As the Copa America enters its business end, the magic is not on display from the Neymars, the Messis, and the Rodriquezes. The Brazilian star has been red-carded and then punished out of the rest of the tournament. Messi, despite the occasional dribble, is not sending shivers down anyone's spine as yet. And the Colombian, who shot to fame with his spectacular World Cup performance, is making us wonder what the fuss was all about.
If anything, it is host Chile that has served up some classic Latin skills.
In other words, we're back to asking the same question: What happens to the greatest players in the world, players who mesmerise spectators week after week in their club colours, when they put on the jerseys of their national team?
Neymar’s Copa ended in disgrace
Brazilian captain Neymar came into the tournament riding a wave of glory. He arrived in Chile after winning the triple crown with Barcelona, having scored 39 goals in all competitions in the previous season. Along with Messi, his Champions League goal tally stood at 10, the highest for the competition.
Yet it is fair to say that Neymar was way off those peaks in the Copa America. He started off brightly enough, scoring a marvellous goal and providing a pass which completely split the Peru defence to help Brazil bounce back from 1-0 down to clinch a win. But it all went downhill from there. Brazil faced Colombia in their next match and Neymar was frustrated by the Colombian defence, which kept on targeting him time and time again.
Unfortunately, Neymar lost his cool – though after the match had ended – and lashed out. When the final whistle of the ill-tempered game rang out, he deliberately kicked a ball at a Colombian defender, tried to headbutt another, and swore at a referee. For these antics, Neymar was awarded a four-match ban, not only bringing to an end his Copa America foray but also dealing a huge blow to Brazil’s chances of winning the title.
Chile still waits to see Messi magic
Compared to him, Messi has had a much better tournament, but still nothing compared to the magic he unleashes on a weekly basis for Barcelona. In three games so far, he’s only had his name on the scoresheet once, scoring off a penalty against Paraguay. True, it would be unfair to judge Messi only on the basis of goals – he’s been creating plenty of chances and it was his incisive pass to Pablo Zabaleta that led to Argentina’s only goal against Uruguay.
However, that still doesn’t come close to the kind of stellar success Messi enjoyed with Barcelona last season. The statistics speak for themselves – 43 goals and 18 assists in a season where Barcelona won everything that came their way. More than the statistics, Messi delivered in crucial matches – for example, his two stupendous goals against Bayern Munich in the semi-final of the Champions League. Then there was his goal in the Copa Del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao, when he beat three defenders and calmly tucked the ball into the net.
Argentina will be looking at their talisman to replicate some of that form. Their performance has been solid rather than spectacular, and they desperately need the kind of magic which Barcelona fans have come to accept as routine with Messi.
Rodriguez unable to replicate his World Cup form
It is a similar story with James Rodriguez, Colombia’s star at the last World Cup and currently plying his trade with Real Madrid. After a performance at the World Cup which made everyone sit up and take notice, Rodriguez was snapped up by the Galacticos, and fit right in. He adapted to Madrid’s style, got plenty of goals, and set up quite a few of them as well.
However, he’s looked far from his best in Chile, and consequently Colombia haven’t been impressive at all, scoring only one goal in the entire group stage. Even worse, Rodriguez was lucky not to be sent off after he appeared to elbow a Peru defender in Colombia’s last group game.
The only team to have bucked that trend seem to be the hosts, Chile. They’ve continued in the same vein from where they left off at the World Cup, playing fluid, attacking football and have looked head and shoulders over all the other teams. What’s worked for them has been that the fact that all their key men have put their hands up – Alexis Sanchez has carried his form from Arsenal to Chile, while Arturo Vidal is leading the goalscoring charts after taking Juventus to the Champions League final and two domestic trophies.
There are a lot of reputations at stake then as the Copa America winds down. Neymar has already thrown away his shot at glory, but Messi, in particular, will be looking to get his hands on the one thing that has eluded him in his sparkling career, an international title. As for Rodriguez, well, all it takes for a striker are a few miraculous moments.
We welcome your comments at
[email protected].
If anything, it is host Chile that has served up some classic Latin skills.
In other words, we're back to asking the same question: What happens to the greatest players in the world, players who mesmerise spectators week after week in their club colours, when they put on the jerseys of their national team?
Neymar’s Copa ended in disgrace
Brazilian captain Neymar came into the tournament riding a wave of glory. He arrived in Chile after winning the triple crown with Barcelona, having scored 39 goals in all competitions in the previous season. Along with Messi, his Champions League goal tally stood at 10, the highest for the competition.
Yet it is fair to say that Neymar was way off those peaks in the Copa America. He started off brightly enough, scoring a marvellous goal and providing a pass which completely split the Peru defence to help Brazil bounce back from 1-0 down to clinch a win. But it all went downhill from there. Brazil faced Colombia in their next match and Neymar was frustrated by the Colombian defence, which kept on targeting him time and time again.
Unfortunately, Neymar lost his cool – though after the match had ended – and lashed out. When the final whistle of the ill-tempered game rang out, he deliberately kicked a ball at a Colombian defender, tried to headbutt another, and swore at a referee. For these antics, Neymar was awarded a four-match ban, not only bringing to an end his Copa America foray but also dealing a huge blow to Brazil’s chances of winning the title.
Chile still waits to see Messi magic
Compared to him, Messi has had a much better tournament, but still nothing compared to the magic he unleashes on a weekly basis for Barcelona. In three games so far, he’s only had his name on the scoresheet once, scoring off a penalty against Paraguay. True, it would be unfair to judge Messi only on the basis of goals – he’s been creating plenty of chances and it was his incisive pass to Pablo Zabaleta that led to Argentina’s only goal against Uruguay.
However, that still doesn’t come close to the kind of stellar success Messi enjoyed with Barcelona last season. The statistics speak for themselves – 43 goals and 18 assists in a season where Barcelona won everything that came their way. More than the statistics, Messi delivered in crucial matches – for example, his two stupendous goals against Bayern Munich in the semi-final of the Champions League. Then there was his goal in the Copa Del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao, when he beat three defenders and calmly tucked the ball into the net.
Argentina will be looking at their talisman to replicate some of that form. Their performance has been solid rather than spectacular, and they desperately need the kind of magic which Barcelona fans have come to accept as routine with Messi.
Rodriguez unable to replicate his World Cup form
It is a similar story with James Rodriguez, Colombia’s star at the last World Cup and currently plying his trade with Real Madrid. After a performance at the World Cup which made everyone sit up and take notice, Rodriguez was snapped up by the Galacticos, and fit right in. He adapted to Madrid’s style, got plenty of goals, and set up quite a few of them as well.
However, he’s looked far from his best in Chile, and consequently Colombia haven’t been impressive at all, scoring only one goal in the entire group stage. Even worse, Rodriguez was lucky not to be sent off after he appeared to elbow a Peru defender in Colombia’s last group game.
The only team to have bucked that trend seem to be the hosts, Chile. They’ve continued in the same vein from where they left off at the World Cup, playing fluid, attacking football and have looked head and shoulders over all the other teams. What’s worked for them has been that the fact that all their key men have put their hands up – Alexis Sanchez has carried his form from Arsenal to Chile, while Arturo Vidal is leading the goalscoring charts after taking Juventus to the Champions League final and two domestic trophies.
There are a lot of reputations at stake then as the Copa America winds down. Neymar has already thrown away his shot at glory, but Messi, in particular, will be looking to get his hands on the one thing that has eluded him in his sparkling career, an international title. As for Rodriguez, well, all it takes for a striker are a few miraculous moments.