Brazil destroys Argentina to win Copa America; Brazilians welcome Dunga Era II

Welcome to the new Dunga Era. Brazil rocked favored Argentina 3-0 to win Copa America, and hand its most despised rival a painful loss. Brazil stormed to a 2-0 lead by intermission and cruised home the final 45 minutes, a counterattack goal by Sevilla’s Daniel Alves putting the game away and giving Brazilian coach Dunga his first trophy.

Back in 1994 when the World Cup was held in the United States, Brazil fielded a team that was disciplined and defensive - basically, a team that was against everything Brazilians stand for when it comes to soccer. The Seleção took home its fourth World Cup title that year, in an exhibition that caused many Americans to not bother giving soccer a second glance since.

It was the Dunga Era. Now, with a victory over Argentina in the Copa America, Dunga, a defensive midfielder widely accepted as the heart of the 1994 team that included Romario’s gifted feet, has now officially ushered in Dunga Era II.

For Dunga, the victory culminates a rollarcoaster tourney that saw his every move questioned and analyzed by the Brazilian press, as his squad lost to Mexico in its opening match and never appeared to gel.

And while he was but a penalty kick by Uruguay away from seeing his job as Brazilian National Team coach disappear, the victory over arch-rival Argentina means his chances at making it all the way to the 2010 World Cup are infinitely better than they were just a week ago.

With a team that at some points appeared to be comprised of only defenders and defensive midfielders, Brazil took young Argentinean stars Leo Messi and Carlos Tevez out of the game, while taking advantage of their opportunities on the offensive end.

“This is the fruit of our hard work,” Dunga said.

Julio Baptista started the scoring for Brazil with a brilliant right-footer from the left just five minutes in, while for all intents and purposes, own goal by Roberto Ayala at the 40-minute mark was the score that ended Argentina’s dream of beating its South American rivals.

Argentina had gone into the game as favorites after playing brilliantly throughout the tournament, and with its full array of stars, as compared to Brazil, which was missing such top names as Ronaldinho and Kaka. The thorough beating by Brazil was not so much another heartbreaking loss for the Argentineans, as much as it is a national humiliation.

For Seleção, however, the team that was accused of not trying hard enough in the 2006 World Cup took home Copa America because they played harder and showed more heart than Argentina.

Welcome to Dunga Era II. There’s no telling how long it will last.

Bill Wolfrum resides in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. His work also appears at Williamkwolfrum.com, Shakesville.com and WorldGolf.com.