Copa América football match-2019
Following years and years of disappointing results in major tournaments, the Brazilian national team finally has the chance to win the big one once again. And it will get that chance on home soil. Brazil faces Peru in the Copa América final on Sunday, July 7 at 4 p.m. ET (Telemundo; streaming on FuboTV, ESPN+, NBC Sports Live and Telemundo Deportes en Vivo) at the Maracanã in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
After narrowly escaping defeat
against Paraguay in a quarterfinal penalty shootout, Brazil was back to its
best in a fantastic contest against eternal rival Argentina and Lionel Messi.
Although the Albiceleste had the greatest player in the world on the pitch,
they were outclassed by the pairing of Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino. Jesus
tapped in the opener for Brazil in the 18th minute off a cross from Firmino. In
the 71st minute, he returned the favor with an assist far more brilliant than
his goal as he ran 70 yards with the ball, weaving through Argentine defender
before laying off a simple pass to Firmino for the finish.
Brazil has been the class of the
2019 Copa América so far, aside from goalless blips against Venezuela and
Paraguay. The Selecao's 10 goals are the most in the tournament and they are
the only team with three players who have scored twice: Everton, Philippe
Coutinho and Firmino. The Brazilians have yet to lose in the 2019 Copa América.
In fact, the Selecao haven't lose in a year, their undefeated streak stretching
back 14 games to when they were knocked out of the 2018 World Cup by Belgium. A
large part of that success has been thanks to keeper Alisson, who hasn't been
scored on for Brazil in 603 minutes plus stoppage time. Considering the match
will be played at the Maracanã in Rio de Janiero, the home of the Selecao,
Brazil must be considered a heavy favorite to win the title.
In order to make it to the final,
Peru first had to dispatch arch-rival Chile in the semifinal, and Los Incas did
just that with aplomb. The two traded chances in the opening 20 minutes until
Edison Flores got Peru on the board with a fine strike from inside the 6-yard
box in the 21st minute. Peru doubled its lead 17 minutes lates when Chilean
keeper Gabriel Arias made the ill-advised decision to come out of the box,
allowing Yoshimar Yotún to score with a superb volley off his chest. Paolo
Guerrero finished the rout in stoppage time by beating the Chilean backline and
keeper for a simple tap in to send Peru to the final in style, denying Chile a
chance to play for a third consecutive Copa América title.
Despite its strong performance
against Chile, Peru will play the underdog and potential spoiler to Brazil's
return to glory in the final, and it's easy to see why. In the 46 games played
between these nations dating back to 1936, Peru has only won four contests to
Brazil's 32. Peru's most recent victory over the Selecao came just three years
ago, when Los Incas scraped out a 1-0 victory in the group stage of the Copa
América Centenario. However, Brazil will draw plenty of confidence from its
most recent win over Peru, a 5-0 demolition two weeks ago in the group stage.
This final presents an
opportunity for Brazil to reassert itself as the dominant force on the South
American continent. It is the first time Brazil has returned to the Copa
América final since 2007, which is also the last time it won the title. You
have to go all the way back to 1975 for the last time Peru made an appearance
in the Copa América final, which was the last time Los Incas won it as well.