Copa America Final LIVE COVERAGE: Uruguay vs. Paraguay (July 24, 2011)
It all comes down to this.
Offensive-minded Uruguay tangles with defense-minded Paraguay in Copa America Final from Buenos Aires.
Uruguay has a pair of talented forwards with Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez and a determined attack that has scored in each Copa America match, while Paraguay is led by a suffocating defense that has shutout three opponents in the tournament, including attack-minded Brazil for 120 minutes.
Suarez is in search of ending the tournament as the tournament's highest scorer. He has three goals -- tied with Argentina's Sergio Aguero.
Uruguay has a great deal of momentum after defeating host and neighboring nation Argentina in perhaps the best match of Copa America. Forlan terrorized Argentina on set pieces with his long ball passes, and the Uruguayan defense held off Argentina's talented collection of forwards despite being a man down for nearly 50 minutes.
In the semifinals, it seemed like Uruguay was still riding him from the victory over Argentina as they eased by a Peru side that probably was happy and surprised to have advanced as far as they had.
Uruguay has shown the most chemistry of any squad in the tournament. All the players seem to be on the same page.
However, Paraguay knocked off a South American Goliath of their own by beating Brazil. In two matches with Brazil, Paraguay finished with results of 2-2, and 0-0. In the quarterfinals, Brazil decided to choke in the penalty shootout. It was a rather fitting way to go out, as it appeared that Brazil's failure to score was more of their own doing, than Paraguay's success in holding them off.
With a determined defense that also shut out Venezuela in the semifinals, Paraguay boasts versatile and hard-nosed defenders such as Paulo da Silva and Marcos Caceres. Paraguay has talent on this team, but they have struggled to mount legitimate attacks on their opponents' nets.
The attack had only nine shots against Venezuela, and only four against Brazil. So, in 240 minutes, Paraguay only took 13 shots. Still, Paraguay has talented forwards such as Lucas Barrios, and Roque Santa Cruz. Finding them the ball has proven to be the challenge, though.
Uruguay's Fernando Muslera and Paraguay's Justo Villar have risen to the challenge of the tournament.
Copa America is the most prestigious South American tournament and dates back to 1916. Uruguay is in search of its 15th Copa America title, which would give it one more than rival nation Argentina for the lead, while Paraguay is looking for its third title.
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