They have renamed it the “Loca America”. Yes, because this edition of the Copa (the 43rd) has given surprises like never before. Raise your hand who, on July XNUMXst, would have predicted a Uruguay – Paraguay final. Nobody? Don't worry, there's no danger, because not even the craziest of bettors could have imagined Argentina and Brazil out in the quarter-finals, beaten (not surprisingly) by Uruguay and Paraguay.
But, apart from the path that will take them to play for the Copa on Sunday evening, the two finalists have nothing in common. On the one hand the Celeste of Oscar Washington Tabarez, bubbly, offensive and with champions of international standing. On the other, Albirroja (literally "the red and white"), capable of reaching the final act of the tournament without having won a single game (!).
The Uruguayan hero is Luis Suarez, joint top scorer with Sergio Agüero, who moved from Ajax to Liverpool in January for the maxi sum of 27 million euros. The symbol of Paraguay, on the other hand, is Justo Villar, the goalkeeper who has just been acquired from Estudiantes, capable of saving even the unstoppable against Venezuela and, above all, against Brazil. On one side an attacker, on the other a goalkeeper, here is the photograph of the two contenders. However, both deserve to be here, and to understand this, it is enough to go back a year, to the World Cup in South Africa. Uruguay even reached the semifinals, defeated only by the Netherlands of Robben and Sneijder, while Paraguay stopped in the quarterfinals, against world champion Spain. Ironically, it was a missed penalty from Cardozo that stopped Gerardo Martino's hombres, which could have given Albirroja the lead against their Spanish cousins.
This year, however, the diskette is proving to be "Tata" Martino's best ally. The tactical plan, more or less, is this: hold on for 120 minutes (thanks to saves from Villar and the woodwork from the Argentine goals) and take the match to penalties. There, Paraguay smells the scent of victory. The Brazil of the stars knows something about it, unable to transform even a single shot from the penalty spot in the fourth of San Juan. Venezuela also knows something about it, very close to scoring on numerous occasions (3 posts) and eliminated practically without conceding a shot on goal.
The final frame then (maxi - brawl with a lot of intervention in the field of the police) gave that touch of "South American" to the competition. Stoic and fortunate these Paraguayans, who despite limited technical means, are one step away from history. Albirroja have not won a Copa America since 1979, when they defeated Chile on goal difference in the play-off in Buenos Aires. However, against Uruguay (Villar dixit) “It won't be enough to play to go to penalties”. On the other side there will in fact be the most "European" national team of the tournament, strong technically but above all tactically. It is useless to hide, most of the "neutral" fans will cheer for Celeste, even if at the Monumentàl (historic River Plate stadium), Tabarez's men will pay the price for having eliminated host Argentina.
Certainly, however, Uruguay will not lack the support of Italy, especially the city of Naples. In fact, on the field (sprained knee permitting) there will be Edinson Cavani, for all "El Matador". The idol of San Paolo will transform the city in the shadow of Vesuvius into a celestial curve, a bit like Diego Armando Maradona did in 1990. But the Italy present in Uruguay will not limit itself to the Matador. In addition to the former Juventus player Caceres (who to tell the truth has left very few memories) and the Bolognese Perez, great attention will be paid to the "Maestro" Tabarez, former coach of Cagliari (which led to ninth place in the standings) and Milan. The AC Milan coaching experience was decidedly disappointing, and probably still remains the biggest gripe of his career.
At Milanello, his methods were not fully understood by a group that, after the successes of Sacchi and Capello, had little desire to learn new things. And so the Maestro, after a bad defeat in Piacenza, was exonerated to make room for the return of Arrigo Vincente. But Tabarez took it philosophically, and began to travel the world again. Then in 2006, the most awaited call came, that of Celeste, who wanted him back on the bench after the experience of the two-year period 1988 - 1990. The fourth place in South Africa 2010 was not the classic swan song, as this Copa America demonstrates . Compliments, last year like today, come in droves, but Celeste wants to win a trophy. The last one dates back to 1995, when the Uruguayans lifted the Copa to heaven by beating Brazil on penalties. Therefore, on Sunday evening (at 21.00 Italian time), two nations will tremble to write history. But perhaps, given the journey of both, the story has already been written.
