Peru won only one of their three matches in the first phase but overcame Uruguay on penalties in the quarterfinals before beating Chile 3-0 in their semifinal on Wednesday.
Brazil's Everton control the ball during a training session at Granja Comary sport complex in Teresopolis, Brazil on July 4, 2019, ahead of the Copa America final football match against Peru next July 7. (Photo by Luis Acosta / AFP)
Brazil forward Everton has played down his team’s favourite tag to win Sunday’s Copa America final against Peru, despite the hosts’ 5-0 win over the same opponents during the competition’s group stage.
Peru won only one of their three matches in the first phase but overcame Uruguay on penalties in the quarterfinals before beating Chile 3-0 in their semifinal on Wednesday.
Brazil, meanwhile, have won four and drawn one of their matches and have yet to concede a goal. The five-time world champions earned a berth in the final with a 2-0 defeat of rivals Argentina on Tuesday.
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“It’s important to have confidence and that’s normal when you face an opponent that you have already beaten,” Everton said of Peru during a news conference, reports Xinhua news agency.
“But we also know that it will be a totally different game. They have made some changes since then (the 5-0 win in Sao Paulo) and have peaked at the right time. We have to have our feet on the ground and know that there will be a real battle. It will be a game that is decided by the smallest details and we have to be well prepared.”
Brazil will be aiming for their ninth Copa America crown and first since 2007. Peru won the last of their two titles in 1975.
Sunday’s clash will be Brazil’s first fixture at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium since their 3-0 win over Spain in the final of the 2013 Confederations Cup.
Everton confessed that the final would be different to anything he has experienced for his club Gremio.
“Everyone here has played important games in their lives but representing the national team at the Maracana has greater weight,” the 23-year-old said. “We have to be focused on playing a great match and make sure that the fans get behind us.”
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