Argentina failed to make it to the quarterfinals of the Copa America after all.
Even though Argentina's performance on the offensive end was impressive, even the most fluid in the tournament, the vulnerability and inconsistency on the defensive end, coupled with the lack of individual player ability, allowed Brazil to break the net with ease and end the contest with a one-goal margin.
Focus on the field
Argentina stuck to a 433 formation, with Messi roaming the diamond 442 in attack, while Brazil went with a 4231 formation, in which the right back was replaced by Sandro.
Brazil's strategy of replacing Felipe Luis with Sandro at the start of the match paid off, and Argentina would have given up under pressure if Brazil hadn't scored first; Sandro is not as tall as Felipe Luis, but he is young and energetic, and is the right man to take on a tough match.
The Brazilian defense against Messi was extremely tight, with Arthur and Casemiro holding their positions and blocking Messi's passes to the side of the field as much as possible.Once Messi had the ball, Brazilian players were quick to foul him, with good control to avoid a yellow card, and it was clear that the Brazilian fouls were mostly committed from outside the 23-yard line, to prevent him from setting up a set-piece inside the penalty area. The Brazilian players were quick to control the situation to avoid a yellow card.
Brazil's conservative, if uncommon, tactics were pragmatic, designed to shut down the heart of Argentina's offense and then wait for an opportunity to counterattack. Argentina, on the other hand, knew that the defense could not be sustained and quickly adjusted its strategy to increase the pressure on the attack.
Brazil's strategy of having two full backs guarding Messi was effective but did not completely restrict him. timely support from the Argentine players allowed Messi to pass and move consistently, and Brazil quickly adjusted their formation, with Everton and Jesus going back to the defense, recovering on the wings, and Firmino dropping back near the center line. once Argentina had possession of the ball in their half of the field, Brazil retreated to their half, avoiding intense pressing and clashes in the 25-yard box and on the sidelines. Avoiding intense pressing, the points of conflict are mainly concentrated in the 25-yard box and on the touchline.
In the first half, fouls were committed by both teams, and although neither wanted to get too aggressive and cause injuries, clashes were inevitable and both suffered injuries.
Argentina's most threatening shot of the first half came in the 12th minute, when Messi took the ball on the left side of midfield, drew a couple of Brazilian players into a huddle and then turned to cross the ball for Parades to step up and deliver a superb shot from 30 yards out, but the ball sailed just over the crossbar.
Brazil paradoxically ceded possession to Argentina with the intention of playing on the counterattack. Argentina, for its part, took control of the attack, but could not attack for long in the first half. The first breakthrough came in the 19th minute, when Coutinho's long-distance shot was deflected by Otamendi, and Martinez, the original striker, took the ball but was pressed forward by Alves, who dodged Parades's kick and pretended to run into the penalty area, where Firmino crossed the ball to Jesus in the center of the field.
Parades' shoveling was overly hasty and Alves' holding action proved that he had anticipated Parades' shoveling. As Firmino prepares to cross, Otamendi tries to block, but instead of running back to the line of the box in time, Pezzella behind him overruns the ball, resulting in Jesus being unmarked.
Brazil's two attacking players, Jesus and Arthur, did not take the ball forward, and experienced defenders could tell that Firmino's pass must have been a cross to the 12-yard box just by the way he played it.Pezzella's run looked like he was trying to block the corner of the goal, but Firmino was actually facing the 12-yard box in his entirety, rather than making a sideways 45-degree pass or sprinting into the penalty area. Firmino's movement was so obvious that it can only be said that Pezzella was too impatient to react calmly.
