Bruno Guimaraes stars in game of the tournament so far


 
 
 
 
 
 

Bruno Guimaraes starting as usual for Brazil on Tuesday night (early hours of Wednesday in UK time), the match at Levi’s Stadium, home of the American Football team the San Franciso 49er, in Santa Clara, California.

Post-match, most pundits and media declared it the game of the tournament so far.

Both teams really going for it, even though Colombia had already guaranteed qualification for the quarter-finals, and Brazil was all but certain of going through as well.

Four yellow cards in the opening 27 minutes, two cards each side, summing up how feisty this encounter was.

A superb 12th minute Raphina free-kick put Brazil ahead and just before half-time, Vinicius Jnr denied what looked like a penalty for sure. Brazil was made to pay as just before the break, Munoz equalising for Colombia.

Both sides continued to go at it after the break, with Bruno Gumarae in the thick of the action and driving Brazil forward. The Newcastle United star picked up a yellow card himself on 73 minutes before eventually subbed with four minutes remaining of this absorbing encounter.

The final score Brazil 1 Colombia 1 and Bruno Guimaraes and his teammates going through as runners-up along with group winners Colombia.

The Whoscored automated ratings made Bruno Guimaraes one of the highest rate Brazil players, third best, just behind Marquinhos and Raphina:

A very competitive Copa America looks like a number of teams can win it, Brazil now facing a tough match against Uruguay in the quarter-finals and the possibility of playing Colombia once again in the semi-finals if both get through.

A big blow for Brazil was a very soft dubious booking for Vinicius Jnr, that was his second of the tournament and so he misses this Uruguay quarter-final.

Copa America quarter-finals

Argentina v Ecuador

Venezuela v Canada

Colombia v Panama

Brazil v Uruguay

Newcastle United players on Copa America duty:

Monday 24 June 2024

Colombia 2 Paraguay 1 (Copa America Group match)

Miguel Almiron and Paraguay were very unlucky against one of the favourites to win the tournament.

Paraguay went two down by the break due to poorly defended headed goals, then pulled one back in the second half but was unable to get the equaliser they deserved.

The final stats showed that Paraguay had more overall shots (12 v 11), the same number on target (3 v 3) and the same number of corners (3-3). Only when it came to putting the ball in the net, did Colombia edge it.

Tuesday 25 June 2024

Brazil 0 Costa Rica 0 (Copa America Group match)

Chance after chance went by for those playing in front of Bruno Guimaraes, who has a generally more disciplined deeper role to play for his national side. The Newcastle midfielder with a very good personal performance.

Marquinhos saw a goal ruled out via one of those very marginal VAR offside calls, whilst Paqueta saw a rocket of a shot come back off the post.

Costa Rica struggled to even get out of their half and the final stats showed Brazil with 19 v 2 in terms of overall shots and 9 v 1 on corners.

Bruno Guimaraes almost won it himself late on, his effort from just inside the box, clearing the angle of the goal by a very small margin.

Friday 28 June 2024

Paraguay 1 Brazil  4 (Copa America Group match)

Both Newcastle United players performed well but the end result means Paraguay was eliminated and Brazil is all but certain of going through as at least group runners-up.

In their goalless opener, Brazil had 19 shots compared to two for Costa Rica, this time it was 17 for Brazil and 15 for Paraguay. The two teams having had six each on target. Whilst possession was only 55% and 45% in Brazil’s favour.

Brazil’s attacking players had been guilty of not taking their chances but this time four of their six on-target found the back of the net.

Tuesday 2 July 2024

Costa Rica 2 Paraguay 1 (Copa America Group match)

A very disappointing night to finish his Copa America campaign, as Miguel Almiron was one of a couple of Paraguay players subbed at half-time with their side 2-0 down.

A case yet again of not taking their chances, as Costa Rica scored with their only two shots of the game in the opening seven minutes, whilst Paraguay had 17 shots of their own with six of them on target, but just a 55th minute consolation goal.

After a rest, Miguel Almiron will be back at Newcastle United for pre-season training, or if media speculation is true, off to a new club, with the Saudi Pro-League seemingly most likely.

Brazil 1 Colombia 1 (Copa America Group match)

Excellent performance from Bruno Guimaraes in a feisty encounter. Four players booked in the opening 27 minutes and the Newcastle midfielder booked himself late on.

Declared the best game of the tournament so far, both teams really went for it and Raphina scored a class free-kick on 12 minutes, only for a Munoz equaliser just before the break.

Along with Argentina and Colombia, Brazil looking one of the three teams most fancied to win the Copa America, however, a tough quarter-final match ahead for Bruno and his teammates against Uruguay. Made more difficult due to a second booking of the tournament for Vinicius Jnr that rules him out of Friday’s match.

Friday 6 July 2024 (Copa America quarter-final)

Brazil v Uruguay

Sunday 14 July 2024 – Copa America final