[News] Argentina wins the Cup América and Messi ends his spell

[Warlock-]

https://www.elperiodico.com/es/deportes/20210711/brasil-argentina-copa-america-final-resultado-messi-11901372

 

 

 

Maracanazo and party. An unforgettable party. Argentina was left with the Copa América in Brazil. They won 1-0 in Rio de Janeiro and ended a 28-year drought. Leo Messi broke the spell and also had his first title with the senior team. He looked for it and at 34, after three lost finals, he found that he was chasing so much. Neymar went to hug him before lifting the elusive trophy with his two hands. On his face was drawn the smile that spread to a country that, in a pandemic, began its party at nightfall. Messi kisses the Copa América after winning the final in Maracana against Brazil. "GOD WAS KEEPING THIS MOMENT FOR ME" Messi: the new Christ the Redeemer A Brazil and Argentina is not just anything. The classic is played with the knife in the mouth. It could not be otherwise in the Rio night. For this reason, from the beginning, the game was very difficult, with more character than imagination. The players put the leg strong.

 

Nobody wanted to risk, and it had to be a mistake or Messi's personal adventure, chosen as the best of the tournament and top scorer, with four goals, or Neymar, who opened a gap in defense. The Maracana field did not help much to the fluidity of the game: the ball bounced like a rabbit. It seemed at times that it was being played on a beach in Rio de Janeiro.

 

 

Brazil played closer to the Argentine area, but it was difficult for them to reach Martínez's goal with danger. At 21 minutes the stadium rocked: Rodrigo De Paul stole a ball in the center of the court and masterfully enabled Ángel Di María. The PSG player was left alone in front of Ederson and placed the ball over his head. The goal came unexpectedly and the blue and white team. The locals did not expect such a setback, and although they reacted immediately, they could not find a way to overcome the score. Nor could they take advantage of Argentina's difficulties to start from the goal with the ball at their feet. The team led by Lionel Scaloni then fell back to preserve the result.

 

A dramatic second half

 

Tité decided to shuffle the cards again and plant a more offensive team: he took out Fred, who was cautioned, and placed Roberto Firmino in the attack. The first minutes of the complement did not show variations in relation to the first stage. Argentina had to exert enormous physical effort to stop the Brazilian incursions. Scaloni sought to strengthen the midfield when the canarinha began to gain prominence. Guido Rodríguez replaced Paredes to have more serenity and domination. At 55 minutes, Ney was finally able to get rid of the markers and left Richarlison alone. The forward's shot met the hands of goalkeeper Martínez.

 

Argentina tried to withstand the attacks with what little air it had left. Scaloni took out Lo Celso and replaced another defender, Nicolás Tagliafico. Vinicius Junior came out for Everton to give Brazil more offensive variants. The game began to be a round trip. Messi, who played despite some discomfort, was at the gates of the feat after 62 minutes, only against the world. Every time he tried to intervene, he had four and even five Brazilians on top. Something similar happened to Neymar who, by pure dribbling, forced Argentina to foul or throw the ball far away. The figure of ten was growing. Tité was gambling to kill or be killed: he had started without a number nine and then put Gabigol together with Firmino. Emerson replaced Lodi. The last quarter of an hour was dramatic. Gabriel Romero, who had been insurmountable, had to retire injured. Pezzella rose to the occasion.

 

Frictions grew and there was even an attempted fight after Otamendi blew up Neymar. At 82, Gabigol was left with a gasp. Time was running out and Brazil was losing the tie. Messi no longer had air. It was a matter of enduring the siege. Martínez prevented the parity on Gabigol's left foot. Messi, on a backlash, lost an unimaginable possibility after being enabled by the heroic De Paul. Only the terrible state of the grass can explain that the best of all did not have his great consecrating goal. But Leo wanted above all a collective achievement. He had it. When he heard the closing whistle, he knelt and, on the grass, covered his face. They were all hugging him. "That of the hand of Leo Messi, all the return we are going to give", they sang to him at the end of the end.

Edited July 12, 2021 by Warlock-