Brazil vs Argentina
One of the greatest rivalries in the footballing world. https://t.co/xAVRvZORIS
— The Field (@thefield_in) July 10, 2021
What’s arguably the greatest rivalry in the international game will write its next chapter on Saturday night when Brazil and Argentina meet in the Copa America final. Brazil squeaked through the knockout stage with back-to-back 1-0 wins over Chile and Peru, while Argentina followed up their 3-0 win over Ecuador in the quarters by just getting by Colombia in penalty kicks in the semis. It’s the two best teams on the continent with Neymar and Lionel Messi doing battle…
Rio to allow fans for Brazil-Argentina final of Copa America
READ: https://t.co/MttSMUZWiy #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/evZ0CU9S9n
— TOI Sports (@toisports) July 10, 2021
raven
It looks like they are going to dick around with some “pre-game” bullshit.
cope
I was hoping this pair would reach the finals. Should be very entertaining. Messi’s life story is indeed interesting even if he as a person is so reserved. I expect to see at least one Messi spark of brilliance during the game.
cope
@raven: It’s part of the ritual. Initiated, I believe, with the so called Super Bowl.
raven
@cope: bah
debbie
Why did I not realize until now that there are two separate tournaments? ??♀️
Chetan Murthy
Uh, I’m no soccer fan, but at least, I do pay attention when I hear about athletes who are truly superlative. And so: I saw all this ruckus about the Euro 2020, but nowhere near as much about the Copa America. And yet (I could be wrong) I thought that, if you were going to pick a continent that rules futbol, it would be, y’know, South America?
Am I just wrong? I mean, Argentina, Brazil — two *powerhouses*, for decades. I was in *France* during the 1994 World Cup, and I still remember the massive caravan of revelers driving thru the streets of Sophia-Antipolis (basically, laid out like a suburb) when Brazil won. And that was in some backwater town in France. I can only imagine what it was like in major cities (and of course, in South America, sure).
eclare
Fuck, baseball?
raven
well they just started the game so there is that!
raven
@debbie: They are regional.
Anne Laurie
@Chetan Murthy: Well, there’s quite a strong argument that, bad as COVID-19 is in Europe, it’s much much worse in South America right now. In fact, IIRC, it’s being hosted in Brazil because the original sponsors decided it was too dangerous for the public, but Bolsonaro is notoriously not gonna let some virus be the boss of him…
eclare
Finally
raven
@Chetan Murthy: In the 96 Olympics there were 25,000 Brazilians ready to come here to Athens if they had reached the finals. They didn’t!
raven
@Anne Laurie: And there are no fans.
Chetan Murthy
@Anne Laurie: Oh, *riiiight* !! I forgot about that. I suppose that has something to do with why there hasn’t been as much news about it: just a shit-ton fewer fans and their associated shenanigans. Thank you, AL, for explaining!
HumboldtBlue
@Chetan Murthy:
Brazil v Argentina is a premier matchup with deep, deep historical roots. The Copa is still relatively regional compared to the Euros due to the draw of the top European leagues, where the best players in the world ply their trade at club level.
guachi
@Chetan Murthy: Aside from it being Europe, which has lots more money, I think Euro2020 being bigger is because there are more countries that have a realistic chance of winning so the games are all more exciting.
HumboldtBlue
One guarantee about Copa matches, the remonstrations, hand gestures, barking and complaining are taken to an art form.
J_A
I’m watching the game on the giant screen of a hotel in São Paulo, and I’m torn. Generally I support Brazil, and the room’s energy in 200% for the local team.
But my Barça forever fan has a special spot for Messi, and I want him to have this
What can I do, torn between two loves? I miss the days I deeply despised Maradona and had no such inner turmoil ?
debbie
@J_A:
No one roots for both sides anymore?
eclare
@HumboldtBlue: Hahaha….
HinTN
@J_A: Be a vocal supporter of Messi. Real fans of the Beautiful Game will support you.
HumboldtBlue
I’m still surprised Fred is on the Brazil national team. He’s so very average at Man United.
Just One More Canuck
Wow this is going to be a vicious game
Gin & Tonic
@HinTN: Easy to say when you’re not in São Paulo.
HumboldtBlue
Argentina, your more than welcome to kick the ever loving shit out of Richarlison.
Thanks, Liverpool supporters.
GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL
Route one football
HinTN
Boop – GOOOOOAAAAAL
eclare
Wow
J_A
Well that was an awesome goal out of absolutely nowhere.
Not cheered at all here, BTW
Mike E
Wonder goal
dr. bloor
Thought it was offsides at first, but that was lovely.
J_A
@dr. bloor: me, too, I was absolutely sure it was offside
billcinsd
@J_A: so you’re torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool, just remember loving Messi means breaking all the rules
J_A
@billcinsd:
ok. You won the thread tonite ?
HumboldtBlue
You don’t wanna let DiMaria come in on his left foot there.
HinTN
Amazing attack by Argentine. No goal but…
J_A
Di Maria’s goal has focused the Argentinian team. They are playing much better since it.
JCJ
@billcinsd: Well done!
phdesmond
@debbie:
there was an African tourney going on as well. it seems to be on hold?
Draw for AFCON finals delayed due to COVID-19
The draw for the Africa Cup of Nations finals, set for Yaounde on June 25, has been postponed, the Confederation of African Football [CAF] said.
HumboldtBlue
@phdesmond:
Yes Cameroon, the host country is in extraordinary turmoil and combined with Covid has left AFCON scrambling.
Gin & Tonic
Boy, that looked like a ruptured Achilles
for Di Maria.
HumboldtBlue
@Gin & Tonic:
And he’s right back on. That looked ugly.
Mike E
I’m surprised VAR didn’t nix the goal…TUDN showed the offsides guideline indicated his arm was past the defender’s body when the pass was struck
HumboldtBlue
For some halftime viewing, here are some samples of Hunter Biden’s art. I’m impressed.
billcinsd
@Mike E: you can’t legally score with an arm, so that isn’t usually an issue
eta: well, I guess a GK could throw the ball in the net from his penalty area, but could not be offside in one’s own penalty area
WaterGirl
@HumboldtBlue: I looked at it. Much more “art” than I expected.
I found this on the same account:
hahahahaha
WaterGirl
@WaterGirl: I must be a bad person because that makes me laugh. Barack Obama was right – I do have a lack of empathy.
(at the moment)
Mike E
@billcinsd: Sure, but if this were the Euro zone with 15 more camera angles that would have been whistled no goal… maybe it was like the NFL replays: no clear and conclusive evidence to overturn, idk
Baud
@HumboldtBlue:
We were talking about that the other day. They are far more impressive than I was expecting.
Baud
@WaterGirl:
Barack Obama said you lacked empathy?
WaterGirl
@Baud: Exactly my reaction.
Sometimes trauma can bring out an artistic side that a person did not have before. He has certainly been through a lot. ??
WaterGirl
@Baud: Well, not me in particular. But he did talk about a lack of empathy in a more general sense.
Barack Obama did speak to me, though, when i was in Iowa working for the campaign in 2007/2008 before the caucus. On a different day I got to stand right next to him, and had my hand on his back.
edit: see, Obama did have a time machine. He was talking about the empathy deficit caused by T****, in the future!
Baud
@WaterGirl:
Is that a tactful way of saying butt?
HumboldtBlue
@WaterGirl:
That’s the best one. That’s classic meme.
I know nothing of fine art, but I like what he’s done. Critics hate it, I found out after some goggling.
HumboldtBlue
@Baud:
And I didn’t even know what to expect, and I was still caught by surprise.
Bobby is on, Brazil gonna up that attack.
Mike E
Univision is airing a local ad in Spanish promoting covid vaccines with female health workers debunking the microchip myth, and assuring that the shots contain no live virus. I hope it works to get more takers
WaterGirl
@Baud: Just a different spelling. :-)
It was really amazing. I’m not sure how to describe it, but you could just feel that you were in the presence of greatness. It was a visceral thing. Never felt anything like that before or since.
Mo Salad
Bobby Chompers is on!
shirk
How soon did DiMaria recover and get back on the pitch? That sure looked like a gnarly match-ending injury at the time.
HumboldtBlue
@Mo Salad:
Ahem, that’s Bobby DAZZLER to you.
Brazil’s midfield has been invisible.
For an attacking player, Lautaro Martinez doesn’t have much pace.
Mike E
Okay, that was offsides
Mo Salad
@HumboldtBlue: And to think it all started with Brendan Rodgers’ veneers, then Bobby, then Jürgen.
J_A
@Mike E: that was such an offside that even someone in my Brazilian hotel lobby screamed “ [Portuguese swear] offside!!!”
raven
These dudes seem faster than the Euro’s
HumboldtBlue
@Mo Salad:
Yup.
Great save, Martinez!
Fuck Richarlison! Ya melon.
That was a great pass, hair offside.
The five subs plays a key role, sub the guy with the yellow to avoid a red and still have four more to make. I like it in Intl football.
Mary G
The OC is learning and growing:
From the OC Register article linked in the tweet:
Laguna Hills is the rebranded name of Leisure World, one of the original Old Folks Only gated developments. Probably almost as many Republicans as in the Villages in Florida, so to be rejected there is surprising. Of course, they are still selling tickets despite not having a venue. I may go to protest if it’s accessible.
raven
@Mary G: My grandparents lived there in their last years.
HumboldtBlue
The referee has been excellent in a game that’s very hard to officiate.
Ederson is uglier than a Trump rally.
Mike E
@J_A: Argentina has been playing a decent, more interested defense than Brazil.
Villago Delenda Est
Bolsonaro must be nervous. He’ll get part of the blame for a loss. Just because he’s the TFG of Brasil.
Villago Delenda Est
@Mary G: Those two are toxic. Greene’s spokesdroid is desperately trying to spin this, obviously.
Mike E
Hey is that Bezos?
Barbara
@Chetan Murthy: 1994 world cup was in the US. 1998 world cup was in France. I know because I was delayed in the Paris Airport with a large number of Spanish fans returning after Spain was eliminated. They were remarkably cheerful, really ebullient.
J_A
@Villago Delenda Est: Bolsonaro taking a hit is an added bonus to Messi getting this ?
raven
There are some fans, how did they decide who got in?
J_A
Another yellow card. I’ve lost count
HumboldtBlue
Yellow cards are out in force.
Imagine being able to bring on Vinicius Jr. in the 70th minute. Depth.
HinTN
Whole lotta flopping going on.
Mike E
@raven: that’s a good question…did they provide proof of vaccination?
raven
@Mike E: And they look like they are a jammed in together in huge empty stadium.
J_A
@Mike E: for what is worth, except for Bolsonaro himself, all Brazilians I meet take CoVid extremely seriously, and testing and masks are everywhere.
Mike E
@J_A: Glad to hear it. I admit I was perplexed by the sight of spectators when the whole entire tournament was void of them up til now
Gin & Tonic
Tempers are hot.
Mo Salad
@Mike E: No, that was the head of FIFA, Giancarlo Esposito, or whatever his name is.
billcinsd
Otamendi with the bulldozer on Neymar, handbags after
HumboldtBlue
Helluva tackle by Otamendi.
Argentina’s defense has been solid, can they hand for 10 more minutes?
billcinsd
@J_A: My Brazilian grad student said it was pretty controversial in Brazil to host the COPA
Lyrebird
@J_A:
You spoke for me, too.
Also, haven’t been commenting bc I can’t watch this year just due to work and fam. Glad to know the best clips will be on the Net forever.
Mike E
@Mo Salad: oh that was snark… I wouldn’t put it past the guy rocketing in to watch an event with no fans*
*but the joke is ruined by their presence, alas
HumboldtBlue
Look at Lionel Messi with the hard press in the dying minutes.
Emi Martinez!
Messi! WTF!
billcinsd
great save by Martinez
WaterGirl
@J_A: How can you lose count? In volleyball, you get two yellow cards and then you’re out. I am guessing it’s different for soccer
billcinsd
Messi messes up the winning goal
debbie
@WaterGirl:
Looking around at the people I work with (all younger than I), there is still a huge empathy deficit.
billcinsd
@WaterGirl: I believe he is speaking of the total number of yellows, as each player can get 2
HumboldtBlue
@WaterGirl:
He means the total number of cards issued in the game.
How exciting!
Gin & Tonic
@WaterGirl: They meant how many in total, not per player.
J_A
@WaterGirl: a specific player that gets two yellow cards is out indeed. But there’s been like 8 or 9 so far I think. Only committed by different players
J_A
@HumboldtBlue: The goal notwithstanding (big notwithstanding) the Argentinian defense is the story of the evening. Amazing to watch
Cheryl from Maryland
@HumboldtBlue: As an art historian and retired museum professional, I’m impressed. FYI, I was asked to review a touring show of Bush the Lesser’s art, and I said, you don’t want me in the room. Not because of politics, but because I did better in elementary school with paint by numbers.
billcinsd
Neymar actually fights through an attempted tackle. Argentina is probably the class if South American rugby
Mike E
Argentina putting on a clinic
HumboldtBlue
@Cheryl from Maryland:
They jumped off the canvas for me.
billcinsd
Rodrigo DePaul has been immense. This is turning into the 1950 World Cup Final [eta] for Brazil.
Messi gets his trophy
HinTN
Woot – Messi!!!
HumboldtBlue
Congratulations Argentina. Good for them. Good for Messi.
Helluva match.
J_A
And it’s over.
Go Messi. I’m happy for you.
and the room here is emptying fast, and quietly
HinTN
@J_A: Yes
HumboldtBlue
@J_A:
The work between the midfield and the back line was the difference in the game. And you have Martinez in goal with two big saves. They were excellent.
Ya gotta love the love you see for Messi.
Mike E
That was a slugfest. Mexico v Haiti probably won’t be able to measure up methinks
billcinsd
Neymar is taking this hard
WaterGirl
@billcinsd: On, wow, that is different. In volleyball, I think only the coaches get yellow cards.
WaterGirl
@J_A: That makes sense.
billcinsd
@Mike E: I don’t know, Haiti just had their government’s leader assassinated. They might take that out on el tri
prostratedragon
Good game. To me as a hoops fan, Argentina’s impressive ball control in the middle made the difference. Congratulations to them, and salute to Brazil. (Nice note is a lot of friendship between the teams.)
HumboldtBlue
That’s prolly the last time we see Messi, Aguero and Di Maria internationally.
billcinsd
@HumboldtBlue: Well, the World Cup is next year
HumboldtBlue
@billcinsd:
It’s 18 months away. It’s being played in slave-labor Qatar in the autumn due to heat. A travesty all around as both FIFA and UEFA get more and more comfortable with the most vile regimes in the world.
HinTN
@HumboldtBlue: Yes and yes!
J_A
@billcinsd: Neymar took his medal PO almost immediately. That was rude, to say the least.
trollhattan
In case it matters, today’s official high temp was 113. Grilled some chicken this evening out back, because why not? People pay for saunas, ours is gratis.
Better days.
trollhattan
Watching Rugby Union and they have a player mic-ed up and are mixing his audio in with the announcers, making it sound like the announcers are calling the game while out for a run. Not sure this adds to the sofa experience, guys.
billcinsd
@HumboldtBlue: most of the players aren’t going to care about the slave labor. I think it likely Aguero won’t be there, Messi probably depends on where he ends up, Di Maria I don’t see retiring yet.
Also, track level AC seemed to work reasonably well at the World Track and Field Championships
billcinsd
@trollhattan: Pro Lacrosse has players mic’ed up, but seem to only talk to them when they come off the field — which happens way more in Lacrosse than rugby
L85NJGT
Gold Cup – Mexico vs. Trinidad.
Chucky Lozano’s injury was horror movie ugly.
smike
@billcinsd:
I am going to try watching Lacrosse sometime. Your comment sent me down a rabbit hole (to acquaint myself with the sport), and it sounds interesting.
billcinsd
@smike: It’s a fun game to watch. There is a PLL game on NBCSports tomorrow at 7:30 PM. The biggest problem with lacrosse is that a large number of players end up working on Wall Street
smike
@billcinsd:
Thanks. Got it set to record.