Skip to main content

The Best Copa America Finals in History so far

Image
By

 


Only a few games in the Copa America finals can be considered the most thrilling matches in history.

Copa America 2024 has come to an end, with the final set to be staged this weekend. The reigning champions, Argentina and Colombia, are squaring off in Miami Gardens, Florida. It is bound to be an entertaining clash, although it would not be a classic match like Argentina vs. Brazil or Argentina vs. Uruguay.

Throughout the tournament’s history, only a few games in the summit could be regarded as thrilling encounters, in which both sides scored but not in an equal match, not a one-sided clash. Copa America itself only has its format with the final game since the 1993 edition. The round-robin format was more preferable from the first edition in 1916 to 1991. Here are those notable and memorable finals.

Argentina vs. Mexico (Copa America 1993 Final)

The 1993 edition was the first Copa America, which invited non-CONMEBOL members to compete. Mexico and the USA were the first teams to be included. El Sombrero, led by their legendary striker, Hugo Sanchez, surprisingly managed to reach the final to take on the reigning champions, Argentina, who had to rely on penalties to progress in the knockout stage.

The final itself, which was staged in the Estadio Monumental in Guayaquil, turned out to be a tight affair. Both sides traded attempts on target, which forced both goalkeepers, Sergio Goycochea and Jorge Campos, to make clinical saves. Albiceleste finally broke the deadlock with Gabriel Batistuta’s powerful strike in the 63rd minute, but after four minutes, Mexico equalised through Benjamin Galindo’s penalty. The winning goal came in the 74th minute as Batistuta completed his brace after taking advantage of Diego Simeone’s quick throw in. It was their 14th title and the last one before Lionel Messi and Co. lifted the same trophy in 2021.

Uruguay vs. Brazil (Copa America 1995 Final)

The final in the following edition had fewer goals but was still considered the most thrilling one. The host, Uruguay, and the 1994 World Cup winner were squaring off in the historic Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Brazil were without itsWorld Cup heroes, Romario and Bebeto. Yet, such did not stop them from going through the final.

The clash was intense, with a few players involved in a brief brawl at the first half. Selecao opened the scoring first through Tulio in the 30th minute before La Celeste found the equaliser through Pablo Bengoechea’s sublime free kick. The former Botafogo man was supposedly prepared to be Romario’s successor. Unfortunately, he contributed directly to their loss as he was the only player who missed the penalty in the shootout. Uruguay clinched their 14th title in history and Tulio was never called up again in any major tournament. 

Brazil vs. Argentina (Copa America 2004 Final)

This is by far the best final in the tournament. It was the classic duel between Brazil and Argentina. The match not only ended 2-2, but there were late goals and penalties. In the 2004 edition, Albiceleste was the favourite since Brazil only sent the B team in the competition without Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, or other stars from the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Argentina, on the other hand, brought their bestplayers to the squad, as well as their rising stars such as Lucho Gonzalez,Carlos Tevez, and Cesar Delgado. They also aimed to snatch a title as a consolation for their humiliating exit at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

The match was as exciting as expected, as both sides traded chances and goals. Marcelo Bielsa’s men took the lead from Kily Gonzalez’s penalty in the 20th minute, but Luisao’s goal put them back on level terms just before the interval. The game became more intense in the second half, but neither side was able to score. In the 87th minute, Argentina suddenly restored their lead through Cesar Delgado’s goal. They seemed to be confident already, with just one goal lead, as the final whistle was just a few minutes away. However, Carlos Alberto Pareira’s side once again bounced back and equalised through Adriano’s strike in the six-yard box. The match had to be decided by a shootout, and Argentina’s first two executors already failed to convert the penalties!! The young Julio Cesar was the hero, as he saved the first one while none of Brazil’s takers missed the shot. It was a triumphant campaign for the Brazilian reserve team.

 

 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Best Football Films based on true Football Stories

By
  Football films based on true events are not as common as we might hope, but the few that exist certainly stand out as some of the best. Unlike American football or basketball films, football (or soccer, as it's called in the U.S.) hasn't gained the same level of popularity or production in Hollywood. That’s understandable, given the sport’s limited appeal in the U.S. historically. However, with the country set to co-host the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup next year, more football films should be produced to build the hype and capture the spirit of the world’s biggest sporting event. Football movies have the unique ability to explore stories on and off the pitch — from a fan's perspective to tales centred around players, managers, or even lesser-known supporting characters. The following list focuses solely on those based on true events, highlighting the personal conflicts, dressing room dynamics, and emotional journeys that define real football legends. As we enjoy...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Distinguished Final Specialists at the top level throughout history

By
  A number of legendary names have become final specialists at the top level throughout history, with very few players able to match such a record, even today. The 2025  FIFA CWC might have been over, but the final in East Rutherford left a remarkable note beyond just Chelsea’s stunning win over the UCL champions, PSG. The emergence of Cole Palmer as a new star for England might have been anticipated, yet his constant contribution in finals seems too obvious to deny. The former Manchester City man has become the new final specialist among football’s elite. His record of contributing in finals—either through goals or assists—continues to grow, and Palmer could potentially reach new heights to cement his status as the greatest final specialist in history. The Blues star’s contribution rate in finals is already at 75%, even higher than Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and, most recently, Kylian Mbappe. Cole Palmer already made his mark during his time at the Etihad, scoring...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Most Daring Journeyman Managers in History

By
  Not many gaffers opt to roam around the world to become journeyman managers in their careers and gain fair success.  Being a football manager, just like any other profession, needs a challenge to push the limit in their career, be it for the silverware, more noble missions like developing football in the remote countries, or simply for an adventure. It is quite rare to find one recently and thrive, especially at the top level.  One of the few such figures is probably Jorge Jesus. The Portuguese boss has currently signed for the post in Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr. It would be a challenge as well as an honour for him to lead Cristiano Ronaldo, something that he never had during his stints in Europe. Jesus mainly spent his career in his home soil and Turkey before venturing to South America and winning the prestigious title, Copa Libertadores 2019, with Flamengo. He is one of the few European gaffers who managed to do so. However, his experience in three contine...
Post a Comment
Read more