Copa America 2021 final: By Messi v Neymar, Argentina v Brazil | Football Stories

Europe may be waiting for England against Italy in the Euro 2020 show on Sunday but there are big big matches expected in South America as the main competition between the two winning teams starts on Saturday in the Copa America final.

Brazil against Argentina is a true clasico.

The teams first met in 1914 and in recent years, have established themselves as the two most recognizable teams in world football.

They have all won seven World Cups.

The two teams have won their competitions in the Copa America this year and Neymar and Lionel Messi are the only ones to have played in the tournament.

Argentina were undefeated in the 19 games that started at the Maracana Stadium, while Brazil, their rivals and winners, have not lost since Argentina beat them in a friendly in November 2019.

The end of this year is exciting especially because of the time, depending on the system and staff.

The tournament is supposed to take place in Colombia and Argentina but Brazil took the final stage due to the unrest in Colombia and the increase in COVID-19 in Argentina.

This is another competition where Argentina – and especially Messi – wants to end the years-long drought.

He has not won a major title since lifting the Copa America in 1993 and Messi has never won a silver medal with the national team.

Brazil is very popular not because they are at home and have a little good reputation so far. He also has a history of beating Argentina in a bad game.

The two teams met four times last, three in the Copa America and one in the Confederations Cup – in 2005.

Argentina beat Brazil in the Copa America in 1937 but has not done so in a show-off game since.

Brazil won in 2004 in the Copa America finals in Peru and in Venezuela in 2007, when they won the playoffs that featured the young Messi at the World Cup finals.

A great controversy has taken place, last, before the final one.

Famous Brazilian journalist Fabiola Andrade posted a picture of himself wearing an Argentine jersey, saying that he would support Argentina instead of Brazil because Messi deserves respect.

This has led to a series of high-profile debates, with politicians and players alike, with Neymar using profanity against “anyone who opposes”.

But far from that, many minds have been ignoring the competition.

Brazil has reported more than 19 million cases of coronavirus, including more than 531,600 people, the second person to die in the US.

Maracana opens for fans

On Sunday, 7,800 people will be allowed to enter the 78,000 people at the last Maracana.

This could be the first game in 2021 Copa America, South Africa’s largest competition, with fans on the stand.

Those wishing to attend should arrive with a coronavirus error test that did not last 48 hours. Once inside, they will need to monitor the natural flow.

More than 29,000 have died of coronavirus infection in Rio alone. The city’s mortality rate from the virus is 432 per 100,000 people, almost double the number of 252 / 100,000 nationwide.

“I’m not competing and I won’t be,” 36-year-old Brazilian Paulo Leierer told Al Jazeera.

“It simply came to our notice then [given the COVID situation]. Copa America did not help eliminate the problems of COVID. What helps reduce stress is financial stability.

“I love football but I haven’t followed a temporary team for a while since it was used as a politician by a pro-democracy activist, I lost interest.”

That was when Brazil won the Olympic gold in front of a team at the Maracanã Stadium. Can he win again tonight in #Copaerika the last? 🇧🇷# Strong Together pic.twitter.com/K7BrGWkMXf

– Olympics (@Ompics) July 10, 2021

Strong support for the event came from Brazilian right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been widely criticized for curbing the epidemic and head of scrutiny by parliament.

The final touches have found a little more appeal and interest.

Voting matches on public TV were very low, not to mention the number of viewers in the Euro as well as other regular shows.

“I do not agree with the competition in Brazil because of the difficulties we are facing with the epidemic,” 28-year-old Isabelle Jungton told Al Jazeera.

“The biggest ritual in Brazil right now is making things worse. Competition does not address the root causes of the epidemic. I support the Brazilian team but that doesn’t help at the moment. ”

Despite these cries, not everyone in Brazil opposes the race.

“I support the race. Competition was already taking place in the country with very strict health and safety regulations, plus construction in Brazil was in preparation for the event. The debate on whether or not to run the race is politically motivated, ”Alex Roberto Arno, 56, told Al Jazeera.

“Obviously it’s not the same as the Euros. This behavior is not what you see in the Euro but I support Brazil and I believe they will win.”

Additional reports of Chris Goldenbaum in Sao Paulo.