Final round dynamics

Uruguay-Paraguay

The tournament had moved from Salvador/Recife and Goiânia to Rio de Janeiro, where the remaining six fixtures were to be played out at possibly the world’s most iconic stadium: Maracanã (officially: Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho). The final, four-team strong mini-series would decide which team would be able to title themselves continental champions. The six ties would be played out over a period of just four days, with two matches each evening on Wednesday and Friday, and then the final pair on the Sunday afternoon. 

Getting the ball rolling were Uruguay and Paraguay. Having scraped through the qualification stage, the Uruguayans had surely not realized their big potential just yet. The big question was: Were they going to do so within the realms of this tournament? Paraguay was surely seen as a ‘must-win’ fixture, as they clearly had a lesser ring to their name than the other two. Were they any inferior than Brazil and Argentina, though? They had finished top of their group, although results had probably been more impressive than their performances. They had looked their most useful when they had narrowly defeated Colombia in the second of their four first group stage matches. The Uruguayans, on the other hand, had lost by a single goal against big rivals Argentina in their final tie, which had left them relying on results in the final round to go their way. On paper, they clearly looked the stronger, but were they able to put theory into practice? 

The first half proved to be a quite cautious one, and certainly from the Uruguayans, as they sat back and invited the Paraguayans at them. Collectively strong defensively, though, they didn’t give much away inside their final third, even if Zeoli had had to keep out a Cañete drive. Down the other end, they showed just how clinical they were capable of being as they took advantage of a counter along the right hand side. Sosa had got to a ball ahead of goalkeeper Fernández, whose error of judgement coming out from his area, proved irredeemable, as Cañete on the line could not keep out Francescoli from Sosa’s cross. In an even half, Uruguay went into the dressing rooms a massive goal to the good. 

After the break, the game went up a notch. It was an excellent advert for football (if adverts for football are ever needed) in South America, as both teams had numerous opportunities to make their mark on the scoreline. Mendoza was twice foiled on the near post by a highly inspired Zeoli as Paraguay pushed long and hard for an equalizer, and Neffa, who found it tough going against Uruguay’s powerful central defensive pairing of Gutiérrez and de León, had a header tipped over. Down the other end, Paraguay had conceded a number of chances themselves, and Alzamendi had been Uruguay’s main culprit in failing to convert any of the counters which he had found himself at the end of. It must have been a huge relief when he eventually did get his name on the scoresheet a few minutes from time, after he’d spurned three big chances previously. In injury time the playful Paz, who had moved up into the ‘Francescoli role’ when the captain had been allowed to take a seat, adding reinforcements to their midfield in the shape of the energetic Correa, rounded off yet another swift break with a cool finish past the luckless Fernández. Zeoli had to stretch one final time deep in injury time, as he kept out Jacquet’s goalbound free-kick. 3-0, their third win of this magnitude in the current competition, could not have been better for Uruguay, while Paraguay would’ve felt hard done by. 

Brazil-Argentina

It was on to the main course as far as the Maracanã crowd were concerned: It hardly got bigger on the international football calendar than a clash between South America’s main two. Neither had so far managed to thrill the audiences, with a meagre seven goals combined across eight matches. Surely, this particular tie, too, promised little in terms of goals, judging by what the teams had delivered hitherto. 

Brazil started with an identical eleven as to last time around, when they had made beating Paraguay’s second-strings look slightly difficult, though now for the second time running on a proper surface following the three first fixtures on the scandalous Fonte Nova pitch, they were at least beginning to resemble a more fluent unit. Argentina were out to deny them space, and were working according to congesting principles in midfield. 

The hosts were clearly the dominant team in a goalless opening 45 minutes. They drew a couple of saves from Pumpido after efforts from distance through Dunga and Bebeto, while the Argentinian goalkeeper needed to be alert to prevent the same Bebeto to arrive at the ball first when played through. Lurking on the far post following a deep Silas cross from the right, Bebeto was snubbed by a fine headed Sensini intervention to deny him another sniff. Argentina as an attacking force were more or less null and void. They harboured few other intentions than shutting Brazil out. So far they were content. 

Argentina were far from satisfied within nine minutes of the restart. They were two goals down, and Brazil were coasting to victory. There had been no changes in either select during the break, though on 48 minutes, Argentina were finally breached for the first time since the start of the championship, as Silas crossed for Romário to lay it off for Bebeto. The latter finished in spectacular style to open the scoring for his fourth goal of the tournament, which took him top of the charts along with Maldonado of Venezuela. Shortly after, Romário, who was really beginning to come to life, capitalized on an error by libero Brown, whose clearance went straight up into the air, spun away from him and into the little striker’s path, who just nipped in to take it away from Pumpido, rounded the ‘keeper and pot it into the back of the empty net. Cue delirium in the stands. 

Argentina made two changes in quick succession, which saw world champion Ricardo Giusti make his first appearance of the ongoing competition following his arrival in the squad once their place in the final series had been confirmed. Caniggia entered for the ineffective Calderón. Burruchaga had made way for Giusti, something which saw Troglio move into the advanced position. It was futile, though. Argentina could never threaten Taffarel’s goal. Caniggia even earned himself a booking for dissent, admittedly after Mauro Galvão had tugged his shirt. 

Brazil were full of confidence and swagger in the latter stages, and bossed the remainder of the proceedings, with Romário nearly getting himself into a goalscoring position after chesting down Silas’ pass, spectacularly lifting it over Sensini and Brown in succession, before the former had regained his composure in time to get a last-ditch tackle in to prevent the Netherlands based star to strike. The home side were full value for their goals and the two points. Now the question was: Who were going to stop them from finally recording their first continental title since their last appearance on home soil 40 years earlier? 

Uruguay-Argentina

Having lost, Argentina were now relying on other teams to slip up, as well as needing two wins from their remaining pair of matches in order to stand a chance of finishing top. They had beaten big rivals Uruguay only six days previously, in a game where Bilardo’s tactical nous had triumphed against what was arguably a better team player by player. The Uruguayans had brought so much pace in their transitions, something which had been way too much for Paraguay to handle two days earlier, and that three goal full-time cushion had been fine reward for multiple opportunities on the break. 

As the Argentinians had failed to make an impact on Brazil in their first game of the final series, Bilardo had made a couple of changes, but kept with his 4-4-1-1 formation. Libero Brown was not even in the matchday squad of 16, with Ruggeri, who had been sent off early last time these two met, taking over as the spare man at the back. They saw Cuciuffo in a more advanced central defensive role, where he had attempted to mark Francescoli, until the Uruguayan talisman retracted so far back that Cuciuffo no longer dared (or was allowed) to follow. Down the other end, Caniggia worked towards the right hand channel, hoping to feed on passes from Maradona immediately behind him. Their midfield quartet remained intact from the Brazil game, although Troglio and Basualdo had swapped sides. 

Uruguay sure were the early pace setters, and they created a number of efforts goalwards, although they couldn’t make either of them count, even if Ostolaza had hit the woodwork from close range. They must have felt the curse of the opposition as their dominance gradually subsided, and by the half hour mark, it was the Argentinians who were looking the stronger. Maradona, the wizzard, had never come so close to his first goal of the tournament as when he collected a pass in the centre-circle and let fly towards goal. His breathtaking 55 yard effort completely caught Zeoli off guard, and the ‘keeper could only watch as the ball sailed over him and smacked off the crossbar. It was pure genius, even if it had not gone in. 

The pair of goals which Argentina had conceded against the Brazilians were their first of the tournament, Another followed shortly before the half-time interval, as a back pass by Sensini was picked up by Sosa, who had moved into the centre, off the defender’s radar. It was a simple task for the Italy based marksman to round Pumpido and slot the ball into the back of the net for the opener, and while Uruguay had rarely threatened in the final 20 minutes or so of the opening half, they were probably worthy of a goal altogether. 

Both teams had made changes in personnel during the break, with Correa coming on for Perdomo, and forward Balbo replacing Burruchaga for Argentina. The Albiceleste kept searching for an equalizer, and put plenty of pressure on the Uruguayans, who were rarely committing several players forward at the same time. They were not given the same opportunities to counter as they had had against Paraguay, and were somewhat fortunate that Argentina had a headed Balbo goal disallowed for offside on 62 minutes. This made the Argentinians lose their discipline, and shortly after Ruggeri, who had been sent off on 17 minutes in these two countries’ previous clash, had to walk for a cynical foul on Sosa. They were furious! How they actually did not protest to a greater extent when Gutiérrez should’ve been awarded a penalty against for hacking Caniggia down on 71 minutes remains a mystery. 

Balbo was again in the thick of the action, but just couldn’t find a way through, and ultimately Sosa accelerated past Sensini and scored one on one with Pumpido for 2-0 with less than ten minutes left for play. It was a sublime goal, where Sosa had displayed his extreme pace, balance and ultimately his eye for goal. At the back, de León and Gutiérrez had stood up well to the onslaught, and Uruguay were now with four points from a possible four, and a healthy 5-0 goal difference. They would be hoping Paraguay could offer the Brazilians some resistance in the game which followed.

Brazil-Paraguay

No one probably expected similar drama to what had only just unfolded at the Maracanã. Paraguay in all likelihood didn’t have the ability to lure out the same passion in the Brazilian ranks as the other two in the final series, though they had done well so far in the competition. Having lost by three to Uruguay, though, the hosts would definitely wish to at least mirror that scoreline, in order to restore parity ahead of the final day. Any win was surely the primary objective, though. 

The physically demanding schedule of playing every other day must have been catching up with teams, although there was little clear evidence of this so far in how the matches portrayed themselves. The Brazilians had done well to make relatively light work of Argentina, and were clad in the same eleven as then. Paraguay had replaced Caballero with the more regular right-back Torales, but were without wide forward Mendoza, whose place to the left in their attack was attended to by Palacios. 

After a somewhat sluggish opening, Brazil went ahead within a quarter of an hour. They would often arrive in two against one situations along their flanks, and Mazinho had a field day in how he was fed by Silas and reached the byline on a number of occasions. It was his cross which was expertly headed home by a totally unmarked Bebeto. Later, Romário would be presented with a similar opportunity, though the tall Fernández flung himself like a cat to keep that header out. Brazil racked up several fine goalscoring opportunities, and were showboating toward the end of the half. Romário had definitely got his swagger back, and he was probably fired up a bit, too, after a small scuffle with Zabala. The way he took on a cross from the left, guiding the ball between the two centre-backs with his right foot, before he hit it low with his left, was quite typical of his artistry. Just wide, though. 

Although they had been quite inferior, Paraguay had not just sat back and waited for the inevitable. They went forward themselves, and both Palacios and Franco had fine goalscoring opportunities which they failed to capitalize on. Still, the one goal half-time lead was scant reward for a fluent home side, which looked on course for a bigger win. 

The second half turned out to be a relatively quiet one, that is once Brazil had twice more got the ball in the back of the net to emulate Uruguay’s scoreline against the Paraguayans. Mazinho was simply unstoppable along the right hand side for the hosts, and for 2-0 he had moved in field, eventually poking it into space for Bebeto, who struck a delicious shot with his left foot high into the roof of the net to leave Fernández with no chance. Just shy of the hour mark, Mazinho was at it again, crossing low for Romário to flick home with his right boot for 3-0. 

Paraguay had made a half-time change in bringing on Sanabria for Cañete, though it hadn’t proved to make much of a difference, as they were always second best, even if Brazil were no longer so keen to commit men forward after having scored their third. Romário had been involved halfway through the second period, yet again following a Mazinho cross from the right, when he headed goalwards, only to see Zabala clear it off the line, and then again a couple of minutes later as he pulled towards the centre of the area to tee himself up for a low shot with his right boot – wide of the upright. 

Brazil made a double substitution in bringing Alemão and the powerful Renato on for Valdo and Romário respectively, and they never came closer to a fourth than when Renato flicked Mazinho’s cross goalwards on 76 minutes, only to see Fernández get a hand to it to divert the ball on to the crossbar. A 4-0 scoreline would’ve meant they only needed a draw on the final day to become champions. Down the other end, there was rarely trouble for Taffarel, and only Neffa had caused the Brazilian defence anything remotely resembling bother, which was when he’d dragged a left-footed effort wide on 74 minutes. 

Both teams just appeared to be playing out time at the end. 3-0 just about the right scoreline. Bebeto was now on six goals, and the tournament’s leading scorer. Mazinho deserved the ‘Man of the Match’ prize for the way he played his part in all three goals. Now a two-day breather, and the teams would have to compose themselves for one final push. That day included the big decider. 

Argentina-Paraguay

The early afternoon fixture was getting under way while the stadium was still filling, and there was no real early atmosphere created in the stands, understandably so, with the Brazilian fans who were arriving having come to see their own team in the following match. Argentina had given as good as they had got against Uruguay, but had ultimately come up short, and had yet to get off the mark in the final series. Paraguay provided them with the possibility of rectifying that, as they themselves had found the other two in this group just too hot to handle. 

There was a distinct feel about the game that it didn’t matter a whole lot to either side. Granted, there was a third place up for grabs, but both teams were more or less just going through the motions. The Argentinians had made a number of changes, most notably with Maradona having opted out, not even being found among the five men on the bench. Furthermore, they had needed to replace Ruggeri with another man for the libero post, and this time the choice had fallen on Sensini, who had predominantly been their left-back so far in the championships. Burruchaga, who had failed to leave his print on the tournament, was back in, and was even wearing the captain’s armband in Maradona’s absence. In their 4-2-2-2 formation, the France based midfielder was working in a more advanced role alongside Troglio, who had possibly been their most consistent player throughout the Copa. Balbo, who had come on at the break against Uruguay, now got the chance to show what he could do from start, partnering Calderón up top. 

As for the Paraguayans, manager Manera’s faith in their 4-3-3 system was seemingly very strong. They had brought Cáceres back in at right-back, with Torales again getting the chance along the left. Sanabria had come in for only his second start of the tournament in midfield, and he made sure they resumed their midfield order from the second half in their previous match, when Franco had been switched from inside right to inside left (Sanabria then, as now, the inside right). Mendoza had missed out last time, but was back in the starting eleven again, and resumed his regular role down their left hand side. Neffa and Palacios were both more or less playing through the middle inside from Mendoza. 

Little happened which raised the pulses during a largely absent-minded first half. A couple of shots on target from Neffa and Argentina’s left-back Díaz respectively, while Neffa also flicked a header from a Mendoza free-kick into the area just wide. The greater controversy had come from a Monzón handball which had looked to be well inside the area. The referee pulled the ball back to the edge of the box, though, and Mendoza’s free-kick was wasted. The replay revealed that it ought to have been a penalty to Paraguay. 

At the start of the second half, with Argentina having brought forward Alfaro Moreno on for the invisible Calderón, the world champions did at least have a ten minute spell where they looked more inspired, closing down opponents at a greater rate, and even conjuring up a couple of opportunities. It was just a wicked bounce of the ball which prevented Alfaro Moreno to connect with Troglio’s ball across the six yard area, and with Fernández committed, it should’ve been 1-0. Burruchaga and then Troglio had shots before the hour, but the game soon went back to being drab. 

Paraguay brought on the lively Escobar on the hour, prompting a change in formation as the injured Neffa went off. The little schemer came on in an advanced midfield position, leaving them at 4-3-1-2. Their best opportunity of the half fell to Palacios, who rose well to connect with Zabala’s header back across the area following Escobar’s ball in. The striker placed his header just wide of the upright, though. 

Gorosito, brought on for Clausen for Argentina, looked lively, like he had done in a previous cameo, and he had an opportunity six minutes from time, when his shot from Balbo’s header back into his direction was saved low to his right by Fernández. A minute later Balbo came perilously close to scoring after another fine Alfaro Moreno run down the left saw Fernández fail to cut the cross out, and on the back stick Balbo headed wide. The second half atmosphere had been much improved around the stands, which had been filling up well in time for the next kick-off. Argentina third, Paraguay fourth after a largely forgettable tie. 

Brazil-Uruguay

The tournament had been building up for its crescendo, and despite the fact that this was part of a final series, and not a ‘final’ as such, it was still the end match which would decide who would be awarded the title. The script could hardly have been better. Brazil were looking to end their 40 year continental title drought. Uruguay were reigning champions. 39 years earlier, to the very day, in the same stadium, the Uruguayans had triumphed in the World Cup, beating a Brazil side which had been looking an irresistable force until then: It had ended 2-1 to Uruguay in the final game of the final series, an identical set-up to today. Could the Celeste do it once again? 

Both teams lined up with their strongest elevens, but as this was their seventh fixture in just over two weeks, it was inevitable that they were both beginning to feel a level of fatigue. They both had set patterns of play, and both obviously knew plenty about the opposition prior to kick-off. Brazil were in their, by now, familiar 3-5-2 shape, with the two wide men pushing forward at will, while Uruguay’s 4-3-3 was identically recogniseable. 

The first half turned out to be a proper stalemate. Both teams were bent on nullifying the threat from the opposition, and creative forces were typically stopped in their track through the means of a foul. There were a good few of them during the opening 45 minutes, and Uruguay were the team which had committed the highest number, with both Ostolaza and Sosa earning bookings. Branco saw yellow for a push on Herrera. In a more modern era, he would’ve walked for raising his hand into the face of an opponent. 

There were few opportunities; for Uruguay there were none. Valdo masterminded the Brazilian play in the first 15-20 minutes, and looked very inspired. Romário had an effort on goal seven minutes in, as he collected a cross from Valdo out on the left after the midfield schemer had darted past Herrera. The toe-poke with the ace striker’s left foot was a comfortable save for Zeoli, who had likewise dealt with a Bebeto free-kick a minute earlier. He saw a Bebeto free-kick, again, just wide on 27 mins, while Valdo had had an effort a yard wide to the right from the left outside the area two minutes earlier. Furthermore, Zeoli comfortably held a daisy-cutter from Mazinho on 32 mins, and then dived to his right to hold on to Branco’s 35 yard free-kick ten minutes later. 

Brazil were looking neat and tidy in midfield, and had the majority of the first half possession. Uruguay sat tight and disciplined, and Perdomo/Ostolaza were good in breaking up play. Gutiérrez and de León looked to control Romário and Bebeto, and there were few initiatives along the right from Mazinho this time around. Uruguay were looking to make use of Alzamendi’s pace on the break, while Sosa moved from right to left. Neither Paz nor Francescoli managed to dictate much in terms of attacking play for the visitors, though 0-0 at half-time was alright. 

No changes in personnel for either side during the half-time break, and upon resumption, it took Brazil just over four minutes to get the all-important opening goal. Their right hand side, which had so often proved to be a thorn in the opponents’ side, saw Silas and Mazinho combine for the latter to cross towards the near post, where Romário had run himself free from his opponent, and he arrived ahead of Zeoli to flick the ball into the back of the net. 1-0 Brazil. 

Uruguay gradually came out from their shell, as they needed to, the longer the half progressed. They conceded another opportunity to Romário when approaching the hour mark, as the little forward rose above the usually towering de León from an excellent Branco cross, though his header this time went straight at Zeoli. Down the other end, a right wing Paz corner was flicked goalwards by Sosa on the near post, though Taffarel was never duly worried, and held comfortably. 

Both teams were looking quite jaded as the game approached its final stage, and Uruguay never really managed to put sufficient pressure on the hosts, with several of their players visibly exhausted. Paz was one, and he was replaced by da Silva, while Ostolaza, another very tired performer, came off for Correa. This meant a central midfield two, with Perdomo, who would be fortunate to see the game out after he had put his studs into Mazinho’s knee whilst already on a yellow, and Correa, while Francescoli sat just behind the front three. Disappointingly, they could never threaten the Brazilians’ goal, and they grew increasingly frustrated as the hosts were beginning to play for time with every passing minute. 

Brazil saw a couple of late changes, with Mazinho, who had taken that whack to his knee, coming off for Josimar, while Alemão’s introduction for the tiring Silas made plenty of sense in order to reinforce their midfield. They repelled with ease the Uruguayans’ attempts at playing it through the middle, and their central defensive trio didn’t hesitate in booting it long when the situation demanded. 

There was never quite the same temperature nor intensity in this tie as for example the Uruguay v Argentina fixture had brought, though it was hardly a surprise given the ardeous schedule of the tournament. Brazil saw the additional minute out without much bother, and could finally chase the ghosts of the 1950 World Cup away. They had done it. They had gained sweet revenge on the Uruguayans.