There is to be no double joy for Champions League-winner Thiago Silva this summer, as overnight, Brazil have lost the Copa América final, in Brazil, against arch-rivals Argentina, who have finally won a major senior tournament with Lionel Messi (who didn’t have the greatest game, but was stellar throughout the tournament). The only trophies Messi had ever won with Argentina previously were the 2008 Olympics (under-23) and the 2005 U20 World Cup.
Captain Silva, on the other hand, has had no shortage of success with Brazil, but on this night, fate did not favor them. The Seleção lost a game and were held scoreless for the first time in almost two years, and the first time in 25 months in any competitive match, since a 0-0 draw against Venezuela at the 2019 Copa. It was their first loss in a competitive match since getting eliminated by Belgium in the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup.
In classic style, it was a chippy, emotional, hard-fought match that had little in the way of the proverbial “beautiful game”, which limited the likes of Neymar and put a premium on moments of quality — such as the stellar pass from Udinese’s Rodrigo de Paul for Ángel Di María, which the veteran winger finished off with Ramires-esque aplomb. Most didn’t even expect Di María to start, but he did so for just the second time all tournament, and made his head coach look pretty smart in the process.
Richarlison had a goal (rightfully) disallowed for offside early in the second half, and Brazil were unable to find an equalizer after that, prompting wild celebrations in Argentina and Barcelona, even.
Thiago Silva will no doubt look to make up for this disappointment at the 2022 World Cup, but first, Chelsea! (After a bit of time off, surely.)