Rio de Janeiro (AFP)
Neymar's Brazil against Lionel Messi's Argentina: two teams can still spoil the dream final of the Copa America with in the semi-finals Peru opposed to the Seleçao on Monday in Rio, and Colombia which hopes to trap the Albiceleste on Tuesday in Brasilia.
The duel between Brazil and Peru will be a revenge for the final of the 2019 edition, won 3-1 by Brazil in this same stadium of Maracana, in the heart of a country still ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, for lack of appropriate health measures.
That year, long before the Covid-19 appeared in the four corners of the world, Tite's men, with Dani Alves as captain and without Neymar injured in an ankle, had lifted the cup after dominating Paolo's Peru. Guerrero.
Two years later, Neymar's teammates will try Monday (8:00 p.m. local, 11:00 p.m. GMT) to get closer to a 10th Copa America which would also be the 6th at home, to maintain their 100% success rate at home in this which is the oldest soccer tournament on the planet.
This will be the second time that the two selections meet during this Copa 2021: in the group stage, the Brazilians had not made any details (4-0) on the very damaged lawn of the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium.
The Seleçao are all the more favorite as they have been undefeated for twelve matches (11 wins, one draw), but they will be deprived of Gabriel Jesus, sent off against Chile and whom Tite could replace by Roberto Firmino or Gabigol.
"It's not the same story, Peru arrived in the semifinals on merit. It shows their qualities. They have our respect," warns captain Thiago Silva.
- Messi in great shape -
In the other semi-final, Argentina, easily victorious over Ecuador (3-0) on Saturday thanks to a Messi in great shape, will face a Colombia who eliminated Uruguay in the quarter-finals. Edinson Cavani.
Against Ecuador, Messi delivered two assists and closed the scoring with a surgical free kick in the 93rd minute.
At 34, the "Pulga" has no more time to waste because her last major title with Argentina dates back to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Messi also remains on three finals lost in Copa America (2007, 2015 and 2016).
He is four goals and four assists in this 47th edition, which gives an idea of his current motivation, after a frustrating season in the FC Barcelona shirt.
Colombia remains, the last possible obstacle on the way to the ideal Brazil-Argentina final on July 10 at the Maracana.
Colombians who owe a lot to their goalkeeper David Ospina, hero of the penalty shootout against Uruguay (0-0, 4 tab to 2).
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As happiness never comes alone, Ospina surpassed the legendary Carlos Valderrama in the number of selections (112) on Saturday and celebrated this record by stopping the second and fourth Uruguayan attempts, against the unfortunate José María Gutierrez and Matías Vina.
The semi-finals program:
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Monday July 5 (Tuesday 01:00 French), in Rio
Brazil - Peru
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Tuesday July 6 (Wednesday 3 a.m. French), in Brasilia
Argentina - Colombia
NB: the final is scheduled for July 10
raa / ma / dlo / jr / dep
© 2021 AFP