Sudamericana – Mission Accomplished

Written by Joe Kent , 29.01 23h35

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Yesterday (Sunday) Brazil were crowned Sudamericana champions after they beat Colombia 2-0 in the final of the 2007 South American Youth Championship.

As well as the extra silverware victory also means qualification for the 2007 Fifa under 20s World Cup in Canada and a much coveted place at the 2008 Olympics (the top four teams qualified for both).

Olympic gold is the only major title that continues to elude Brazil. The Canarinhos were absent at Athens and failure to qualify this time round would have been simply unacceptable.

Brazil’s latest victory in Paraguay is the ninth time they have walked away with the title.

Of their nine games Brazil managed six wins and there draws, totting up 20 goals and suffering nine. Alexandre’s six were enough to earn him the golden boot while captain Lucas was the second highest scorer on four.

The tournament was contested by all ten U-20 national teams of CONMEBOL with the qualifying stage consisting of two groups of five, and each team playing four matches. The three top competitors advance to a single final group of six, where each team plays each other once.

First-team coach Dunga made his views on what was behind the victory clear, “The Brazilian team only wins titles when the force of the group prevails. That happened in the five World Cups and now in this Sudamericana. When the group is strong individuals appear but it is always the group tha wins."

Nélson Rodrigues’ side are set to arrive back in Brazil on Monday evening.

The Squad
Cássio
Muriel
Amaral
Anderson
Thiago Heleno
Eliezio
David
Carlinhos
Fagner
Roberto
Fernando
Lucas
Leandro Lima
Willian
Tchô
Danilinho
Luiz Adriano
Alexandre
Edgar
Fabiano Oliveira
Comissão técnica
Técnico - Nélson Rodrigues

Results
Brasil 4 x 2 Chile
Brasil 2 x 1 Peru
Brasil 3 x 0 Bolívia
Brasil 1 x 1 Paraguai
Brasil 2 x 2 Argentina
Brasil 2 x 2 Chile
Brasil 3 x 1 Uruguai
Brasil 1 x 0 Paraguai
Brasil 2 x 0 Colômbia

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