Soccer-Brazil's tactical balance tested as Colombia rematch looms in Copa America final
(Reuters) -Brazil have cruised into the Women's Copa America final with dominant scorelines and solid performances, but their biggest challenge awaits in Saturday's rematch against Colombia, a side determined to dethrone the defending champions.
Arthur Elias's team has not leaned on star power to reach the final. Instead, Brazil's run has been defined by tactical balance: a disciplined backline, coordinated pressing, sharp execution on set pieces, and exploiting their opponent's defensive miscues.
Their success is largely down to a core of new figures, such as Amanda Gutierres, who is the leading scorer for the team in the tournament with five goals and plays a central role in attack. Her brace in their semi-final win over Uruguay underscored her sharp positioning and composure in front of goal.
"Hard work pays off," the Palmeiras striker said after the 5-1 victory. "Nothing is forced, everything happens at the right moment."
Meanwhile, the experience of Marta continues to anchor the group. The veteran playmaker, who returned from international retirement for this tournament, was named MVP in the semi-final after a standout performance, assisting the opening goal and converting a penalty.
Captain Marta's energy in Quito's altitude, along with her leadership and vision, has brought balance to a side still finding their rhythm.
"We knew what to do when we had the ball, especially finding the passes between the lines," Marta said, also praising Brazil's defensive response after a shaky start to the second half. "(Goalkeeper) Claudia and the girls at the back sorted things out."
While defensively solid with just two goals conceded in five matches, Brazil's intensity lapses have created openings that Colombia, led by Linda Caicedo and Mayra Ramirez, could punish.
Their group-stage goalless draw saw Colombia dominate for 70 minutes after goalkeeper Lorena's red card, highlighting the fine margins the eight-time champions must control in the final.
Brazil may not dazzle for 90 minutes, but their formula built on discipline, rotation and rising confidence has proved effective.
Colombia represent their sternest test yet, but with a blend of energy and experience the reigning champions are positioned to complete their mission again.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Why Novak Djokovic withdrew from Cincinnati Open 2025 as former World No. 1 cuts down on tournaments
Novak Djokovic will not be taking part in the Cincinnati Open 2025, which means he will enter the US Open 2025 without any real preparation. read more Novak Djokovic is set to miss the Cincinnati Open for a second consecutive year. Image: Reuters Novak Djokovic will not be competing at the Cincinnati Open for the second consecutive year, the tournament organisers confirmed on Monday. The 24-time Grand Slam winner has not competed professionally since losing in the semi-finals of Wimbledon to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. The 38-year-old Djokovic had also pulled out of the Cincinnati Open 2024 as defending champion after winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics 204. This time, he has pulled out due to a non-medical reason. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why did Djokovic pull out of Cincinnati Open? The Cincinnati Open is a warm-up tournament leading into the US Open; hence, it's a surprise that Djokovic has decided against taking part in the competition. However, after suffering from a hip and groin injury during the semi-final of Wimbledon, Djokovic may have decided to give his body more rest as he aims to win his 25th Grand Slam title. The US Open is scheduled to take place from 24 August to 7 September 7 in New York City. World No. 6 Djokovic boasts a 45-12 tournament record at the ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati Open, which will take place from August 5 to 18. In his last appearance in 2023, the Serb saved a championship point as he went on to beat Carlos Alcaraz 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) in a thrilling final. With growing age and regular fitness issues, Djokovic has been seen playing very few tournaments in 2025. He retired in the Australian Open 2025 semi-final against Alexander Zverev due to a groin injury. Later in May, he became only the third player to win 100 ATP tour-level titles in Geneva in May, but he has only competed in two tournaments since then. Those two tournaments are the French Open and Wimbledon, as Djokovic reached the semi-finals and lost to Sinner on both occasions. It will be interesting to see how Djokovic does at the US Open without playing in warm-up tournaments. The 2025 US Open men's and women's singles draws will be announced on 21 August.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Mohammed Siraj couldn't forgive himself, kept thinking about Harry Brook's catch: ‘How could I do this…'
Life came full circle for Mohammed Siraj in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. From the extreme lows at the Lord's Test to the extreme highs at the Oval, the 31-year-old pacer from Hyderabad witnessed a plethora of emotions, perfectly explaining that sport is a great leveller. At Lord's, Siraj was in his haunches after seeing the bails come off. The No.11 batter played a perfect forward defence off the bowling of Shoaib Bashir; however, the ball rolled back onto the stumps, and the bails fell, giving England a thrilling 22-run win. Mohammed Siraj returned with five wickets in second innings of the Oval Test. (Action Images via Reuters) However, fate had ecstasy in store for Siraj, too, as the Indian pacer led Shubman Gill and co. to a thrilling win at the Oval. He returned with five wickets in the second innings, giving the side a thrilling six-run win to level the five-match series 2-2. But the joy of leading India to a win didn't come easily. Siraj was once again at the centre on Day 4 when he failed to grab the catch off Harry Brook at the boundary ropes. The right-handed batter went for a pull shot off the bowling of Prasidh Krishna. However, he miscued it, and Siraj settled at the boundary ropes for what seemed a simple catch. Siraj did take the catch cleanly; however, his foot touched the boundary cushion, and as a result, Brook got a reprieve. England added six more runs to the total in their chase of 374. The 26-year-old batter went on to score 111 runs, and England looked set to make it 3-1. However, once Harry Brook fell, the floodgates opened, and India barged through the door. Siraj did the clean-up job on the final day, where England required 35 runs more with four wickets in hand. Also Read: Morne Morkel lifts Gautam Gambhir like a baby, India head coach screams in his ears: Wild scenes in dressing room Siraj, who was adjudged as Player of the Match, has now revealed that he was unable to sleep after play on Day 4 as his mind kept thinking about Harry Brook's catch. 'To be honest, I cannot describe my emotions. When I was going to sleep after stumps on Day 4, I kept thinking about the dropped catch of Harry Brook. I was just thinking, 'How could I have done such a thing?' If I had taken it cleanly, we wouldn't be here right now. We would have been chilling in our hotel rooms,' said Siraj in a video posted on the BCCI website. 'God's plan' Siraj finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with 23 scalps to his name. The 31-year-old really stepped up in Jasprit Bumrah's absence, thriving in the responsibility of leading the pace attack. In the two Tests where Bumrah didn't play, Siraj brought out the best in himself, leading the attack and ensuring India's victory. 'But I guess it was God's plan. The result is there for everyone to see. I wake up in the morning, I knew that I could make it happen. I always had the belief in myself. I put the 'believe' wallpaper on my phone. I just want to thank everyone. Every batter, bowler, hats off to them. This comeback was crazy,' said Siraj. Siraj who dropped a banger the T20 World Cup 2024, saying, 'I only believe in Jassi Bhai', came up with another astonishing line, perhaps realising his own importance this time around. 'I missed Jassi Bhai. He has a different presence about himself. I only believe in Jassi bhai and myself,' he added.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Siraj masterclass delivers India glorious series-levelling victory
Kolkata: Believe, Mohammed Siraj was telling himself after waking up on Monday. Strange thing, belief, since it usually draws its impetus from the most recent positives. India had a mixed bag to draw from here. There were two early wickets in the morning on Sunday, and a late comeback accounted for Joe Root. But the tired fast bowlers leaked runs otherwise, not to forget Siraj trod on the boundary cushion while catching Harry Brook on 19. But the best thing about belief is that it keeps reminding you that nothing is over until it's over. India's Mohammed Siraj celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Gus Atkinson and India winning the match to draw the test series. (Reuters) India were down and out for nearly 250 runs out of England's chase of 374 on Sunday, but on a new day with an old ball, 35 runs was made to look like a hundred. The tension at the Oval was unbearable, fingernails were chewed nervously as Siraj was playing his own redemption song, with nearly 10,000 Indians screaming their lungs out to match the boisterous English. You remember the heartbreak at Lord's, Siraj falling to his knees after failing to stop the ball from rolling on to the stumps. You remember the despondency on his face after he stepped on the boundary rope while catching Brook, who went on to hit 111. But the most enduring image of the series would be this — Siraj uprooting Gus Atkinson's off-stump with a perfect yorker that arrowed in on off-stump to seal the sensational victory. Amid the uncertainty of defending 373, accentuated to paranoid levels by England's no-holds barred batting approach, it's the character that most impresses. And no one embodied that resilience better than Siraj who returned 5/104. Last fast bowler standing from either side in a bodily draining series played out on the flat tracks that could put to shame those in the subcontinent, Siraj had to dig deep into the reserves of his body and mind. This time for a manic, chaotic and nerve-wracking hour. The 4.1-1-9-3 morning spell was the outcome. Two fours in the first over and you couldn't be blamed for thinking this match was over before it resumed. Pulling the length wasn't the cleverest thing Prasidh Krishna did, and Jamie Overton had no hesitation in flaying it through square leg for a boundary. Another short of length ball, and Overton nearly chopped on to his stumps, but to India's dismay it ran to the fine leg boundary. In came Siraj from the other end, bowling good length areas and making the ball move away or hold its line. Trying to cover for the swing, Jamie Smith stepped out, but the wobble seam ball lured him into poking it to Dhruv Jurel. One down, three to go. Could have been two to go had Gus Atkinson's edge not dropped short of KL Rahul at slip. Good thing was how Siraj was getting the ball to shape away like clockwork. Which meant that the ball that holds its line was due any time now. Maybe Overton too expected it. But the thing with expectation is that it rarely prepares you for the moment it hits you. This was a fuller delivery alright, nipping in just as Overton was shuffling across the stumps, setting him up for a leg before that he couldn't pull out of. Impact inside the stumps, ball just clipping the edge of leg stump, it was understandable why umpire Kumar Dharmasena took ages to raise his finger. When Josh Tongue was dismissed by Krishna for a 12-ball duck, the game took an extraordinary turn, achieving folklore status as Chris Woakes came out with his left arm slung inside his cardigan. Colin Cowdrey had walked out with a broken arm at Lord's in 1963, and in 1984 Malcolm Marshall batted one-handed at Headingley because of a fractured thumb. Woakes was heroically guarded from batting by Atkinson but even running between the wickets left him wincing in pain. This was do-or-die for both sides. Not every move was spot on from India though. Jurel not losing his gloves before taking aim at the end Woakes was running to was shambolic wicketkeeping, but equally unimaginative was how Gill never saw that bye coming. Woakes couldn't bat, England had to run no matter what. By then Akash Deep had palmed a catch over the rope for six to bring England closer to a famous victory. A two took the target into single figures, before Atkinson ran a single again off the last ball to take England within one hit of tying the scores. Siraj returned, for what was his 31st over of the innings, determined not to let England run away with a win. He achieved that with a searing yorker, leaving England dazed and India basking in the glory of having squared a series with a squad no one was ready to give a chance.
