Brazil win Copa America
A strange final, full of fluctuating tempos. Perhaps tiredness caught up with the players, but at times it resembled training, Argentina keeping possession and Brazil just keeping their eye on them.
The final few minutes were out of all proportion to what had already passed. Argentina struck three minutes from time, justifying their possession. As the subs linked together, arms around shoulders, Brazil equalised with the final kick of the game. The goal was Adriano’s 7th of the Copa. The first time anyone had scored more than 6 since Pele. The Argentines remonstrated with the referee; unfocused rants about hand-ball, offside, not fair. It looked a legitimate goal from my sofa.
Brazil had momentum. Argentina wore the body language of sulking teenagers and missed their first two penalties. Brazil never flinched and didn’t miss.