3️⃣ things we learned as Colombia thrive while Uruguay crush Brazil hearts | OneFootball

The Copa América quarter-finals wrapped up on Saturday as Colombia thrashed Panama 5-0 and Uruguay beat Brazil on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

Here is what we made of the action.

This could be Colombia’s tournament to lose

We’ve seen some brilliant football at the Copa América, and some scrappy performances too, but how about the showings from Colombia?

The performances were largely orchestrated by their captain, James Rodriguez, who continues to thrive when representing the national team despite poor club-level showings.

His influence on the game has helped his team-mates shine. They scored off of five of his assists, and he eventually scored one of his own from the penalty spot.

Colombia’s football is creative, energized, smart, and resilient. Of their 11 goals, eight different scorers have found the net, and their defence is equally impressive. After five games, they genuinely look like the whole package.

Next up is a semi-final meeting with Uruguay and their 27-game unbeaten run is on the line. One more victory and it will be a national record with a chance for the title within reach.

Big questions will be asked of Brazil

Brazil’s squad includes some of the most talented names on the planet, but they couldn’t click together on the big stage.

Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Eder Militaro and Endrick, Barcelona’s Raphinha, Manchester City’s Alisson, West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta, Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli. The list is endless. So, how did their run end so soon?

Brazil legend Ronaldinho made headlines when he criticized the current squad for lacking passion, and unfortunately for them, they didn’t prove him wrong.

Perhaps their talents weren’t thriving against Uruguay because the game registered a tournament-leading number of fouls (41). Or maybe it was the absence of Vinicius Junior (suspended).

Brazil were handed a lifeline when Nahitan Nandez was sent off with 15 minutes to go, but they still couldn’t cook up the performances football fans were expecting.

Crashing out in the quarter-finals alongside a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica and a 1-1 draw with Colombia means this goes down as another tournament to forget.

Questions will be asked of the players moving forward because this is a giant football nation. Based on history, Brazil should always be in contention for any major tournament trophy. But they look far, far from it.

A new chapter for Bielsa’s Uruguay

A mastermind is leading Uruguay into the final four of the Copa América.

Marcelo Bielsa has his men operating exactly how he plans to, and on the pitch, they demand that their opponents play their style of football as well.

Uruguay scored the most goals in the group stages (nine), were one of three to finish with a perfect winning record and only conceded once. They then put their bodies on the line to stifle Brazil over 90 minutes despite being a man down for the last 15.

It was the first time Uruguay suffered a red card in a Copa América knockout match in over 20 years (Gustavo Varela against Paraguay in 2004). Still, they stuck to Bielsa’s game plan and he led them to victory in a penalty shootout. Three of the four spot kicks were emphatically taken and perfectly placed.

It’s the first time in his career that Bielsa’s team eliminated Brazil in the knockout stage of a major tournament and on the fourth time of asking.

Up next is a mighty task against Colombia, followed by Argentina or Canada in the final. Uruguay are currently tied with Argentina for the most Copa América titles (15). Their last was in 2011. Can Bielsa guide them to history?