Brazil Home Copa America 2004

Brazil Home Copa America 2004

Enter the new generation, Adriano!
When you think of Adriano, the bulky Brazilian forward widely touted as the successor to Ronaldo in the mid-noughties, it is common to reduce the man to memories of his avatar on Pro Evolution Soccer. In a sense, those ungodly stats and frighteningly powerful strikes remain his legacy in the minds of many fans growing up around the turn of the century, certainly more than his short-lived dominance in Serie A or his record for the Selecao.

As nostalgic as we remain to our well-spent youth, though, it does Adriano’s brief but important legacy an immense disservice. While he may have been effectively finished in football before he turned 30, it is hard to argue that his flame did not burn bright at its peak.

Signed by Inter aged just 19, Adriano found himself passed on to a chaotic Fiorentina on loan. Before a brief but successful transfer to Parma. Where he formed an attacking partnership with another forward. Far from shy of controversies, Adrian Mutu. His form secured a return in January 2004 back to Inter. It was at this point where he began to form a reputation as a replacement for his compatriot Ronaldo. Both on the domestic and international scenes.

A year and a half before the young man from Rio switched back to the Nerazzurri for a hefty €23.4m, his national side claimed an unprecedented fifth World Cup. A star-studded team played the final in Yokohama in June 2002, but none shone brighter than Ronaldo. Brazil had struggled to even qualify for the World Cup that year, with Ronaldo out injured for the gruellingly long qualification campaign, but as Tim Vickery acknowledged, “With him, it’s a different story.”

Playing upfront with Ronaldinho and Rivaldo flanking him, Ronaldo claimed an eight-goal haul that included a brace in the final. The summer of 2002 truly belonged to O Fenomeno. But like the rest of the starting XI that stood head and shoulders above runners-up Germany that day, Ronaldo would not play a part in the Copa America two years later.

As they had done in previous editions of the tournament, Brazil decided to send a squad made up of younger talent eager to break into the Selecao ahead of their World Cup title defence. Rounds six and seven of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers were being held just one month prior to the Copa America. And while Carlos Alberto Parreira stuck with his main squad for the qualification games. South America’s showpiece tournament would only get a Brazilian B side.

Out went the likes of Ronaldinho, Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo. And in came some of Brazil’s promising stars who were looking to kick-start a career with the national team, such as Julio Cesar, Maicon, Luis Fabiano and Vagner Love. With plenty of raw talent in the side but not a single player over the age of 30. The competition was hardly considered a priority by the Brazilian Football Confederation. Of course, the fiercely passionate Brazilian fans remained optimistic about their team’s chances though.

The team were captained by 26 year old midfielder Alex, a relative veteran. But it was undoubtedly the big striker he was playing behind that really led Brazil to glory. Filling the shoes of the legendary Ronaldo would be no easy feat. But this tournament provided a golden opportunity for Adriano to make his claim.

After all, Ronaldo’s recovery from his lengthy knee injury and subsequent performances at the 2002 World Cup may have been a remarkable comeback. But there would always be that lingering question of whether he could stay fit. Missing important games like the 2004 Copa del Rey final through injury. In which his Real Madrid side lost to Real Zaragoza, would certainly have added to this concern.

Undoubtedly, Ronaldo was still Brazil’s main man. Even singled out as “the player who makes the difference” by Parreira after scoring a hat-trick of penalties against Argentina in a World Cup qualifier win just a month before the Copa America began. Despite this, an undeterred Adriano was still knocking on the door for his spot in the team. By the end of July, he had smashed that door off its hinges.

The tournament began at the Estadio Nacional in Lima on 6 July. Their opening match against Chile did little to inspire hope for any Brazilians watching. But it did provide them with all three points courtesy of a very late winner from Adriano’s partner upfront, Luis Fabiano. Brazil returned to the Estadio Arequipa to play Costa Rica, and thus began the impervious form of the “Emperor”. He scored a staggering 7 goals for Brazil to eventually lift the Copa America again.

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