Copa America last call. From today it gets serious. After a group stage, stingy with emotions and entertainment, there is no longer a second chance. Now or never. The eight teams remaining to contend for the title of queen of the New World are the ones who have done the most egregious things in the group stage. The hope for spectators from all over the world is that the top teams will give continuity to the signs of recovery shown in the last round, now that the condition and chemistry of the teams is starting to grow and it becomes forbidden to make mistakes. At stake is not only the pride of a nation, but also the market maneuvers of the big European companies, enticed by South American jewels. It will be up to those who have so far disappointed, devaluing their value, to come up with the best numbers to attract the interest of the most important teams or get a few more euros in negotiations.
The appetizer is served this evening: at 21 pm it's the turn of Colombia and Peru. The cafeteros, led by the champion Falcao, are clear favorites against the Andeans, a revelation team, together with a splendid Venezuela. But the highlight comes later. A quarter of an hour after midnight, the tango is danced: the derby of the Rio de la Plata, Argentina-Uruguay is staged. The super-classic of South American football is certainly the big match of these quarterfinals, as the warehouse workers of the two teams know well, as they find themselves dusting off two specular showcases full of trophies, 14 America's Cups (absolute record) and two World Cups. Argentina-Uruguay is not just a football match, it is the clash between two ways of life and between two very similar and very different peoples, between strong and proud players. To Lionel Messi, who exposed himself at the press conference to charge him, the arduous task of succeeding where Maradona failed. We talk about the '87 edition, the last one hosted by Argentina. In front of the eighty thousand of the Monumental, el prince Francescoli and Alzamendi crashed (it hadn't happened to the Uruguayans for 50 years in an Argentine stadium) the Argentina of the pibe de oro. It was the semifinal and the celestial won the thirteenth title at the home of rivals. Batista's men have their revenge. The poker dropped by the Argentine coach, converted to 4-2-3-1, convinced in the 3-0 against Costa Rica and makes the most of the team's offensive potential. For night owls, the show is guaranteed.
On Sunday it will be Brazil's turn, who will challenge Paraguay at 21. The cariocas, returning from the convincing victory against Ecuador, must confirm themselves by chasing away the ghosts of a group of ups and downs. Meanwhile market rumors are raging. At the center of attention is Neymar, now very close to Real Madrid, and Ganso, who has spoiled the sheikhs of PSG and it seems that Leonardo is ready to invest 30 million.
And if someone still isn't satisfied with this ball binge, after midnight tomorrow they can have fun with the feats of Alexis Sanchez. His Chile will face Venezuela, a real surprise of the competition, back from a 3-3 draw with Paraguay and a comeback from other times that earned them qualification for the quarterfinals. The men of Farias, the youngest coach of the Copa, have already achieved one result: in Venezuela a real soccer-mania has exploded, unusual in a country where the national sport is baseball. Will the Venezuelans be able to subvert the predictions and continue the fairy tale? The verdict belongs to the field, but one thing is certain: despite a cup of lights and shadows, with little play and half-empty stadiums, the union between football and South America is still synonymous with talent and imagination, and this weekend will fill the gourmet palate of a pinch of magic.
