Brazil plays its best match, beats Peru and reaches the “rejected” Copa America final – 07/05/2021 – Sports

After five matches without a designated main team at the Copa America, Brazil played their best match on Monday (5), beating Peru 1-0 and taking a place in the competition’s final – initially rejected by the Brazilian players, who They demonstrated against his investigation.

The selection will try to defend the title he won in the last edition (2019) and seek his tenth cup in the continental championship on Saturday (10). The decisive confrontation will be against The winner of the duel between Argentina and Colombia, who are facing each other this Tuesday (6).

“I prefer Argentina. I have many friends there. After that, it will be Brazil,” Neymar said.

Brazil’s victory over Peru at Nelton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro was decided by a goal by midfielder Lucas Paqueta in the first half.

During the audition throughout the tournament, coach Tite chose Paqueta from the start to join Neymar in creating the plays.

Although the score was lower than that applied in the last two meetings with rivals Peru, with four goals scored per goal, the squad yielded the team’s best performance in the tournament, with many scoring opportunities in the first stage. .

In the second half, the team withstood the attacks of Peru well, managed to break out of the defense more easily and dominated the match.

The first goal came from Neymar’s pass to Paqueta for a kick from inside the area in the 34th minute. Before, the midfielder had already given a good touch to Richarlison in a match that ended with a blow from the Paris Saint-Germain striker.

Peruvian goalkeeper Cales saved twice in a row with shots from Neymar and Richarlison. Defensive midfielder Casemiro also tried his luck with two serves from outside the area.

At the same time that they were able to make good plays, Tite kept their mark with a secure defense, without too much fear. The team has conceded only two goals in its last ten matches.

In the second half, Peru pressed forward in the first 15 minutes, but failed to equalise.

Thus, Brazil reached the final of a competition whose debut was marked by a statement from Brazilian athletes against its achievement.

According to the original schedule, this version of the Copa America will be held in Argentina and Colombia, but the countries canceled the event due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and protests, respectively. Jair Bolsonaro’s government agreed to host the competition at the last minute.

The movement that began with the expectation of mobilizing players to criticize the Brazilian government’s acceptance of hosting the event in the midst of the pandemic, ended with an apolitical statement.

“For various reasons, whether humanitarian or professional, we are not satisfied with CONMEBOL’s performance of the Copa America, whether it was subsequently hosted in Chile or even in Brazil,” said the players’ statement at the start of the competition.

Criticisms without political content remained even on the eve of the competition. Tite was fined for claiming, the day before his national team debut, that the competition was organized in a chaotic manner.

Throughout the tournament, criticism began to focus on the quality of the stadium. The Brazilian coach even requested several times, but in vain, that the matches stop playing in Enginhao – as the Nilton Santos Stadium is known.