Brazil and Costa Rica tied without goals at the start of the second half.
Beyond the VAR and the disputed task of the referee, Brazil cannot beat Costa Rica: 0 to 0 at the end of the first half.
Somewhat unmotivated by the disallowed goal, Brazil slowly recovers and tries again. “We need to find a balance, a regularity, for this team that was assembled three months ago and that is now reunited,” says Dorival Junior, the coach.
A stopped ball opens the scoring for Brazil: Raphina takes a free kick and, behind everyone, Marquinhos seals the 1-0 score. The action is reviewed by the VAR for four minutes and is mysteriously taken off side.
Raphina is the best: she flies around, with right decisions. Brazil is superior and already deserves to open the scoring. The Brazilian attacks on the wings are daggers. Sequeira, the goalkeeper who replaces the legacy of Keylor Navas, held him off in a one-on-one match.
Forced to mature suddenly, the European champions with Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo (a shot went close), and their new teammate Endrick (17 years old, substitute) are the ones called to lead a hasty replacement decided by coach Dorival Junior. The major surgery left figures such as former captain Casemiro and forwards Richarlison and Gabriel Jesús on the way, while the emblem Neymar recovers from an extensive injury.
To begin to close an unprecedented cycle of disappointments, Brazil begins a new era. Five years without the continental title, 22 years without obtaining the world crown and a rare current sixth place in the South American qualifiers, are already enough of an affront for the five-time champion.
Brazil advances with Paquetá and Raphina (elusive), as links, lucky drivers. Above, Vinicius as the spearhead and Rodrygo, somewhat further back. Costa Rica watches.
Brazil plays Costa Rica, in a Group D match, which takes place in California.
After Colombia’s victory over Paraguay, Brazil and Costa Rica, the other members of group D, meet at 10 pm. The teams are confirmed. Brazil, directed by Dorival Silvestre Júnior, forms with Allison; Danilo, Militao, Marquinhos and Arana; Joao Gómez, B.Guimaraes and Paquetá; Raphinha, Vini Jr and Rodrygo. Costa Rica, led by Gustavo Alfaro, decided on: Sequeira; Mitchell, Calvo and Vargas; Lassiter and Quirós; Brenes, Galo and Zamora; Aguilera and Ugalde.
With a supreme James Rodríguez, an essential accomplice in the goals, Colombia won 2 to 1 over Paraguay, in a match played tonight, in Group D of the Copa América. With this result, the coffee team extended its undefeated streak to 24 games.
He has accumulated that series of games without losing (21 with the current coach), with 20 wins and 4 draws, the longest current streak at national team level in the world. He has 9 consecutive victories and has not lost since February 1, 2022 against Argentina in the South American qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar (1 to 0). In addition, he was three games away from his highest record, achieved between 1992 and 1994 with Francisco Pacho Maturana as coach.
Furthermore, Néstor Lorenzo’s team had not won a Copa América for 50 years: it broke a streak of 17 editions. Paraguay, led by Daniel Garnero, was surpassed in much of the development.
Colombia beat Paraguay 2 to 1, in Group D.
Among Lorenzo’s final changes, Juanfer Quintero enters, to keep the ball in Colombia’s power. At the same time, Rojas enters Paraguay.
Herrera sees an infringement by Velázquez on Mina in the area. Penalty for Colombia. However, the VAR calls him to corroborate the action. It is canceled immediately.
Colombia wants to define it and Paraguay responds with enthusiasm. The final part of this match turns out to be the best. Nothing is resolved, anything can happen.
A shot from Díaz, another shot from James: Colombia emerges from lethargy and seeks to define the development. Paraguay is on the lookout, with Prince Bareiro and Angel Romero.
Discounts Enciso, one of Paraguay’s credits, which seeks it with greater intensity. A full orchestra finale is coming.
The income of Bobadilla (for Almirón, in theory, with physical problems) and Ramón Sosa give another boost to the Guaraní team, but it lacks pepper.
Paraguay attacks more, but everything costs them. Garnero delays the changes, he has enough variants on the bench. Bareiro, Rojas, Ramón Sosa, Gamarra…
With the need for the discount, Paraguay comes out more determined to play the first moments of the final chapter. Colombia, with spaces, is dangerous.
Without modifications, Colombia and Paraguay compete in the final stage.
Colombia beats Paraguay 2 to 0 and reaches an impressive series. The yellow team has accumulated 24 games without losing (21 with the current coach), with 20 wins and 4 draws.
James free kick (again), Jefferson Lerma header. Colombia sustains itself and grows with solid arguments.
Feint and cross from James Rodríguez, header from Muñoz. He wins Colombia and it is deserved.
With pure vertigo, with fast counterattacks, Miguel Almirón, the star youngster who shone in Lanús, is the best response in Guaraní key. They only stop it with infractions.
John Lucumí is injured and is replaced by Yerry Mina, postponed at this time by Lorenzo. A change of pieces in the center of the coffee defense.
Luis Díaz advances with a certain imbalance along the left line, he is a permanent threat. The Liverpool star is the Colombian hope.
Colombia plays or at least tries to. Paraguay fights, fights every ball as if it were the last. Sparks fly at the start, under the gaze of Alejandro Domínguez, the president of Conmebol.
Punctually, the game begins: Colombia plays Paraguay, a spectacle that threatens to be attractive and sharp.
On the Paraguayan side, Daniel Garnero is betting for the start on the Quito League figure, Alex Arce, and Julio Enciso (Brighton), somewhat further behind, with Miguel Almirón (Newcastle) as driver.
Colombia debuts with its offensive stars, assisted from the midfield by the Palmeiras figure, Richard Ríos. Luis Díaz, the Liverpool man, is part of the coffee offensive along with James Rodríguez, while Rafael Santos Borré takes the 9 position.
Group D activity begins this Monday with this great show, corresponding to the first date, at the NRG Stadium in Houston. The match starts a few minutes after 7 p.m. and is broadcast live on DSports, so it can also be watched online on the DGO digital platform. The referee is Darío Herrera.
The set that Néstor Lorenzo arranged: Vargas; Muñoz, Lucumí, Sánchez and Mojica; Ríos and Lerma; Arias, James Rodríguez and Lucho Díaz; Santos Borré.
The team that Daniel Garnero had: Morinigo; Velázquez, Balbuena, Alderete and Caballero; Villasanti, Espinoza and Cubas; Almirón, Enciso and Chiqui Arce.
The Guaraní eleven, with two Copa Américas won, in 1953 and 1979, has an irregular path and has not traveled to a World Cup since South Africa 2010, where it reached the quarterfinals in its best historical performance. He is seventh in the 2026 qualifiers and has won only three of his last ten games. ”We have Miguel Almirón, Ramón Sosa, players with whom one can make a difference and the tools that the teacher (Daniel Garnero) gives us,” says Julio Enciso, a star.
“We don’t think about being undefeated, I don’t talk to the players about being undefeated. Beyond how well it went for us, it does not guarantee us anything. This is another story,” considers Néstor Lorenzo, who admits to expecting a “difficult” duel against Paraguay.
Despite its intimidating 23 unbeaten matches, Colombia will not have an easy time against the combative Paraguay, which usually shows its sharp claws in continental competitions. That long period without defeats strengthened a team that, under the leadership of a silent coach Néstor Lorenzo, sat at the table of the favorites for the title along with Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
From 7 p.m., Colombia meets Paraguay and, later, from 10 p.m., Brazil plays with Costa Rica, in the Group D matches of the Copa América. The two games will be followed live, minute by minute, with everything that happens on a Monday night of super action.
THE NATION
