Brazil 1 – Colombia 1

Goalscorers: 

Brazil: Raphinha 11′

Colombia: Daniel Muñoz 45+2′

Colombia secured a top spot after their 1-1 draw with Brazil. Los Cafeteros overcame the spectacular Raphinha free kick, which opened the score, and they could consider themselves unfortunate not to win the game.

We now know all the quarterfinal fixtures, with Colombia first and Brazil second. Colombia will face Panama in Arizona, while Brazil will battle Uruguay for a semifinal spot in Las Vegas.
Brazil was in a tight spot. While Brazil was not mathematically qualified, Costa Rica needed a miracle to steal second place. A draw would be enough for Brazil to progress, but they knew Uruguay was waiting next. Winning the game means a quarterfinal against Panama, a more beatable opponent, but they must win against Colombia.
In this indecisive situation, we saw one of the worst versions of Brazil in recent years. Since the first minute, Colombia has taken control of the game. They were frenetic, high-pressing, and making fast sequences of passes. Brazil struggles to defend its area but makes many faults in significant positions for James Rodriguez to take it. All set-pieces for Colombia were dangerous, but this time, they did not do the trick, or at least not in any legal way, according to VAR.

Raphinha’s fantastic goal from a free kick against the rule of play could make things interesting, but against Brazil was passive and wait to counter. However, they fail on many occasions. Vinícius Júnior was far from his best and threw away many approaches where he found himself against Daniel Muñoz in a 1v1 situation. Still, the Colombian defender was a wall in that night. Although it is fair to mention Muñoz’s reckless tackle in the 42nd minute, where no one would be surprised that ended in a penalty for La Canarinha. That was a huge error from Jesús Valenzuela, and to rub salt into the wound, Muñoz scored almost in the next minute. Colombia’s goal comes from Alisson’s mistake, who showed doubts throughout the game, and the whole defense looked confused and did not know what to do with the ball. It’s especially difficult to play when Colombia pressures so well for most of the game. Muñoz’s goal explains his role well. He takes all the right side to himself because James tends to drop in the middle, and Muñoz goes back and forth in each transition to attack or defend. The fitness is absurd considering the heat, and not only from Muñoz but from the whole team. The pressure level and how long they can withstand it are too intense for other teams to keep up.

Despite his goal, Raphinha was absent and did not produce much, but he was close to scoring a free kick. Of course, a team with so much talent to boots like Brazil did have some opportunities, but how they were dominated and reduced is worrying, considering how Uruguay is similar to Colombia. Bruno Guimarães, João Gomes, and Lucas Paquetá were inconsequential at best and troublemakers who made more faults than needed at worst.
Not a single substitution changed the situation. In the last minutes, Colombia seemed to settle and defend the draw, so Brazil had more space to run. However, Brazil’s attitude before, of not even trying to rebel, press, or change anything to go for the win, is astonishing, considering they are Brazil.
Colombia also knows how to counter. Jhon Córdoba is a nightmare to defend and is very physical. Lucho Diaz, Jhon Arias, and James are strong, fast, and clever enough to find themselves in space.
In the end, the match could end for any team. But my impression is that if Colombia takes the game more seriously, they could easily win it. Brazil needs to improve to make a deep run in the competition.

Costa Rica 2 – Paraguay 1

Goalscorers:

Costa Rica: Francisco Calvo 3′, Josimar Alcócer 7′

Paraguay: Ramón Sosa 55′

Costa Rica was 2-0 up in just the 7th minute, similar to when they were 2-1 up in the 70th minute against Germany in the last World Cup, a result that made them go through. However, like the World Cup, it ended with the most predictable outcome: Costa Rica was eliminated in the group phases.

Honor where it’s due; they were one of the most competitive teams in CONCACAF. It was always tough when they were in the same group as the two favorites to win the tournament, but they did enough to show they were on the right path.
They are a very young team. Costa Rica’s average age in the starting Xl was 25.8 yrs. The initial minutes were a surprise. The first goal was a cross, with three Costa Ricans in the penalty box vs. two Paraguayans. Calvo, a center-back, ended up winning the space between the center-back and header to score in the third minute.
It is similar to the game against Brazil; Paraguay was passive in the marks and gave a lot of space in front of their box. The second goal was just laughable. Alcócer took the ball from his own half, carried it to the front of the penalty area, and shot without anyone coming out to stop him.

Two shots, two goals. The final whistle and Costa Rica took the three points.
Costa Ric covers most of the space, forces rivals to use the wings, but still leaves doors open for other teams to attack. Paraguay had plenty of opportunities to threaten Costa Rica but failed to punish them.
Patrick Sequeira was massive yesterday and made five saves despite some mistakes trying to play from the back. But the lack of inspiration in the Paraguay attack is worrying.
It was another game when Miguel Almirón was inoperative. Julio Enciso and Ramón Sosa tried the most, but they often took the same space in attack. Of course, Costa Rica forced them to be in such a tight space, but they did not have many ideas about how to escape such a trap.

The difference in attitude may explain something.
Paraguay was already eliminated, but Costa Rica was also in the same boat and showed more passion to win the game. In each tackle, recovery, and interception, they showed so much energy and eagerness to prove to themselves that they could win the game.

In any case, Costa Rica has proven they could compete against anyone and will try to qualify for another World Cup without any hero from the squad that made the quarterfinals in Brazil in 2014.
Paraguay is already in big trouble in its qualification for the next World Cup, and it is only giving more worrying signs. It needs to improve a lot and create a better context for its talent to shine.