CONSTANTINVS MAXIMVS
07-22-2004, 06:27 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/3916199.stm
Brazil look to brute force
By Tim Vickery
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/999999.gif
"If you don't attack Brazil, you lose," said Uruguay coach Jorge Fossati in the run-up to the Copa America semi-final.
In Sunday's quarter-final Mexico handed Brazil the initiative and were ripped apart. Uruguay came out with a different approach.
They kept Brazil on the back foot for the entire first half, and there could have been few complaints if they, and not the world champions, had made it through to the final.
There is no doubt about how Argentina will approach the big match on Sunday - wherever the game, whoever the opposition, Marcelo Bielsa's side always seek to dominate.
Tuesday's 3-0 win over Colombia was a perfect illustration of Bielsa's philosophy.
His team were in control from first to last. In possession their high-tempo pass-and-move football caused endless problems for the Colombian defence.
Without the ball, they applied such pressure in the opposing half of the field that Colombia were seldom able to get their own moves going.
It was one of their best games in the post-Maradona era.
So far in the competition Argentina have only conceded goals from outside the penalty area. It shows that their aggressive approach is working.
Despite their commitment to attack they are not leaving themselves open at the back.
Brazil, of course, represent a stiffer challenge - as Ronaldo proved less than two months ago.
Argentina travelled to meet Brazil in World Cup qualification at the start of June. They had the bulk of the game, weaving pretty patterns all over the field in Belo Horizonte.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif
Argentina's semi-final win against Colombia was one of their best games in the post-Maradona era
But there was no stopping Ronaldo. He was inspired - it was probably the biggest game he will ever play in his own country.
Three times he burst through and was brought down. Three times he got up to score from the penalty spot.
In terms of skill and technique, Argentina looked the better side but they were unable to match Brazil in terms of physical power.
They had nobody who could run with the ball with the awesome strength of Ronaldo or Kaka - neither are here in Peru.
But Adriano is. He scored his sixth goal of the competition against Uruguay. Both he and fellow striker Luis Fabiano are built like tanks.
Argentina will take the game to Brazil on Sunday and they should be able to create chances against an unreliable Brazilian defence. But the key to victory is at the other end. June belonged to Brazil, because Argentina couldn't cope with the power of Ronaldo. But if they can cope with the power of Adriano, then July will belong to Argentina.
Brazil look to brute force
By Tim Vickery
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/999999.gif
"If you don't attack Brazil, you lose," said Uruguay coach Jorge Fossati in the run-up to the Copa America semi-final.
In Sunday's quarter-final Mexico handed Brazil the initiative and were ripped apart. Uruguay came out with a different approach.
They kept Brazil on the back foot for the entire first half, and there could have been few complaints if they, and not the world champions, had made it through to the final.
There is no doubt about how Argentina will approach the big match on Sunday - wherever the game, whoever the opposition, Marcelo Bielsa's side always seek to dominate.
Tuesday's 3-0 win over Colombia was a perfect illustration of Bielsa's philosophy.
His team were in control from first to last. In possession their high-tempo pass-and-move football caused endless problems for the Colombian defence.
Without the ball, they applied such pressure in the opposing half of the field that Colombia were seldom able to get their own moves going.
It was one of their best games in the post-Maradona era.
So far in the competition Argentina have only conceded goals from outside the penalty area. It shows that their aggressive approach is working.
Despite their commitment to attack they are not leaving themselves open at the back.
Brazil, of course, represent a stiffer challenge - as Ronaldo proved less than two months ago.
Argentina travelled to meet Brazil in World Cup qualification at the start of June. They had the bulk of the game, weaving pretty patterns all over the field in Belo Horizonte.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif
Argentina's semi-final win against Colombia was one of their best games in the post-Maradona era
But there was no stopping Ronaldo. He was inspired - it was probably the biggest game he will ever play in his own country.
Three times he burst through and was brought down. Three times he got up to score from the penalty spot.
In terms of skill and technique, Argentina looked the better side but they were unable to match Brazil in terms of physical power.
They had nobody who could run with the ball with the awesome strength of Ronaldo or Kaka - neither are here in Peru.
But Adriano is. He scored his sixth goal of the competition against Uruguay. Both he and fellow striker Luis Fabiano are built like tanks.
Argentina will take the game to Brazil on Sunday and they should be able to create chances against an unreliable Brazilian defence. But the key to victory is at the other end. June belonged to Brazil, because Argentina couldn't cope with the power of Ronaldo. But if they can cope with the power of Adriano, then July will belong to Argentina.