Brazil’s modern day Samba style Copa America 2019

Hey guys and welcome back to the final chapter of my Malaga save, ‘Brazil’s modern day Samba style Copa America 2019’. The title will become clear later on but for now lets look at the the competition I will face in this years Copa America. By the way I have made my decision on the next story I’ll be undertaking…but I’ll offer some clues at the end of the post.

Believe it or not the Mexico side have some mega talent and in my eyes could cause a shock while the likes of Colombia and Chile have some solid players too not to mention Chile are this years hosts. While the usual favorites persist in Brazil and Argentina, the latter seems to be struggling with key stars ageing and a lack of quality regens coming through. Don’t get me wrong, they have a very strong team but it just doesn’t seem complete.

While making my 23 man squad selection, I had to consider the tactics I’d be using to cover every position with two players or more. I am actually invested in Johnny’s counter attacking Barcelona tactic which features a 4-3-3. This provides great possession and a solid back line if the players are suited. Therefore I had to find 3 keepers, 4 full backs, 4 center backs, 6 central midfielders and 6 strikers. Below are the players I selected and below that is my predicted first team XI and you can see their profiles by clicking on the names. I’d recommend doing this as the names you don’t recognize are explosive regens, three of which grace my Malaga side.

Best starting XI — GK: Luis Guilherme — DR: Romario, DL: Alex Sandro, DC: Marcao, DC: Edmar — MC: Lucas Moura, MC: Edu, MC: Ricardo — ST: Neymar, ST: Vieira, ST: Ricardinho

So as you can see the Brazil side is full of flair and talent, which makes me confident as I look to add to my International cabinet and the World Cup. We are about to kick off the tournament, I will show my entire group results then move on to a game by game basis after that.

Copa America group stages

So Brazil kicked the competition off against Mexico, a very strong opponent that put up one hell of a fight. After taking the lead Mexico pegged us back in the second-half before Marcelinho scored a 92nd minute winner. The match against Ecuador wasn’t as nervy, my boys held 68% of the possession but only managed to convert one of their 12 shots. Thankfully this was enough to secure a 1-0 victory, but the scoreline was very kind on Ecuador. My final group game came against Paraguay, Brazil dominated yet again with 67% possession but this time converted more chances with the match finishing 3-0.

Neymar was proving key, but so was my back four. You always felt like any player on the pitch could score, but we just needed to start converting the great play and possession into goals. Either way Brazil finished top of their group and Mexico in a not so surprising second.

Copa America Quarter-finals

After qualifying from our group I was left to inspect the quarter-final draw but no shock exits had taken place. Looking through the draw I had the easiest path with a match against Japan while Mexico and Argentina will have been cursing their luck to be drawn against each other.

Copa America quarter-final vs Japan

Venue: Monumental David Arellano, Santiago

Attendance: 47,017

Starting formations:

I went into this match with an almost full strength XI and couldn’t even contemplate an upset. Looking through the Japan line up I know none of those players and I think that says it all. Rather than explain what happened I will leave you to watch the match highlights, but just note the first goal didn’t come until the 67th minute. :(

Match highlights: Click here to watch the Copa America quarter-final match highlights

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Match stats:

Take a quick look through the match stats and it becomes apparent who dominated the game. A sea of yellow is how I’d describe those bars, but I couldn’t believe our luck with some of the chances. Needless to say my palms were sweaty before that first goal.

Moving into the other quarter-final results and prepare yourselves for a little shock. Argentina fell at the hands of Mexico, while the North American team look strong I still had Argentina down as easy favorites so it was a little weird to see them exit so soon.

Copa America semi-finals

Now we are getting to the business end of things, the semi-final draw. Brazil drew the competitions hosts, Chile, leaving Mexico and Colombia to slug out for a place in the final.

Copa America semi-final vs Chile

Venue: Monumental David Arellano, Santiago

Attendance: 47,017

Starting formations:

Chile have a strong team with two good regen strikers but they have nothing compared to Brazil. The real difference in this match though is that Chile are at home and I have been forced to rest a number of stars including Marcao my star CB, Romario my RB, Ricardo my playmaker and Ricardinho the machine upfront. Having said that the replacements are all worthy of a place in the team. Same as before I will leave you to watch the match highlights below.

Match highlights: Click here to watch the Copa America semi-final highlights

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Match stats:

Another match dominated by Brazil and although Chile caused a couple of scares I always felt in control. In the end it was Vieira who I brought to Malaga many seasons ago who settled the tie. Its just a little worrying to see my players in front of goal for so long and yet score so few. We are playing incredible Football but I just feel like someone could take advantage of these squandered chances.

Looking at the other semi-final result reveals who my opponents will be in the final. I was fully expecting a Mexico win, but yet another shock meant Colombia won their tie 1-0 and booked a place in the Copa America final.

Copa America final vs Colombia

Venue: Nacional, Santiago

Attendance: 49,000

Starting formations:

Colombia actually have a good team, most of the players you don’t recognize are good regens. But Ospina is a great keeper, Zapata a very strong center back, Rodriguez one of the strongest left wingers and Blanco a well rounded central midfielder. I sent out an almost full strength Brazil XI myself and just hoped to see more goals for my possession than experienced in the other rounds. I will leave you to watch the match highlights below.

Match highlights: Click here to watch the Copa America final match highlights

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Match stats:

Brazil dominated the first half of this final bar one or two Colombian attacks but the real turning point was Marcelo’s red card after Marcelinho had given us the lead. This offered the Colombians a way back but thankfully I could rely on a rather scrappy goal from Edu to wrap the tie up.

That was it, Brazil had won the Copa America dominating every match and playing some wonderful Football. Now the reason I entitled this post ‘Brazil’s modern day Samba style…’ is because the Brazil of the past would play very similar but score a lot more goals and concede a few too. While my Brazil of 2019 played some beautiful Football, but the scorelines didn’t suggest so.

This is where my save comes to an end, but I did promise you all a download so here it is. I carried on into the start of pre-season offloading a few players and buying one very talented one from Real Madrid. I have left you all with £247 million in the bank and a transfer budget of £230 million so do with that what you will. The training and youth facilities are pretty much maxed out and the club move into the Smith Arena next season so enjoy. :) You can download the save by clicking here. Thank you all for following me, it always inspires me to carry on longer than I usually would. For now I will take a break and consider what my next move is, over the coming months I have a lot to do due to moving house. Then in a few months I’ll hopefully be making the move itself which will see me disappear for a few days or maybe even a week but I’ll keep you all up-to-date when that might happen.

P.S. I have decided what my next story will be, and lets just say this will be my biggest challenge yet. You all know I like taking smaller top flight clubs to glory or starting in League One and turning unknowns into EPL champions but this challenge will absolutely crush anything else I have ever attempted. It is also with a team that I hold close to my heart and have a long and emotional history with,  but I will explain all in my next post and give you the full history I have with this club, who they are and what I want to achieve. Have I got you interested?