The Hindu : Sport / Football : Ruthless Brazil retains Copa America title with ease

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Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007
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Ruthless Brazil retains Copa America title with ease

FOOTBALL / Beats Argentina 3-0 with an efficient performance; Robinho emerges the top scorer

— Photo: AP

STILL THE BEST: The Brazilian football team celebrates after retaining the Copa America crown with an emphatic win over continental archrival Argentina on Sunday. Robinho (draped in a flag) was the tournament’s best marksman with six strikes to his name.

MARACAIBO (Venezuela): Brazil produced a ruthlessly efficient performance to beat old rival Argentina 3-0 on Sunday and win the Copa America for the eighth time and the second time in a row.

Despite starting as the outsider, Brazil stung Argentina with a fourth-minute goal from Julio Baptista and then Argentina captain Roberto Ayala, making his 115th appearance, put through his own goal before halftime.

Daniel Alves added a third as Argentina coach Alfio Basile, who won the 1991 and 1993 tournaments in a previous stint with the team, lost a Copa America match for the first time in 19 outings.

With playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme anonymous, the Argentineans could not find their previously flowing football and was muscled out by the powerful Brazilians, who committed 37 fouls.

It was a bitter pill for Argentina, which lost on penalties to the same opponent in the 2004 final and was facing a Brazilian team without Kaka and Ronaldinho, who asked to be rested from the tournament.

Third successive defeat

It was also its third successive defeat against Brazil by a three-goal margin, Brazil having won 4-1 in the Confederations Cup final in 2005 and 3-0 in a friendly last year.

Brazil coach Dunga, on the other hand, celebrated his first title only 11 months after taking over following last year’s World Cup quarterfinal defeat to France.

“We came here to rescue the self-esteem of the Brazilian supporter, the worker who leaves home early in the morning and comes back at late night and whose only satisfaction is when Brazil wins,” he said.

“My players demonstrated they’re capable of great things,” Dunga said. “Argentina was the press’ and everyone’s favourite, but the game is decided on the field over 90 minutes.”

Argentina coach Alfio Basile refused to talk to reporters.

His side had scored 16 goals in five games before the final while Brazil lost to Mexico in the group stage and needed a penalty shootout to beat Uruguay in the semifinals.

Argentina was also attempting to end a 14-year title drought stretching back to its 1993 Copa America title under Basile.

With the temperature at kick-off time around 32 Celsius and the tropical sun still burning, a cagey opening had been expected but instead Brazil snatched a quick lead.

‘The Beast’ delivers

A long crossfield ball by Elano found Julio Baptista on the left and, as Ayala held off, the player known as ‘The Beast’ advanced menacingly and unleashed a shot into the top right hand corner.

Riquelme rifled a shot against the post five minutes later and forced a brilliant save from Brazil goalkeeper Doni.

But Argentina’s usual flowing game was interrupted by systematic Brazilian fouling, while its defence was always shaky.

Maicon nearly added a second in the 17th minute when Roberto Abbondanzieri fumbled his low shot and the same player forced Javier Zanetti to clear off the line one minute later.

Five minutes before halftime, Daniel Alves, who replaced the injured Elano, produced a dangerous inswinging cross from the right and Ayala turned the ball into his own net.

Continued frustration

Brazil continued to frustrate Argentina after halftime as goalkeeper Doni and Gilberto were both booked for time-wasting.

Brazil produced the killer punch as Vagner Love broke down the left and fed Daniel Alves, who scored with a clinical shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

While Brazil celebrated having won its fourth championship in five tries, Argentina was left to ponder its lost opportunity.

The results: Final: Brazil 3 (Julio Baptista 4, Roberto Ayala (OG) 40, Daniel Alves 69) bt Argentina 0. — Agencies