The great Brazilian streak: four titles in five tournaments
2024-02-22
- Brazil won four out of the five CONMEBOL Copa América™ tournaments held between 1997 and 2007.
- Stars like Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Adriano shined in that decade.
Brazil is the country with the third-most titles in the history of the CONMEBOL Copa América™ with nine trophies, only behind Argentina and Uruguay, both with 15. The curious fact is that four of those titles were achieved in a single decade.
The CONMEBOL Copa América 1997™ was held in Bolivia, and Brazil had come as runners-up in the 1995 edition. Tactically led by Mario Zagallo, the Seleção had a fearsome attacking duo: Ronaldo and Romario. That team won all 6 matches in the tournament, scored 22 goals, and conceded only 3.
In the following edition, held in Paraguay in 1999, the coach was Vanderlei Luxemburgo, and Brazil’s superiority in the tournament would be maintained: once again, they won all 6 matches, with 17 goals for and 2 against. The top three goal scorers of the tournament were Brazilian: Ronaldo, Rivaldo (both with 5), and Marcio Amoroso (4).
https://youtube.com/shorts/h6lMd6EkDsc
The exception of the decade was the CONMEBOL Copa América 2001™, won by Colombia (host) with Brazil being eliminated in the quarter-finals against the tournament’s great surprise: Honduras, which ended up on the podium in third place.
In Peru 2004, with Carlos Alberto Parreira as coach and the phenomenal Adriano, Brazil would win their seventh CONMEBOL Copa América™, in a memorable final against Argentina. The Emperor, who scored the agonizing equalizer against Albiceleste, ended the tournament with 7 goals.
Venezuela 2007 would be the culmination of Brazil’s dream decade in the CONMEBOL Copa América™, in which they were also World Champions in Korea-Japan 2002. Directed by Dunga, the Seleção would achieve the title again by defeating Argentina in the final with Robinho and Julio Baptista as main figures.
After that great streak, Brazil would have to wait 12 years to be champions again, which they achieved as hosts in the 2019 edition. How will they fare in the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™?