This Saturday the last two semifinalists of the Copa América Brasil 2021 were defined, a day that meant the joy of Argentines and Colombians. The albiceleste left Ecuador on the road after thrashing it, while the tricolor dispatched Uruguay on penalties. It will be the third time that they are measured in this same instance.
The selected Reinaldo Rueda reached the quarterfinals as third in Group B, and had to face Uruguay, second in A, against whom he had not had a good time in the Eliminatory in November. They had to ‘shake off’ that bitter memory and what better than eliminating this final phase. They got it in the penalty shootout, thanks to the good performance of David Ospina, who saved two charges.
Colombia debuted in Brazilian territory with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador, later equalized without goals against Venezuela, enough points to advance to the stage. In the last two group stage outings they lost to Peru and Brazil, 2-1.
His rival will be nothing more and nothing less than Argentina, which reached the quarterfinals as the first in Group A, with 10 points (a similar campaign to that of Brazil). The Argentines drew 1-1 with Chile and later beat Uruguay and Paraguay, by the slightest difference, and Bolivia by a landslide (1-4).
Ecuador was its victim in the quarterfinals, which it defeated in the 90 ‘, with scores from Rodrigo de Paul, Lautaro Martínez and Lionel Messi, who also contributed with assistance. The ’10’ reaches the semifinal as the top scorer in the competition, scoring 4 goals, and is a little short of reaching Pelé as the top scorer in South American teams.
Although Colombia lost Matheus Uribe through injury for the remainder of the Cup, the good news is that they will be able to have Juan Guillermo Cuadrado back, who paid suspension against Uruguay.
What do they get to the semifinal with?
Argentina national team
Wins: 4 (Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia / Ecuador, in quarters)
Draws: 1 (Chile)
Losses: None
Goals scored: 10
Goals conceded: 2
Gunner: Lionel Messi, 4 goals.
Selection of Colombia
Wins: 1 (Ecuador)
Ties: 2 (Venezuela / Uruguay, in quarters)
Losses: 2 (Peru and Brazil)
Goals scored: 3 (E. Cardona, M. Borja and L. Díaz)
Goals conceded: 4
Argentina vs Colombia, in the Cup semifinals
Copa América Ecuador 1993: Argentina 0-0 Colombia * penalties, 6-5
Copa América Peru 2004: Argentina 3-0 Colombia
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