Gold semi-finals. Colombia scored 5 objectives in opposition to Panama. The yellow staff reached its peak of efficiency and appeal, and the Panamanian staff paid for it. Then got here the battle in Las Vegas between Brazil and Uruguay, through which soccer was a proper excuse to kick and hit one another with out being arrested by the police. Brazil added one other massive failure. Uruguay’s passage at evening absolutely took away from Colombia the euphoria of the 5-0 within the afternoon. La Celeste performs on the absolute restrict of referee tolerance. One other battle guarantees for Wednesday.
In response to the factors of
Perfection. Colombia gave its massive colony in the US one other soccer feast. In one other compact collective show, it added yet one more victory and prolonged its unbeaten streak to 27 video games, 24 within the Lorenzo period, with 16 wins and eight attracts. However greater than the statistics, that are good, by the way in which, is the sport. It was a championship efficiency. Soccer on all sides, individuality, velocity, assault, protection, concord, forcefulness. Not even Julio Verne might have imagined this current Colombian state of affairs, so quickly after that fateful qualifying spherical for Qatar (March 2022), when not solely was it eradicated from the World Cup, nevertheless it additionally performed ugly and badly and went seven video games with out scoring a objective. Now it has 11 in 4 video games. It’s heaven after hell.
Warning. “There may be not a five-goal distinction between Colombia and Panama,” declared the Argentine coach, briefly, measuredly, utterly indifferent from reward and success tales, with out demagogy, with out false modesty. “We’re doing nicely,” he added, referring to the semi-final in opposition to Uruguay, through which he may have Jefferson Lerma again, a bodily colossus who will probably be essential to face the easterners.
James’ Cup. James, the freshest participant within the Cup, barely performed 265 minutes within the semester and it exhibits, he flies, he is again to the most effective degree of his profession. He is the identical James from the 2014 World Cup. Towards Panama he gave two extra assists and scored from a penalty. He is in a magical second. Lorenzo has given him absolute freedom on the sq., to get near the middle ahead, to the wingers, to the full-backs once they go up, to affiliate with whoever he considers acceptable. That empowered him, it freed him. And likewise the boldness and relevance that the coach confers on him has made him nearly the proprietor of the staff, however with the endorsement of his teammates. It is very comforting to see him like this after years within the shadows.
Soccer on all sides, individuality, velocity, assault, protection, concord, forcefulness. Not even Julio Verne might have imagined this Colombian current.
Thriller. Néstor Lorenzo retired as a participant in 1998 and solely in 2021 did he take cost of a staff, Melgar FC of Peru, the one step previous to the Colombian Nationwide Staff. Earlier than, he had all the time been an assistant to different coaches. He additionally did an excellent job at Melgar. He is without doubt one of the most notable revelations in technical administration. He’s 58 years outdated, the query is why nobody found him earlier than?
Take a look at. Nevertheless, this honeymoon of the staff, of the followers, of the nation, will probably be put to the take a look at all collectively on Wednesday in opposition to Uruguay. Bielsa’s staff was already labelled as a cuckoo. Now, after eliminating Brazil, greater than ever. Colombia will play every little thing in a single match: in the event that they lose, they are going to say that every little thing earlier than was ineffective, in the event that they overcome that impediment, glory awaits them.
Decade. After one other evening of horror and being overlooked of the Copa America, an anniversary stirs up the wound, deepens it: right this moment marks ten years since Brazil’s 1-7 defeat to Germany within the 2014 World Cup, the day we realized that Brazil was not the highly effective, invincible and delightful staff that enchanted the world. That day, their satisfaction was thrashed.
Impotent. That is one other low-cost model of the Inexperienced and Yellow, with out actual stars, solely wealthy and well-known. The one which could not beat Costa Rica, the one that did not get previous 0-0 and misplaced on penalties to a fierce, robust Uruguay that went past the boundaries of grit. However Uruguay was all the time roughly like that, besides that this Brazil was not ready, both football-wise or mentally, to beat such an impediment. It ended with ten Uruguay. And if there have been 9, Brazil could not beat it both. It was clear that it had no means.
Picture. A video went world wide after Brazil’s elimination: earlier than the penalty shoot-out, as common, all of the groups type a circle round their coach, who offers the checklist of those that will probably be in control of kicking, offers a speech and provides some directions to the goalkeeper and the kickers. Within the case of Brazil, the gamers shaped a circle and overlooked Dorival Júnior, who was attempting to get within the center and say one thing. He could not do it, they did not let him, they turned their backs on him always. It is a pathetic scene and it exhibits that issues usually are not going nicely there, there isn’t a minimal precept of authority.
Disturbing. A torrent of information got here to gentle after the sport. Brazil will full 24 years with out profitable a World Cup, in 2026. Within the final 4 World Cups, it was not even the most effective South American staff. In 2028, when the following version comes round, it should have received a Copa America in 21 years. João Havelange left the presidency of FIFA in 1998, Brazil not has any type of administration or affect in CONMEBOL, a lot much less within the father or mother firm in Zurich. For many years, it managed the FIFA and CONMEBOL Referees Fee. Not anymore. It’s left with out the monsters of yesteryear, who resolved the video games with or with out a coach. Vinícius is the chief of this staff, a participant extra centered on controversies and altercations than on the sport. By the way in which, Vinícius arrived on the Cup as a celebrity resulting from his efficiency at Actual Madrid, he didn’t affect the event.
Gerson. The celebrity and supreme chief of the 1970 Brazilian champions made robust statements on his YouTube channel. “This midfield is garbage. Do they know learn how to play? Paquetá is aware of learn how to play, however he needs to battle with everybody, they warning him and he needed to depart. João Gomes? That child doesn’t know learn how to play soccer, he solely performs on the wings and again… The 2 full-backs had been caught, Danilo doesn’t know learn how to play. The bottom of the staff doesn’t exist, João Gomes just isn’t a midfielder. The midfield is for many who know, for many who assume. And the one who thinks is Paquetá, who solely needs to battle…”
Camada. “This can be a technology that may assist Brazil undergo its longest interval with out world titles,” stated Cahê Mota, from ‘Globoesporte’. Brazil was the one soccer staff in South America that didn’t cease its home championship throughout the Copa América, which its media gave minimal protection to.
Jorge Barraza
