Brazil and Colombia closed out the Copa America group stage with essentially the most tantalizing matchup of the event up to now. Raphinha’s picture-perfect free kick within the twelfth minute gave Brazil an early lead because the match rapidly lived as much as its billing, however Colombia discovered an equalizer by Daniel Munoz that allowed them to protect an unbeaten group stage and retain first place in Group D.
Brazil will probably be left to surprise what may have been after what gave the impression to be a transparent penalty shout for Vinicius Junior was denied by the referee shortly earlier than Colombia’s purpose.
Colombia flubbed a late probability at a winner, however essentially the most impactful second of the match could have are available in simply the seventh minute when Vinicius Jr was proven a yellow card that will keep him out of Brazil’s quarterfinal due to accumulation.
Jack Lang, Stu James and Thom Harris share their takeaways from Levi’s Stadium…
Was this the most effective match of the event up to now?
We’ve been ready for a recreation like this on the Copa America – two heavyweights going face to face – and it didn’t disappoint. It was edge-of-the-seat stuff from the primary minute – breathless, intense and performed like a knockout tie. Maybe that was not stunning given what was at stake: a quarterfinal towards Panama for the Group D winners and the unwelcome prospect of going through Uruguay for the runners up.
Eder Militao heads the ball over Jhon Cordoba. (Picture: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Photographs)
The sport wasn’t all the time fairly – 17 fouls and 4 yellow playing cards within the first half alone – however that didn’t take something away from a spectacle that was lit up by an impressive Raphinha free-kick to offer Brazil the lead. Colombia had been nonetheless within the dressing room – Nestor Lorenzo’s aspect caught chilly by Brazil’s electrical begin. That Colombia responded so properly stated every thing about their high quality in addition to their resilience. It’s 26 video games unbeaten now.
In that respect the sport lived as much as the hype – each groups had possibilities to grab victory within the dying minutes – and there’s each risk that we’ll be handled to a rematch within the semi-finals, given the best way the draw works. Few neutrals will complain if that seems to be the case.
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Stuart James
On the cash. Each time.
There’s one thing about the best way James Rodriguez floats in a set-piece – strolling up the ball, flicking his foot to ship it spinning in direction of the six-yard field, however hanging it within the air simply lengthy sufficient to maintain the goalkeeper at bay – that makes it extremely exhausting to withstand.
He has created seven possibilities from set items already on the Copa America; solely three gamers have created extra alternatives of any type, full-stop. And he would have had a 3rd dead-ball help in an enthralling first half towards Brazil, if it weren’t for the ruthless geometry of VAR. You’ll typically see him trotting from one aspect of the pitch to the opposite to take consecutive corners, however the followers are comfortable to attend.
James Rodriguez takes a shot in the course of the first half. (Picture: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports activities)
There’s selection in Rodriguez’s set-piece armoury too. After eight minutes, the 32-year-old despatched a depraved free-kick careering in direction of purpose, just for it to look off the crossbar and out of play. It’s a disgrace it was overshadowed by Raphinha’s effort barely 5 minutes on.
Then, from a crossing place, he instantly switches approach; rapidly closing his physique to attempt to catch Alisson out. After all, he very practically did.
Even when he has misplaced a yard of tempo, Rodriguez all the time appears like he’s a step forward. Drifting round behind the 2 strikers – doing, primarily, no matter he likes – he makes this glorious Colombia aspect tick.
Thom Harris
How will Brazil cope with out Vinicius Jr?
4 Brazil gamers had been strolling a disciplinary tightrope at kick-off and it didn’t take lengthy for one in every of them to fall off it. There have been simply six minutes on the clock when James Rodriguez flicked the ball over the pinnacle of Vinicius Jr in midfield and collapsed in a heap. Vinicius regarded flabbergasted when referee Jesus Valenzuela produced a yellow card — one which means he’ll now be suspended for Brazil’s quarterfinal date with Uruguay.
His absence is clearly an enormous deal. Vinicius isn’t just a superb participant; he’s more and more seen as this aspect’s talisman, the person teammates and followers look to when the going will get robust. His significance has solely been accentuated by the detached type of Rodrygo, his Real Madrid colleague, who once more struggled to make a lot of an impression right here.
Vinicius Junior reacts after receiving a yellow card. (Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Photographs)
Dorival Júnior, then, has some robust calls to make. One possibility is to shift Rodrygo out to the left and play Endrick by the center. Alternatively, there are few pure wingers that might swap straight in. Gabriel Martinelli and Pepe each take pleasure in taking part in on the left, however the most probably stand-in might be Savinho, who did properly in Brazil’s first two matches.
No single possibility is ideal. Rodrygo doesn’t supply the identical pace and penetration as Vinicius out broad. Martinelli is off form. Pepe is untested. Savinho is left-footed, so that may require a rejig of Brazil’s attacking patterns. Selections, selections, selections…
Jack Lang
What’s subsequent for every crew?
Colombia vs. Panama — Saturday, July 6 at 5:00 p.m. ET (State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ)
Uruguay vs. Brazil — Saturday, July 6 at 9:00 p.m. ET (Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV)
What did the managers say?
Brazil’s Dorival Junior on Vinicius’ ban: “It occurs. It was an essential recreation and I wasn’t going to relaxation anybody. We began the sport very properly. It was very unusual, the reserving. It was the primary problem of the sport. However folks say we have now to be taught to play with out our huge stars, so now could be the time. In sure moments, we received’t have essential gamers. We’ve already misplaced Neymar. It’s a second for different gamers to step up.”
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Colombia head coach Nestor Lorenzo on Jefferson Lerma’s yellow card, which is able to rule him out of the quarterfinal towards Panama: “It may have been prevented. It’s one thing that we’ve talked about rather a lot, rather a lot with the crew. It’s the bitter be aware we take from as we speak. There are instinctive reactions that we have now to regulate differently.”
Beneficial studying
(High photograph: Ezra Shaw/Getty Photographs)
