Countdown to an unprecedented final between Brazil and Peru

Two days before meeting in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracaná for the final of the CONMEBOL Copa América-2019, favorite Brazil and surprising Peru are preparing the strategy to win the continental title.

Brazil, eight-time CONMEBOL Copa América champions in 1919, 1922, 1949, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2004 and 2007, are already installed at Granja Comary, their training center in Teresóplis, almost 100 km from Rio de Janeiro.

Peru, twice winners of the continental tournament in 1939 and 1973, arrived Thursday night at the ‘Cidade Maravilhosa’ from Porto Alegre, where the day before they beat Chile 3-0 in the semi-final in the Pacific Classic.

– Maintaining Brazilian DNA –

For Everton, the revelation of the Canarinha in this CONMEBOL Copa America, is the key to Brazil must be to maintain «the DNA of Brazilian football»

According to ‘Cebolinha’, in both world and Brazilian football «they were very attached to European football, tactical style, which is apart from the characteristics of Brazilian athletes, which is the dribbling, one-on-one.

«So I try to do that, which I’ve been doing since I was a child, which is the DNA of Brazilian football, with responsibility, evolving tactically but never running away from my characteristic, dribbling,» said the Gremio striker, who is already playing in the European league.

Everton warned that the 5-0 win over Peru in the group stage does not count towards Sunday’s final is part of the past and the Canarinha cannot be trusted.

«It’s going to be a totally different game. We have to be prepared to play a good game», he said.

– It is important to keep calm –

For their part, the Peruvian side led by Argentina’s Ricardo Gareca understand the importance of the duel, but carefully analyze the match for the continental tournament title.

«It’s incredible what we’re going through, some of us can’t believe it. We gave each other a smile, it was something we wanted, with enthusiasm, but always with our feet on the ground», said the exultant striker Raul Ruidíz on Thursday.

As the celebrated win over Chile allowed Peru to return to the final of the world’s oldest national team tournament after a 44-year absence, as they haven’t competed for the title since 1975, when they beat Colombia 1-0 in the third and decisive match.

«You have to take it easy. It’s true that we’ve achieved something very important after many years, but there’s still one more step to reach the glory», said Ruidíz.

The referee of the match will be the Chilean Roberto Tobar.