Colombia are alive and they have James, Cuadrado, Sánchez and a legion of fans who push this great team into reminding everyone watching the Copa America that they are here to fight against the best, to beat them and shake them up. This is how the dealt with Brazil last night, an impotent Brazil who lacked inspiration from Neymar and had no-one who was able to take the fight back to the Colombians.
Incredible as it may sounds, but it suits Colombia more to play against the likes of Brazil as opposed to teams like Venezuela. The Colombians were not obliged to take the game to Brazil and were capable of playing fast and incisive football when they were in possession. Above all they managed to construct their superiority through tension and changing their game plan which unsettled Dunga’s side.
Being frank, there is nothing special about this Brazilian side. During the course of the game they visibly withered. Colombia were propelled by their goal and created subsequent good chances that were spurned by Cuadrado and Falcao.
Surprisingly, Dunga failed in the area that is his specialty. There is no-one to cover that center midfield role to construct play in the way he used to do so as a player. The pairing of Fernandinho-Elías lent a degree of disorder in the center that infuriates coaches. Firmino had the best chance for the Brazilians but his shot was off target when the goalkeeper was stranded. Their lack of a clear number ‘9’ is starting to become a serious debate in Brazil and alarmingly, there seems to be no short term solution.
As the game wore on Colombia started to tire but were encouraged in seeing that their opposition were incapable of troubling then seriously. Coutinho managed to give some degree of spark to the front line with Neymar drifting in and out of the game. Sanchez, was a rock in a defense midfield role sweeping up every ball that threatened the Colombian goal. The Aston Villa player was formidable against a disappointing Brazilian team who, upon this form are flattering themselves with any aspirations of winning the tournament. The end of the game was overshadowed by the sending off of Neymar and Colombia’s, Carlos Bacca after a fracas between both players. A poor Brazil and gutsy Colombia. The Copa America for both teams took a turn last night with this result.
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