Brazil Home Copa America 1997

Brazil Home Copa America 1997
A story from a Guardian Reporter
Slowly, I realised I was sitting next to Ronaldo, Denílson and Flávio Conceição. I clocked Ronaldo again later as I staggered out the bar, counting at least three girls on his lap. Suddenly he didn’t look so stressed. I would like to say this was an isolated incident, a one-off, but no. I followed all but one of Brazil’s games (missed due to an exceptional headache/altitude sickness/hangover) and the same pattern emerged. Bar became club, club became dodgy club, Brazil national team would turn up, and Ronaldo would be flattened by gorgeous Bolivian ladies of all sizes and shapes. The boy was relentless.

None of this did him any harm on the pitch. Brazil breezed through the group stages with Mexico the only side offering any resistance, taking a 2-0 lead through a Luis Hernández brace before the big boys woke up. Leonardo, formerly of Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, eventually sealed a 3-2 victory after running off the pitch to steal the ball on the touchline from a Mexican defender, cutting past two defenders and comfortably beating the keeper.

For the final, back in La Paz, Brazil faced hosts Bolivia. No one fancied Bolivia but the altitude always gives them an advantage over unwitting opposition. Brazil took the rare step of flying into the capital shortly before the game and literally played at walking pace, winning 3-1 without breaking sweat.

The Shirt
Think about the heads that will turn if you wear this legendary shirt in the gym or on the streets. If you like a player name on the back, please select before adding the shirt to the basket. All printing comes in the original font. Exactly as you would expect. In case you want a different name on the back, please send us a message.

Please consent the size chart before purchasing the products.