Copa America review: Vidal drives magnificent Chile, Brazil falter without Neymar… again
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ByEurosport
Updated 06/07/2015 at 18:00 GMT
Graham Ruthven reviews the 2015 Copa America as Arturo Vidal shines for champions Chile, Ricardo Gareca leads Peru into unlikely territory and Neymar’s departure leaves Brazil in disarray.
Chile's Arturo Vidal (8) celebrates with team-mates after defeating Argentina to win the Copa America
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT: Arturo Vidal (Chile)
Whether the Juventus midfielder should have remained with the Chilean squad beyond their opening group game was the matter of national discussion early on in the tournament - with the player facing a drink-driving charge after trashing his Ferrari in the middle of the night - but regardless of the morality, Vidal was the driving force behind his team’s historic triumph.
The 28-year-old actually finished the group stage as the Copa’s top scorer, but Vidal is about so much more than a goal threat. He is relentless and often unstoppable in his determination to cover every inch between both boxes. He kept his best performance for the final, dominating the second half of Chile’s shootout win over Argentina. There were many standout performers this summer (many of them Chilean), but Vidal was the best of the lot.
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT: Jeison Murillo (Colombia)
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Colombia's Jeison Murillo gestures while posing for photographs after a news conference before a training session for the Copa America tournament in Santiago, June 18, 2015.
Image credit: Reuters
Colombia scored just one goal at this year’s Copa America, and it was struck by Murillo in the group stage win over Brazil. The 23-year-old will join Inter Milan ahead of the new season, and the central defender was one of the stars of the tournament, even as Colombia floundered.
Against Argentina’s frankly frightening frontline, Murillo was at his very best - keeping them at bay to help his team claim a goalless draw. The defender was impressive for Granada in La Liga last season, and has shown - ahead of his switch to Inter - that he can perform at the very highest level.
COACH OF THE TOURNAMENT: Ricardo Gareca (Peru)
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Peru's head coach Ricardo Gareca
Image credit: Reuters
Jorge Sampaoli has a strong case as coach of the tournament, but for all that Chile’s triumph was exhilarating La Roja were expected to be one of the frontrunners. Peru, on the other hand, were predicted to struggle in making it out of their group. Instead, they turned out to be one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
Peru made it to their second successive Copa America third-place finish - an achievement made all the more impressive when you consider that Gareca was only appointed as manager in March. The 57-year-old deserves recognition for the job he has done in such a short space of time.
BEST GOAL: Eduardo Vargas (CHILE v Peru)
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Eduardo Vargas was red-hot for Copa America hosts Chile
Image credit: PA Sport
QPR fans must have watched Vargas’ displays at this summer’s Copa America and pondered why things went so badly at Loftus Road. Indeed, the Chilean was in inspired form all throughout the tournament - but his best highlight reel moment came in the semi-final win over Peru.
With the scoreline level and a penalty shootout looming, Vargas took control of the ball 25 yards out before lashing a strike at goal - finding the top corner with an effort that dipped and swerved in equally impressive measure. It was a goal well worthy of securing a place in the final.
TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
BEST GAME: Chile 3-3 Mexico
The tournament needed this game. With the first round of fixtures complete, no game had yet lit the Copa America fuse. Both Argentina and Brazil had disappointed in their opening matches, with goals and general entertainment in short supply. This game changed everything, though.
Vicente Vuoso opened the scoring for Mexico, only for Vidal to score just seconds later. Raul Jimenez gave El Tri the lead on the half-four mark, with Vargas restoring parity before the interval. A penalty kick was awarded Chile’s way after 55 minutes, yet Mexico still wouldn’t give up - as Vuoso bagged his second and his team’s third to eventually claim a point against the tournament hosts - and cap a thoroughly enthralling match.
CONTROVERSY OF THE TOURNAMENT: Neymar’s four-match suspension
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Brazil's Neymar (10) kicks the ball into Colombia's Pablo Armero
Image credit: Reuters
At last summer’s World Cup Brazil couldn’t cope without Neymar, suffering humiliation in the semi-final to Germany. The same question was asked of the Selecao this time around too, following the Barcelona forward’s suspension for his role in a post-match brawl after the defeat to Colombia. How would Brazil handle Neymar’s absence?
Ultimately, not much better than 12 months ago. Brazil made into the last four, but for the second successive Copa America they were knocked out at that stage on penalties than Paraguay. Robinho was something of an able deputy, but without Neymar the Selecao lost their spirit and their cutting edge in the final third. In effect, Brazil’s failure was confirmed when Neymar was handed a four-match suspension for head-butting.
QUOTE OF THE TOURNAMENT
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Lionel Messi encerclé par la défense chilienne lors de Chili-Argentine - Copa America 2015
Image credit: AFP
“What was said in the dressing room? Piece of cake?” Messi was spotted uttering as he exited the dressing room for the second half of Argentina’s opening game against Paraguay. La Albiceleste went on to drop a two-goal lead, drawing 2-2 - with much of the post-match scrutiny focussing on Messi’s apparent questioning of Martino’s half-time team-talk.
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