The Copa America has been around for over 100 years and is one of the longest-running tournaments ever held in football. In the history of the Copa America, there have been many wonderful moments and classic moments. Today, we have selected 10 classic battles of the Copa America to reminisce about the passion of football that took place on the American continent!
1987: Chile defeats the Samba Army
The format of this year is that the defending champions directly advance to the final 4, and the remaining 9 teams in South America are divided into 3 groups to play a single round robin, and each group is qualified. This is the final battle of Group B, both teams have previously defeated Venezuela, and this game is a standard life-and-death battle. Samba's army was in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup, and although the Copa America squad was dominated by young players aged 21 to 24, including future superstars Romario and Dunga, they all sat on the bench. The captain was Carreca, who had just joined Napoli, and under his leadership, the Brazilian team took the lead in controlling the situation, but Chilean goalkeeper Rojas let the Brazilians return again and again.
Towards the end of the first half, Chile seized an indirect free kick opportunity, and Bassai's header quietly changed the course of the game. Shortly after the start of the second half, Letriel took advantage of the opposing defender's mistake to extend the lead on a long-pass counter-attack. Brazil then replaced Romario to step up the attack, but soon defender Nelsinho was sent off. The Samba Legion were unable to return to the sky, and Bassay and Letriel each scored another goal. Chile eventually won the game and advanced to the quarter-finals.
1995: Brazil wins the penalty shootout
Due to the unexpected defeat to the United States in the final round of the group, the defending champion Argentina only finished second, and the first round of the knockout round was early in the 1994 World Cup winner Brazil. Just 2 minutes into the opening, Argentina launched a blitzkrieg, with striker Balbo firing in the corner of the penalty area. Brazil equalised in just seven minutes, with Roberto Carlos sweeping heavily on the left and "Beast" Edmundo wrapping up the net.
Batistuta then taught his opponent the power of the heavy artillery, still on the right side of the penalty area, much smaller than Balbo's shot angle, but the "God of War" strong bombardment still broke through Ta farrell's ten fingers. Due to the lead, Argentina coach Passarella gradually took a defensive position in the second half, replacing Battie and Balbo successively, but the situation of the game changed in the 81st minute, and Brazilian striker Tullio, who had just played a minute ago, stopped the ball with his hand and broke the goal. The two sides have since scored no goals, with Brazil shooting 4 of 5 in the penalty shootout, while Argentina have two shots, Simeone and Fabry. Nine years after winning the World Cup with the "Hand of God", the Argentines also tasted the "Hand of God".
1997: The "Rolls-Royce" crushing reversal of Mexico
It was a battle for the top spot in the second round. Just 31 minutes into the opening, Mexican striker Luis Hernandez scored twice, but the Samba Army had a "Rollo Combination" to press the line, and it would be easily defeated. After half-time, Brazil quickly pulled back a city, but not by the super forward, but by the header of centre-back Aldar, who headed in the corner from Roberto and Carlos.
The Mexican defender then helped the opponent once, Romario swung the defense on the left side of the penalty area, and his right foot bounced into the far corner, and Romero, who was in a hurry to defend, slammed the ball into his own door. The decisive goal came in the final 15 minutes, and the No. 10 dish Leonardo broke the ball in front of the field. Four men swung from the right into the penalty area, a powerful left-footed shot broke brazil to win the championship, Milu's Mexico won the third place, and Luis Hernandez wore the Golden Boot with six goals.
1999: You come and go, wonderful bombardment
The passionate Copa America has never lacked the back-and-forth between you and me, and this campaign is a masterpiece. Just 15 minutes into the opening, Peru led by two goals, palacios's breakthrough low shot and Perda's counter-attack pick-and-roll shot caught Mexico off guard. However, 30-year-old Louis Hernandez soon made his opponents understand what it means to be immortal. He first broke the barrier with a header and then scored a penalty, and it took Mexico just 18 minutes to equalize.
Peru then took the lead again, with midfielder Solanonechi arcing the ball from a distance. With just 3 minutes left in regular time, Mexican back Torado interjected with a long-range shot to equalize. In the penalty shootout, Mexico shot 4 of 4, and the Peruvian faced goalkeeper Campos, who was only 1.75 meters tall, and the last two rounds of the appearances lost consecutive shots and missed the final four.
1999: Zamorano completes a major reversal for Chile
The 1999 Copa America was a shining tournament for Brazil, with the Sambas not only winning, but also sharing the Golden Boots Between Ronaldo and Rivaldo. However, the most classic confrontation of the year did not belong to them, and another 1/4 final played a day later was equally exciting. Colombia and Chile scored in the middle of the game, and the suspense of the game was repeated.
It took just seven minutes for Colombia to take the lead with midfielder Bolaño's solo performance, his breakthrough through the middle and a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Chile counter-attacked and centre-back Pedro Reyes equalised with a header from a corner kick in the 25th minute. After 10 minutes, Colombia took the lead again after a steal, but still failed to hold up in the second half. First Reyes equalized with a header in an indirect free-kick, and then Zamorano received a long pass and forced a one-handed breakthrough to seal the victory. The "double-Sasser combination" was Chile's ace that year, but due to injury, Salas did not play in this campaign. Zamorano, also 32 years old, wasted a great chance in the first half, and the final defeat of the opponent is the best memory for the fans.
2001: Brazil loses to Honduras
This campaign is one of the biggest underdogs in the history of the Copa America. Although Brazil did not send the strongest squad, there are still many stars, including Emerson and the big and small Juninho, and the former "king of the pass" Denilson is also in the squad, and the result is still overturned by the small Central American country of Honduras. Honduras was not originally a participating team, as Argentina was invited to the Copa America for the first time because of its temporary withdrawal the day before the opening. As a result, they defeated Bolivia and Uruguay in the group stage and unexpectedly reached the quarter-finals of the quarter-finals. After fending off the Brazilian's onslaught, Honduras came with an even bigger surprise in the 57th minute. Striker Saul Martinez, who was only 1.68 metres tall, rubbed a header in front of goal and bounced past the goalkeeper and bounced into the net.
The Samba Army then launched a frantic counterattack, but to no avail, and instead Honduras used a quick counterattack in stoppage time to take the next city. Martinez won two dollars, and he also played for Shanghai Shenhua from 2002 to 2005. Scolari lamented after the game: "I, Big Phil, will be spurned by history as the Brazilian manager who lost to Honduras. However, a year later, he led the team to win the World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
2004: Adriano's pinnacle
As the two most important forces of South American football, the collision between Argentina and Brazil is always mars, especially in the Peruvian Copa America final. This is the first time the two teams have met in the Copa America final, and the historical significance is extraordinary. The game went up and down, with highs and highs, and like the 2-2 game nine years ago, Argentina was still the first to attack, taking the lead in the 20th minute with a penalty by Kili Gonzalez.
Just before the end of the first half, Brazilian centre-back Louison, who sent a penalty by Lucho Gonzalez, made up for it and equalised with an indirect free-kick. Argentina dominated in the second half, Tevez hit the upright in front of goal, substitute striker Delgado was more close to becoming a hero, and in the 87th minute he volleyed into the box but the Golden Boot Adriano of the tournament was the absolute protagonist. In the 4th minute of stoppage time, the then 22-year-old all-around center turned around and fired an incredible equaliser inside the penalty area. In the penalty shootout, D'Alessandro, who represented Argentina in the first round, lost his front hoof, the shot was saved by Julio César, Heinze fired an anti-aircraft cannon in the second round, and Brazil, led by Adriano, won the cup with four shots.
2007: Uruguay hate penalty shootout
This final is again a match between Brazil and Argentina, but due to the surprising 3-0 victory of the Samba Legion, the viewing and excitement are far less spectacular and exciting than Brazil's semi-final against Uruguay. Uruguay had not yet re-emerged, missing the final round of the 2006 World Cup, but goalscorer Diego Foland was in his prime, and it was he who led the team's counterattack against Brazil.
Just 13 minutes into the opening, Brazilian right-back McCón snatched a shot from inside the penalty area to open the scoring, but Uruguay did not want to show weakness, Andran and Recoba successively tested goalkeeper Dorney with powerful shots from the front of the box. In the 36th minute, Foran seized the opportunity not far from Dorney's shot to equalize with a low shot. Five minutes later, Uruguay's free-kick defensively mistook and Brazilian midfielder Baptista swept the ball into the net in front of goal. Uruguay, who were trailing again, were not discouraged, and high school striker Abreu equalised again with a point shot after the second half.
In this campaign, Foran's 1 shot and 1 pass were heroic, but he made a bad start in the penalty shoot-out, and the first round shot was too positive and was blocked by Dhoni with his feet. Brazil then conceded two goals, but Uruguayan midfielder Pablo Garcia, who played in the 6th round, wasted match points, and in the 7th round, center-back Lugano again missed Brazil to advance to the final.
2011: 11 Yellow and 2 Red fierce showdown
Argentina is the host and Uruguay are the champions of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but both teams have a mediocre performance in the group stage with 1 win and 2 draws, each of which won the group second place, and met early in the 14 finals. After all, there were only two goals in the game, and both occurred in the first 20 minutes, but the fierceness of the game was unusual, with a total of 11 yellows and 2 reds in 120 minutes, and 1 person on each side was sent off.
Just five minutes into the opening, Uruguay took advantage of an indirect free kick opportunity, with defender Diego Perez receiving a header in front of goal. Argentina sparked a spark by the young duo of Messi and Higuain, messi cut inside on the right and sent a slash over the top ball, and Higuain's header equalised. Subsequently, the offensive of the two sides continued unabated, and the fire gas grew larger and larger. In the 38th minute, goal hero Perez received his second yellow card for a tactical foul.
Uruguay, who played 10 to 11, was unfavorable, but still stubbornly persevered, and finally waited for the balance of numbers in the 87th minute, and Argentine back Mascherano also turned two yellows and one red. In the penalty shoot-out, Tevez missed and Uruguay advanced to the top and won until they won the title.
2016: Chile set the record for the largest win in team history
As the first Copa America held outside the South American continent, the Centennial America's Cup was hosted by the United States, but Mexico was more like a host. A large number of Mexican descendants poured into the stadium, turning the entire stand into a sea of green. The best-racist Mexican team also hopes to break history and lift the Copa America. However, in front of more than 70,000 spectators, Mexico was beaten to death by the real champions.
Chile lost to Argentina in the first match of the group and could only qualify as a second place, but this did not prevent the defender from teaching the Mexicans a profound lesson. Chile's two-goal lead in the first half was reasonable, but in the second half Mexico made a desperate bet, and they quickly experienced the feeling of collapse after the air defense. From the 49th to the 57th minute, the Chilean scored three goals in nine minutes, instantly pulled the score apart, and then made up two more knives to complete the seven-ball bloodbath.
It was striker Vargas who staged his senior year, and the tournament wore the Golden Boot with 6 goals. 7-0 tied Chile's record for the largest win in chile's history, arguably the most enjoyable experience on the road to defending the title.