With goals scored by Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino, Brazil beat Argentina 2-0 last night, and secured a place in the Copa America final.
Fresh back from mumps, Everton’s Richarlison was on the bench.
It wasn’t really a beautiful match to watch, since the rivalry between the teams contributed to a match full of fights, strong challenges and complaints about the refereeing.
The Argentine squad were mad about two alleged penalties, both of them not checked by VAR, and the reaction was the same from the local press.
Argentine newspaper Olé has a front page today saying ‘shameless’, using the word ‘VARguenza’ instead of ‘Verguenza’, then saying they lost to ‘Varsil’. In short, they’re pretty angry about the VAR.
And on their website, they feature an interview which Richarlison has given after the match. The Everton star wasn’t too concerned with being guarded after the game, and provoked Argentina by saying they can complain as much as they want.
“Now it’s they who have to complain. Let them talk there. It’s Brazil who are in the final. Let them complain for the rest of their lives,” said the player (via Globo Esporte).
Richarlison quickly recovered from his illness this week, and claimed he was ‘surprised’ with how quick the treatment was.
“Even I was surprised. Everyone who gets mumps are given two weeks. I recovered in five days. It’s also my will to be on the pitch. Very happy to go to the final, we go to the Maracanã with full strength.”
Olé didn’t really like the Everton player’s quotes. They say “Richarlison wanted to spice things up after Brazil advanced to the final with two penalties not given,” and “Brazil are the great candidates to stay with the title, it’s clear, but won’t it be something if the anticipated celebration ends up going against them…”
Basically, they want Richarlison to be the one with complaints after the final.