After tense quarters, Copa America semifinal contests offer plenty of intrigue
CONCEPCION, Chile -- A day to catch the breath, and then the Copa America goes again Monday. Of the four quarterfinals, three produced epics of drama, if not necessarily quality – although there was plenty to admire in both Chile and Argentina’s wins. The only concern now is the sense that almost whatever happens next is bound to feel anti-climactic.
The only side that went through with a sense of comfort was Peru, Paolo Guerrero’s hat-trick helping it to an emphatic 3-1 win over a Bolivia side that never looked remotely equipped for the occasion. Given the emotional strain the other three semifinalists went through to get there, it’s hard not to believe that will give Ricardo Gareca’s side more of a chance than it would otherwise have had.
Chile had to overcome a resolute Uruguay and has had all the ramifications of Gonzalo Jara’s digital provocation of Edinson Cavani to deal with. That untidy incident resulted in Jara being suspended for the remainder of the tournament, per the Chilean FA. Argentina wrestled with self doubt as it failed to turn domination into a winner against Colombia and then twice missed penalties to win the game before Carlos Tevez -- the greatest stealer of narrative the modern game has known -- finally converted to punish a Colombian miss and gain some measure of redemption for his miss in the quarterfinal defeat to Uruguay four years ago. Paraguay sat narrow and deep and tore into Brazil with long balls and the pace on the flanks of Derlis Gonzalez and Edgar Benitez. That resulted in a victory on penalties that its enterprise had thoroughly merited, and meant that all four sides in the semi-finals have Argentinian coaches.
CHILE vs. PERU
The roar around the Estadio Nacional when Mauricio Isla scored the late winner against Uruguay was extraordinary, the volume a reflection of the desperation around Chile that it should end its 99-year wait for the Copa America. Coach Jorge Sampaoli called the goal “a defining moment,” suggesting that to win a key game in such a way has reinforced belief that Chile can at last win silverware. Helped in part by a relatively straightforward draw, it has been the most fluent side at the tournament, with Jorge Valdivia, so often a most frustrating figure, creating the play with great wit and invention.
But this competition has seen a change in Chile. No long is it an idealistic side, romantically pursuing the philosophy of Marcelo Bielsa, its former coach and Sampaoli’s inspiration. As the prize has drawn close, so it has found a sense of pragmatism. Sampaoli once suspended the midfielder Charles Aranguiz for oversleeping, but he has allowed Arturo Vidal to continue with the squad despite facing drink-driving charges after crashing his Ferrari following a casino visit after the draw against Mexico. And the decisive moment in the quarterfinal came when Cavani reacted to Jara poking him between the buttocks.
Peru can’t have realistically have hoped it might reach a second successive semi-final after finishing seventh of nine in the CONMEBOL section of World Cup qualifying. The recall of Carlos Cueva has had an excellent tournament, though, operating on the left of midfield; his battle against Isla, the attacking full-back, is likely to be key.
Chile struggled early in the tournament with its pressing: too often against Ecuador and Mexico, the line pushed up without there being pressure on the ball. It appeared that problem had been resolved in the wins over Bolivia and Uruguay, but then neither of those sides had a forward in quite the form that Guerrero is: Two of the three goals in the quarterfinal came in one-on-ones, just the sort of chance he may be presented with if Chile falters.
ARGENTINA vs. PARAGUAY
At halftime in the group match between the sides, Argentina seemed in control. It led 2-0 and, even if the goals had come from a misplaced back-pass and an iffy penalty, it had played with a fluency and a verve it hasn’t quite recaptured. But then Nelson Haedo Valdez took advantage of some defensive laxity and strange positioning from goalkeeper Sergio Romero to pull one back for Paraguay, at which point Argentina capitulated. As the side separated into attack and defense, the midfield all but disappeared and Paraguay swept back to level.
Since then, Paraguay has grown in self-confidence, while Argentina seems still not fully to trust itself. It seems vaguely incredible that a forward line that comprises Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria, backed up by Javier Pastore, can have scored only four goals in four games. The sense remains that if it clicks, some side may be on the end of a fearful beating (after all, Argentina hit the woodwork twice against both Jamaica and Colombia). Messi, barely credibly, having scored 58 goals for Barcelona last season, has now gone more than nine games without a goal for his country.
But Paraguay, after finishing bottom of CONMEBOL’s World Cup qualifying group, is organized and hard to beat under Ramon Diaz. “We have played Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil - and none of them have been able to beat us," he said. "You have to have a lot of respect for this team.”
