Argentina’s soccer players celebrate winning a trophy.
@CopaAmerica, Twitter
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Argentina won the big tournament for the first time since 1993. The South American championships were dominated by two-time world champions for the fifteenth time in history and compared to Uruguay’s most successful team to date. Argentine star captain Lionel Messi won the first big trophy with the national team at the age of 34, so far he has only won the Olympic tournament with the national team in 2008. Brazil failed to defend last year’s championship and did not reach the jubilee tenth South American title.
“It was a very difficult championship. Winning over Brazil is always exceptional. It’s a great title and I hope that all Argentines will enjoy it,” quoted Twitter account Lionel Scaloni, whose team stretched the series without defeating them for 20 matches. He last lost last year in the semifinals of Copy América with Brazil.
Former teammates from Barcelona – Neymar (left) and Lionel Messi.
@CopaAmerica, Twitter
The duel of traditional rivals was very tough from the beginning and offered only a minimum of goal chances. The Argentines opened the score in the 22nd minute. A long pass from De Paul passed through the defender to the approaching Di María and the 33-year-old striker Paris St. Germain swung the goalkeeper from Ederson. He hit for the first time since March.
“Rodrigo gave me a beautiful passport and it turned out the same as at the Olympics against Nigeria,” Di María reminded that the Lobby was also decided by the Olympic finals 13 years ago. “I can’t stop crying, this is unforgettable. Messi told me he thanked me. And I replied that he thanked him. A lot of people told us not to go back to the team. But we still went head to head against the wall and we did it today, “added an experienced striker.
The “Canaries” did not get into a chance for a long time and they only started threatening after a break. With 52 minutes played, Richarlison nearly put the visitors another one up as he broke through in the middle and fired from just outside the box, but his shot passed just over the bar. Immediately the same player hit goalkeeper Emilian Martínez. Aston Villy was the first to reach the corner kick, but his header was blocked by the keeper.
#CopaAmérica ????
The continent at your feet! @Argentina lifting its leader and figure on litter ????????????
???????? Argentina ???? Brazil ????????#VibraElContinente #VibraOContinent pic.twitter.com/5bEgzwcVqp
— Copa America (@CopaAmerica) July 11, 2021
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On the other hand, Messi could definitely decide, but the loop against Ederson didn’t work out. The Star Gunner did not add a fifth goal in the tournament, yet he was the top scorer together with the Colombian Diaz. He added five more assists on top. Brazil lost after 13 matches and for the first time since the previous defeat 0: 1 also with Argentina.
After the final whistle, his teammates jumped on Messi and then threw him enthusiastically into the air. The six-time holder of the Golden Ball for the best football player in the world, after three final defeats at the South American Championship and one final loss at the World Cup, finally survived the Argentine national team with the coveted big gold.
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Neymar and Lionel Messi hug after the finals of the South American Championships.
@CopaAmerica, Twitter
Messi’s former teammate from Barcelona, Neymar, on the other hand, left the Maracaná stadium, where only a few thousand spectators could be in tears due to the coronavirus pandemic. He did not reach the first big title with the Brazilian national team, so far he has only won the FIFA Cup and, like Messi, gold from the Olympic tournament for players under 23. The year before, he was absent from Copa América due to injury.
“We have to congratulate our opponents mainly for the first half in which he neutralized us. In the second half only one team wanted to play football, the other only delayed. But this is no excuse, we did not show what we had,” said Brazilian captain Thiago Silva.
| Copa América, South American Football Championship – Final (Rio de Janeiro): |
| Argentina – Brazil 1: 0 (1:0) |
| Branka: 22. Say Maria. Referee: Ostojich – Barreiro, Soppi – Cunha (video, video Urug.). ŽK: Paredes, Lo Celso, De Paul, Otamendi, Montiel – Fred, Lodi, Paquetá, Marquinhos. Viewers: limited count. |
| Assemblies: |
| Argentina: E. Martínez – Montiel, Romero (79. Pezzella), Otamendi, Acuňa – De Paul, Paredes (54. Rodríguez), Lo Celso (63. Tagliafico) – Di María (79. Palacios), Messi, Lautaro Martínez (79. González). Trenér: Scaloni. |
| Brazil: Ederson – Danilo, Marquinhos, Silva, Lodi (76. Emerson) – Casemiro, Fred (46. Firmino) – Richarlison, Paquetá (76. Gabriel Barbosa), Everton (63. Vinícius) – Neymar. Trenér: Tite. |
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