HomeCopa AmericaARGENTINA ARE COPA CHAMPS!

ARGENTINA ARE COPA CHAMPS!

By Shreyas Rai
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ARGENTINA VS BRAZIL

The South American scuffle between Brazil and Argentina was unlike any other Copa America final. The picture of Lionel Messi’s teary eyes after constant heartbreaks still vibrates in the hearts of Albiceleste supporters while Neymar’s Brazil understands how the South American crown feels.

 

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Argentina and Angel Di Maria drew first-blood in the fierce battle as the ostentatious winger attempted a glorious chip to beat the Brazilian keeper, shaking Tite’s tactics. Chances came hard and fast as Brazil couldn’t establish their authority in the first half.

 

 

The Brazilian superiority was thrown out of the window by Argentina’s intelligence as La Albiceleste earned a nervy 1-0 advantage at the break. Brazil constantly knocked on Argentina’s door with Richarlison almost scoring the goal before an offside call thrashed their early celebrations. A disciplined defensive outing for Lionel Scaloni’s army ensured that Argentina shut-shop as Brazil failed to convert their galaxy of chances.

 

As Argentina lifted their captain into the night sky the world stood up to clap their hands for the Greatest Of All Time, who once again silenced the world with his Copa America performance.

 

DI MARIA’S MAGIC

Argentina and Brazil both battled hard to trouble the opposition defenders. With Neymar’s and Messi’s friendship and rivalry clouding the prestigious final, the world wondered who would conquer the throne of South America. La Albiceleste were the first outfit to break the shackles in Brazil as Paris Saint Germain’s right-winger Angel Di Maria gracefully put Argentina ahead. Rodrigo De Paul was given acres of space as he darted towards the half-line before playing a jaw-dropping aerial ball to a steaming Di Maria.

 

 

Atletico Madrid’s Renan Lodi earned the first bite at the cherry but missed miserably as the PSG’s Argentine veteran comfortably brought the ball under his spell, chipping Manchester City’s record-signing Ederson Moraes to thunder the ball into Brazil’s net. The net rattled as Argentina’s bench, spectators, and players erupted in elation. The pieces were falling perfectly for Argentina as all the team talks by Lionel Scaloni had reaped results. It wasn’t the first time that the flamboyance of Di Maria had left the world in awe.

 

 

 

The reckoning force behind Argentina’s glittering second-half display in the quarter-finals, Lionel Scaloni’s trump card had worked wonders in the biggest South American brawl. The two teams headed towards the tunnel with Argentina leading Brazil 1-0 as 45 minutes separated a hungry Lionel Messi and his first international trophy.

NO BRAZILIAN SAMBA IN MARACANA

Scaloni and his Argentina battalion were well aware of the fact that a nervy lead against a star-studded Selecao never guaranteed silverware. But to their happiness, the rival protagonist had been silenced in the first half. Neymar, the fulcrum of Brazil’s goal-scoring activities, rarely weaved the magic he’s synonymous with. While his club counterpart, Di Maria already laid the foundation of an Argentine triumph. Lionel Scaloni’s park-the-bus tactic had been exposed throughout the South American summer and Tite’s introduction of Roberto Firmino after the interval clarified Brazil’s blueprints for the final.

 

 

 

The tactic almost worked instantly as Everton’s poacher Richarlison smashed the ball into Emiliano Martinez’s goal. Argentine centre-back replicated Lodi as his unfortunate mistake opened up the floodgates for Richarlison who didn’t need a second invitation to score. But the referee’s late offside flag saved Argentina’s boat from sinking.

 

 

Replays confirmed that the official was correct as Richarlison slipped in behind the last defender a little too early. But the Brazilian attack was just a trailer of what the Argentine defenders were in store for. And after the offside shout, the yellow-army didn’t look back as they created a galaxy of attacks.

 

THE WAIT IS OVER!

 

After 90 minutes of a mouth-watering battle in Brazil, the 47th instalment of Copa America had a winner in Argentina. Rodrigo De Paul’s and Angel Di Maria’s sublime connection landed the South American silverware in Argentina after 1993. After a hard-fought summer of football, the heartbreaks turned into jubilation while the tears remained constant. Argentina’s disciplined defence led by towering defender Nicolas Otamendi rarely gave the Selecao a second to perform their samba.

 

 

 

 

Lionel Messi’s bleeding foot, Emiliano Martinez’s penalty heroics, Papu Gomez’s knack of racking up goals, the protagonist’s in Argentina’s fairytale had no end. Angel Di Maria’s first-half wizardry gave Argentina a sneaky advantage but Albiceleste’s backline shut the doors completely. The South-American brawl finished with Argentina conquering their 15th title and Lionel Messi finally winning an international trophy. The Man-of-The-Tournament shut down his haters in the perfect way as Messi’s glorious comeback was wrapped up with a cheeky smile, a billion celebrations, and a glorious Copa America title.

Shreyas Rai

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