I think the addition of fans as well have made Euros far better. I think the Copa probably should of been held in the US.
Copa América not having fans doesn't help, but that would have been the case regardless of the host country. But yes, today's matches (Spain vs. Croatia and France vs. Switzerland) are on par with any of the great, epic matches we've seen at the World Cup. Copa América this year has not really produced anything similar at least so far.
Neither did it produce it in the the one before, and the one before that, and the one before that ...
"Curse" or whatever, if anyone has such a problem, I think it's a finalist in another tournament - in another continent.... and it's a team that like Italy has plenty of Italian last names.....
It was a bad call, but the experience of watching this as a Brazilian who was on the English side (due to the school I went to in Brazil), watching all the neutrals go crazy all game over Kane's "dives" was hilarious. As for the penalty, it's somewhat understandable that they did not call it a "clear and obvious error" considering how strict they have been about that all Euro. And if they don't call it a "clear and obvious error" they can't ask the ref to review.
I originally posted this in the national team thread but it probably belongs here: João Pedro cleared to defend Italy: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/futebo...-pedro-e-autorizado-a-defender-a-italia.ghtml Perhaps not a big loss, but they also have their eyes on Ibañez and at least one other.
Coutinho moved to Aston Villa on loan. https://ge.globo.com/futebol/futebo...de-philippe-coutinho-para-o-aston-villa.ghtml Quite a few Brazilians the subject of speculation right now, including Bruno Guimarães and Diego Carlos, but nothing concrete.
@celito One for old times sake — did I just see Alves get worked on the flank for Real’s second goal?
Yeah, he jumped the bait there. He owned Vin Jr. a couple of times. Just very old at this point. His ball control and passing are still there though.
So... Coutinho... turns out Gerrard made a good move with the loan. Aston Villa at home to Man Utd. Man Utd up 1x0, Aston VIlla dominates the second half but goes down 2x0 on a mistake (and heads up play by Fred) at 67 minutes. Coutinho comes on at 68 minutes. Assists on the first goal, scores a tap-in to tie the game and has a chance to win it as well... Good for him, and Villa. And maybe even good for us too. Might be just the lift he needs.
Luiz Felipe (Lazio) and João Pedro (Cagliari) have been called-up by Italy for training camp in January. There are no matches, so they can't be cap-tied until March qualifiers, but it looks like both are committed to Italy now and hoping to get called back for March. Both could have a chance with Brazil in the future, but Luiz Felipe, at 24, is a bigger potential loss, where João Pedro, at 29, probably sees this as a last shot at a national team career.
Italy is out - for a second straight tournament - as it was just defeated 0-1 by North Macedonia (in Italy). Emerson Palmieri, Jorginho.... Brazilians who play for Italy. They may now never play in the World Cup. In contrast, England, whom Italy beat (on PKs) in the Euro final, is in Qatar, and comfortably so. We have again seen that anything can happen during 90 minutes. That said, North Macedonia has done Brazil a favor by eliminating one of the few teams which at least theoretically could have given Brazil serious problems in an elimination match. And thanks to them, if Brazil falls short in Qatar and if Germany doesn't win it all, Brazil will still be the winningest champion in the tournament's history. You can't make this stuff up, and this is one of the reasons I love this game.
in fact, I believe Joao Pedro came on as a sub and is cap-tied now. Not that he had a shot at a Brazil call-up, but that must feel awful.