without
leading lights such as Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos —
four crucial players in their World Cup success the next year.
BSS/AFP/AU/08:10 hrs