The Copa América 2024 has reached its quarterfinal stage, with some surprising outcomes and controversies shaping the tournament landscape. Brazil, despite qualifying, faces criticism for their recent performance, particularly a 1-1 draw against Colombia that was marred by controversial VAR decisions. The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has since admitted to an error in not awarding a penalty to Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. during this match.Brazil’s coach, Dorival Júnior, expressed discontent with the refereeing, claiming his team was ‘very harmed’. However, he also acknowledged that errors are ‘natural’ as the team is still in a growth phase. Brazil will face Uruguay in the quarterfinals, a match that will be particularly challenging as they’ll be without star player Vinicius Jr. due to suspension.Meanwhile, Colombia has emerged as a strong contender, finishing top of their group. Their coach, Néstor Lorenzo, while proud of the team’s performance, has called for humility, stating, ‘We’re writing a small chapter, let’s stay humble’. Colombia is set to face Panama in their quarterfinal match.An interesting trend has emerged in this Copa América: teams led by Argentine coaches dominated the group stage, with Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Colombia all topping their respective groups under Argentine leadership. This success highlights the strong influence of Argentine coaching in South American football.As the tournament moves into its knockout stages, fans can expect intense matchups and potentially more controversies, as teams vie for continental glory in this prestigious competition.
Key points
- Copa América 2024 quarterfinals are set, with Brazil facing Uruguay and Colombia playing Panama.
- CONMEBOL admitted to a VAR error in the Brazil-Colombia match, which ended in a controversial 1-1 draw.
- Teams led by Argentine coaches dominated the group stage, topping all four groups.
- Brazil faces criticism for recent performance and will miss Vinicius Jr.
in the quarterfinals due to suspension.
Contradictions👾While Brazil’s coach Dorival Júnior criticized the refereeing, he also stated that errors are ‘natural’ as the team is still developing, showing a somewhat contradictory stance on the team’s performance.
