Brazil and Colombia closed out the Copa America group stage with essentially the most tantalizing matchup of the event up to now. Raphinha’s picture-perfect free kick within the twelfth minute gave Brazil an early lead because the match shortly lived as much as its billing, however Colombia discovered an equalizer via Daniel Munoz that allowed them to protect an unbeaten group stage and retain first place in Group D.
Brazil shall be left to marvel what may have been after what gave the impression to be a transparent penalty shout for Vinicius Junior was denied by the referee shortly earlier than Colombia’s purpose.
Colombia flubbed a late likelihood at a winner, however essentially the most impactful second of the match could have are available simply the seventh minute when Vinicius Jr was proven a yellow card that may hold him out of Brazil’s quarterfinal as a result of accumulation.
Jack Lang, Stu James and Thom Harris share their takeaways from Levi’s Stadium…
Was this the perfect match of the event up to now?
We’ve been ready for a recreation like this on the Copa America – two heavyweights going face to face – and it didn’t disappoint. It was edge-of-the-seat stuff from the primary minute – breathless, intense and performed like a knockout tie. Maybe that was not stunning given what was at stake: a quarterfinal in opposition to Panama for the Group D winners and the unwelcome prospect of going through Uruguay for the runners up.
The sport wasn’t at all times fairly – 17 fouls and 4 yellow playing cards within the first half alone – however that didn’t take something away from a spectacle that was lit up by an excellent Raphinha free-kick to provide Brazil the lead. Colombia have been nonetheless within the dressing room – Nestor Lorenzo’s facet caught chilly by Brazil’s electrical begin. That Colombia responded so nicely mentioned the whole lot about their high quality in addition to their resilience. It’s 26 video games unbeaten now.
In that respect the sport lived as much as the hype – each groups had possibilities to grab victory within the dying minutes – and there’s each chance that we’ll be handled to a rematch within the semi-finals, given the best way the draw works. Few neutrals will complain if that seems to be the case.
GO DEEPER
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Stuart James
On the cash. Each time.
There’s one thing about the best way James Rodriguez floats in a set-piece – strolling up the ball, flicking his foot to ship it spinning in the direction of the six-yard field, however hanging it within the air simply lengthy sufficient to maintain the goalkeeper at bay – that makes it extremely arduous to withstand.
He has created seven possibilities from set items already on the Copa America; solely three gamers have created extra alternatives of any type, full-stop. And he would have had a 3rd dead-ball help in an enthralling first half in opposition to Brazil, if it weren’t for the ruthless geometry of VAR. You’ll typically see him trotting from one facet of the pitch to the opposite to take consecutive corners, however the followers are completely happy to attend.
There’s selection in Rodriguez’s set-piece armoury too. After eight minutes, the 32-year-old despatched a depraved free-kick careering in the direction of purpose, just for it to look off the crossbar and out of play. It’s a disgrace it was overshadowed by Raphinha’s effort barely 5 minutes on.
Then, from a crossing place, he all of the sudden switches method; shortly closing his physique to attempt to catch Alisson out. In fact, he very practically did.
Even when he has misplaced a yard of tempo, Rodriguez at all times appears like he’s a step forward. Drifting round behind the 2 strikers – doing, basically, no matter he likes – he makes this glorious Colombia facet tick.
Thom Harris
How will Brazil cope with out Vinicius Jr?
4 Brazil gamers have been strolling a disciplinary tightrope at kick-off and it didn’t take lengthy for one in all them to fall off it. There have been simply six minutes on the clock when James Rodriguez flicked the ball over the top of Vinicius Jr in midfield and collapsed in a heap. Vinicius seemed flabbergasted when referee Jesus Valenzuela produced a yellow card — one which means he’ll now be suspended for Brazil’s quarterfinal date with Uruguay.
His absence is clearly an enormous deal. Vinicius is not only a superb participant; he’s more and more seen as this facet’s talisman, the person teammates and followers look to when the going will get robust. His significance has solely been accentuated by the detached type of Rodrygo, his Actual Madrid colleague, who once more struggled to make a lot of an impression right here.
Dorival Júnior, then, has some robust calls to make. One possibility is to shift Rodrygo out to the left and play Endrick via the center. Alternatively, there are few pure wingers that might swap straight in. Gabriel Martinelli and Pepe each get pleasure from enjoying on the left, however the almost definitely stand-in might be Savinho, who did nicely in Brazil’s first two matches.
No single possibility is ideal. Rodrygo doesn’t supply the identical velocity and penetration as Vinicius out vast. Martinelli is out of shape. Pepe is untested. Savinho is left-footed, so that might require a rejig of Brazil’s attacking patterns. Selections, selections, selections…
Jack Lang
What’s subsequent for every workforce?
Colombia vs. Panama — Saturday, July 6 at 5:00 p.m. ET (State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ)
Uruguay vs. Brazil — Saturday, July 6 at 9:00 p.m. ET (Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV)
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(Prime photograph: Ezra Shaw/Getty Photographs)