For those with a certain lust for life, there are a gazillion worse places to be than Rio de Janeiro tonight. There ain’t no party like a seleção party, and all of Brazil has plenty to celebrate. Congratulations to them, commiserations to Peru, and thanks for your company and emails. Bye!
The Brazil players are jumping round like idiots. Most of us have no idea how good they are feeling right now. Alisson and Firmino embrace - they are champions of Europe with their club, champions of South America with their country.
BRAZIL WIN THE COPA AMERICA FOR THE NINTH TIME!
Full time: Brazil 3-1 Peru Peep peep! Brazil are champions of South America for the first time since 2007! It was a deserved victory - not just tonight but throughout the tournament. They may not be a great side, certainly not by Brazilian standards, but they are comfortably the best in South America right now.
It was a fine penalty, driven hard and low to his left. It was right in the corner. Brazil deserve to win, despite that slightly surreal period either side of Gabriel Jesus’s red card.
GOAL! Brazil 3-1 Peru (Richarlison 90)
Richarlison wins the Copa America for Brazil!!!
The penalty stands! The referee has twice told his VAR colleagues where to go tonight.
VAR CHECK!
Dear lord. You can argue the penalty decision both ways, but there’s no way it was a clear and obvious error by the referee.
Everton played a one-two with Richarlison, charged into the area and was bumped over by Zambrano. It was a needless challenge because Gallese was going to get to the ball first.
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PENALTY TO BRAZIL!
87 min Peru have barely crossed the halfway line in the last five minutes. It’s a very strange end to the game - and now Brazil have a penalty for a barge on Everton!
86 min “Eder on for Brazil,” notes Simon McMahon. “It’s 1982 all over again! 4-1 ...”
86 min Another Peru change - Polo on, Carrillo off.
85 min Brazil are killing the game with ease, and Peru are getting increasingly frustrated.
84 min “Madrid has a big Peruvian community, especially in working class areas of the city, so you see quite a lot of Peru shirts at Estadio de Vallecas (or spelt Vallekas if you’re cool),” says Christian. “I’ve just come home from a Peruvian restaurant where they had the game on. Big party atmosphere, packed with people cheering. I’m so old and boring that despite my intentions to join in with it all, I felt tired and left 10 minutes before kick off. I’m at home drinking beer on the sofa as usual now.”
83 min Peru, despite having the extra man, are struggling to put Brazil under sustained pressure. Advincula is booked for a body check on Everton.
82 min Advincula tried to hold off Everton, who went down holding his face. There was contact but it wasn’t intentional, and play continues. Peru make another change, with Gonzales replacing Tapia.
81 min Peru move the ball smartly from right to left. Flores drifts over a dangerous cross that is headed away, and now the Brazil players are trying to get someone sent off, Advincula I think.
79 min Peru make their first change, with Raul Ruidiaz replacing Yotun.
78 min “Not sure he deserved the second yellow but he could be in a LOT of trouble for his gesture suggesting the referee is on the take (unless, of course, I was the only one who noticed it),” says David Marriott. “Niggly game though, isn’t it?”
Ah yes, I noticed that gesture but didn’t register it. His noggin had completely gone at that point.
77 min Eder Militao replaces Coutinho. Since being reduced to 10 men, Brazil have punted jogo bonito straight over the stands.
75 min Richarlison replaces Roberto Firmino. Gabriel Jesus’s second yellow card was for jumping into Zambrano, who had flattened him moments earlier. It looked a bit harsh to me. A camera shows Jesus sitting on a step inside the stadium, crying his eyes out.
74 min What an effort from Flores! A defensive clearance came to him 25 yards from goal, and after controlling the ball he swished a beautiful half-volley just wide of goal. I’m not sure Alisson would have got there.
73 min A half chance for Peru! Trauco’s stinging shot from a tight angle is shovelled round the post by Alisson. Out of nothing, Peru have an incredible chance to achieve immortality.
71 min I’m not even sure what that was for. Jesus was fuming, and took an age to leave the field.
GABRIEL JESUS IS SENT OFF!
70 min Oh my goodness. Gabriel Jesus has been given a second yellow card, and Brazil are down to 10 men!
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68 min Zambrano is booked for flattening Gabriel Jesus.
67 min Carrillo’s cross is put behind for a corner. This is Peru’s best spell of the whole game.
66 min An excellent inswinging free-kick from Yotun is superbly headed away by Thiago Silva. That was a fine, commanding bit of defending.
65 min Alisson puts Brazil under a bit of pressure with a poor pass towards Alex Sandro that Carrillo ushers out of play for a throw-in. Peru need to stay in the game for as long as possible in the hope that Brazil will get the jitters.
62 min A stylish, penetrative run from Cueva, who beats two players on the edge of the area before stabbing a pass towards Guerrero. It’s hoofed away by Thiago Silva (I think).
61 min “I may be ill,” says Niall Mullen, “but I definitely prefer the 1986 West Germany kit.”
I’m a big fan of an off-kilter logo, but it’s not enough to elevate it above 1990, for mine.
60 min “Given the feistiness and energy of this Brazil unit, do you think Neymar would actually improve it?” says JP. “I feel that there is definitely a calculation to be made, balancing ability against temperament and team-mindedness.”
Surely, in modern football, the question is: will Tite improve Neymar’s side?
59 min Coutinho’s stinging shot from inside the D is blocked. He looks desperate to score.
57 min It feels like a third Brazilian goal is in the post. Everton plays the ball back to Alex Sandro, whose fast, first-time cross is headed wide at the near post by the stooping Firmino.
56 min “I’ve always loved Peru, and their kit,” says Phil Grey. “As a kid I’d wear a white T shirt and borrow my mother’s red belt and wear it diagonally over one shoulder and pretend to be Cubillas. Do you know if he’s there tonight, at the Maracana?”
I’ve no idea, but I hope so. And I hope you’re wearing a red belt over one shoulder in tribute.
54 min: A double chance for Brazil! First Coutinho went a glorious solo run, only to shoot from the edge of the area when he should have played in Gabriel Jesus. His shot was blocked and the ball rebounded to Jesus, who eased it forward to give Firmino what looked a simple chance. Instead he dragged a tame shot well wide of the far post.
54 min “Hello Rob,” says Avitaj Mitra. “I don’t see VAR surviving for more than a couple of years, unless changes are made to the handball law. (Not blaming VAR, just that the current law is utter nonsense, and almost everything looks like a penalty in slow motion.) Views?”
My view is that VAR in its current form is an egregious shambles, and will stay that way until everyone learns the meaning of the phrase “clear and obvious”. I’m not against it in principle – it works in other sports – but it needed to be trialled for at least another decade before it was ready. I think it’s here to stay, though; nobody will have the courage to put it back in its box, where it belongs. But that’s just my opinion.
53 min Thiago Silva is booked for a hack at Cueva.
51 min A lovely effort from Coutinho, whose rising drive across goal flashes this far past the top corner.
49 min Tapia takes a yellow card for the team, dragging Coutinho down to stop a Brazil counter-attack.
48 min Some early pressure from Brazil. A corner is taken short to Alex Sandro, whose cross is headed away. Dani Alves picks up the loose ball and tries to score from 40 yards. No.
47 min “Speaking once again as a Liverpool dan, it’s great to be able to enjoy Gabriel Jesus’ skill (and any Alison brinkmanship) without consternation,” says JP. “Helluva player.”
46 min Peep peep! Brazil begin the second half.
Half-time reading
Half-time chit chat
“Except Scotland aren’t Brazil, are they?” says Simon McMahon.
Half time: Brazil 2-1 Peru
Peep peep! Brazil deserve to lead at half-time, but their second goal was a cruel blow to Peru so soon after their equaliser. Paolo Guerrero is almost in tears as he walks off the field.
The goal stemmed from the defensive industry of Firmino, who nicked the ball off a Peruvian player near the halfway line. His tackle diverted the ball to Arthur, who skedaddled into space and played a short through pass to Gabriel Jesus just inside the area. Zambrano slipped, which gave Jesus just enough time to drag a disguised low shot across Gallese and into the far corner. Lovely finish.
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GOAL! Brazil 2-1 Peru (Gabriel Jesus 45+3)
Brazil are back in front!
45+1 min “Peru equalised just on half-time,” says Simon McMahon. “It’s 1978 all over again. Let’s all watch Grease together!!”
45 min That goal wasn’t against the run of play; it was affront to the run of play. Peru, quite rightly, will not give a solitary fig about that. They are level in the Copa America final!
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GOAL! Brazil 1-1 Peru (Guerrero 44 pen)
Guerrero scores! He passes the ball calmly to his right, sending Alisson the wrong way.
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PENALTY GIVEN!
And rightly so. The VAR check was absurd and unnecessary.
VAR CHECK ON THE PENALTY!
Well, this is ludicrous.
It was given for handball against Thiago Silva, who fell as he tried to tackle Cueva. The ball hit his hand, and under the revised law that’s a penalty.
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PENALTY TO PERU!
41 min Well that has changed things.
39 min A better move from Peru ends when Guerrero goes over in the Brazil area. There were no appeals for a penalty from the Peru players.
36 min: Good chance for Firmino! After another classy passing move, Alex Sandro curled a booming cross beyond the far post, where Firmino got above Trauco and thumped a header over the bar. Trauco just about did enough to ensure Firmino could not get over the top of the ball.
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36 min “I don’t want to sound inflammatory, but Niall Mullen is an ill man if he genuinely doesn’t see the beauty in West Germany’s 1990 kit,” inflames Matt Dony. “I don’t have fond memories of that team, but that kit still looks wonderful. Admittedly, it’s no ‘Crown Paints’, but pretty darn spiffing nonetheless.”
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35 min Everton goes on a thrilling run down the left, beating Avincula twice before Zambrano comes across to clear.
34 min Peru are a game bunch, but so far Brazil have had a bit too much nous. They have kept the Peru attack at arm’s length throughout the match.
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33 min “Update from Naxos,” says JP. “A kid at the restaurant has drawn the ire of the bartender by overriding the TV with his phone and casting YouTube kids onto the big screen. The interesting thing is that Dejan Lovren appears to have a sideline as a singing Mexican in a sombrero on kids TV. Explains a lot...”
Wait till you see the Alberto Moreno channel.
30 min Gabriel Jesus is booked for a foul on Yotun.
30 min “How Liverpool dans achieve that grade?” asks Niall Mullen. “They judo don’t they though.”
29 min Brazil break through Gabriel Jesus, who is fouled just past the halfway line by Tapia. He knew what he was doing, but did it with sufficient clumsiness to avoid a yellow card.
27 min The Peru coach Ricardo Gareca is very animated on the touchline, waving his hands all over the place like David Brent. Peru win a corner, their first I think. Yotun’s outswinger from the left is headed over from six yards by the under-pressure Zambrano (I think). It wasn’t much of a chance.
25 min “Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Got to agree about the Peru kit being a timeless classic. But as for not capturing the public imagination, they certainly grabbed the attention of lots of Scotland fans in 1978.”
24 min That was almost a second. After a long, patient move, Firmino cut the ball back from the left to Coutinho, whose stabbed shot with the outside of his right foot drifted a few yards wide. Gallese had it covered.
23 min It’s been all Brazil since the goal.
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20 min Now Brazil are pressing high up the pitch, and Peru have struggled to get out in the last few minutes.
18 min Brazil have not conceded in the entire tournament, so it’s fair to say Peru are up against it.
It was a really nice goal. Dani Alves drove a long pass down the right to Gabriel Jesus, who turned Trauco inside out and drove a cross towards the far post. It picked out the unmarked Everton, who arrived late and slammed a volley into the net from eight yards.
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GOAL! Brazil 1-0 Peru (Everton 15)
And Brazil have got the opening goal!
14 min Brazil have started to settle, with Arthur and Casemiro seeing more of the ball in midfield. The first goal already feels vital, such is the edginess around the ground.
12 min Alex Sandro is sent flying by Yotun, who is chastised by the referee.
11 min “These two teams,” begins Scott Bassett, “are going to kick the bejesus out of each other, aren’t they?”
Well, it’s an option.
10 min Peru have been the better team in the first 10 minutes, playing with more aggression and purpose. It makes sense to start fast and try to undermine Brazil before they settle into the game.
9 min “As a Liverpool dan,” says JP, “it’s great to see two current player and one ex-player in the Brazil XI as well as Everton to round things out.”
A Liverpool dan? How do you achieve that rank, then?
6 min Peru are starting to settle into the game and are pressing Brazil high up the pitch. A clearance goes straight to Yotun, who chests it down and hits a looping shot from distance that goes well wide.
6 min “I hope Peru can make it a game but I doubt it,” says Mary Waltz. “Brazil at home with a huge edge in quality will be too much.”
I agree, although I said the same before the 1950 World Cup decider against Uruguay.
5 min It’s been a bitty, slightly nervous start from both sides.
2 min Coutinho is penalised for handball 35 yards from goal. Cueva steeps up, to huge jeers, and curls a few yards wide. Alisson had it covered.
2 min “Peru have always had the most underrated jersey in world football,” says Niall Mullen. “Maybe because they have never captured the public’s imagination like Denmark 86. Most overrated, since you didn’t, West Germany 1990.”
I agree about Peru’s shirt, which is a timeless classic. That said, I wonder if it falls foul of the Irwin/Parlour rule, which says you can’t be underrated if everyone says you’re underrated. Brazil’s current kit is also lovely.
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1 min Peep peep! Peru get the match under way. They are wearing white with the familiar red sash. Brazil are in yellow and green.
“Sitting alone in a restaurant in Naxos,” says JP. “The bartender is 99.99% confident that the game is rigged in the hosts’ favour. Is that indeed so?”
Yes: Brazil have a population of 212 million to Peru’s 33m.
The Peru players are belting out the national anthem. Some of them look close to tears. Brazil’s players are a little less emotional, with the inevitable, wonderful exception of Dani Alves.
This is Brazil’s first game at the Maracana since Fred routed Brazil in the final of the 2013 Confederations Cup.
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Alternative live action
Team news
Brazil (4-3-3) Alisson; Alves, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Sandro; Arthur, Casemiro, Coutinho; Jesus, Firmino, Everton.
Substitutes: Miranda, Filipe Luis, David Neves, Willian, Eder Militao, Allan, Cassio Ramos, Fernandinho, Lucas Paqueta, Richarlison, Fagner, Ederson.
Peru (4-2-3-1) Gallese; Advincula, Zambrano, Abram, Trauco; Tapia, Yotun; Carrillo, Cueva, Flores; Guerrero.
Substitutes: Corzo, Santamaria, Araujo, Ballon, Ruidiaz, Caceda, Polo, Pretell, Alvarez, Callens, Gonzales.
Referee Roberto Tobar.
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Preamble
Hello. Brazil may have made a gruesome, historic mess of hosting the World Cup, but the Copa America has provided a much happier story. This is the fifth time they have hosted it; on the first four occasions, in 1919, 1922, 1949 and 1989, they won the tournament.
Approximately 100.00 per cent of the Brazilian population will expect them make it five out of five by beating Peru at the Maracana today. It’s hard to envisage any other result. Brazil under Tite have been extremely hard to beat – even if, as is their post-Sarrià wont, they have generally been more efficient than erotic since he took over.
They are yet to concede a goal in this tournament. But two of their five matches ended 0-0 and some of the most joyous moments for Brazilian fans have involved the woes of Saint Lionel rather than the old jogo bonito.
Brazil last won this tournament in 2007. Peru last did so in 1975, which was also the last time they reached the final. At their best they are a dynamic, likeable side, as they showed when they thumped the holders Chile 3-0 in the semi-finals.
Until then they were mediocre, however, Brazil plugged them 5-0 during the group stage. For that, and many other reasons, a win for Peru would register very high on the Maracanozometer.
Kick off is at 5pm local time, 4pm ET, 9pm CET.
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