The big international championship of 1979 was Copa America – the oldest continental championship. For a second time it was organized without a host – the 10 countries were divided into three groups and the winners went to the ½ finals. Plus the champions of the previous tournament – Peru – which entered the competition directly in the ½ finals. Home and away matches were more difficult to stage and the competition took quite a long time – from July 18 until December 11. Even before any match was played there was something strange: Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay were the traditional powers, winning almost all tournaments and therefore – the constant favourites. But Uruguay was in decline during the 1970s. Argentina on the other hand were fresh world champions. Under normal circumstances, they and Brazil should have been the finalists and winner – one of them, Argentina more likely. There was no way for such final – Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia were together in Group 2. One was to be eliminated early, opening the road to easy victory to the other. However, the tournament was traditional mystery to outsiders – the relative strength of the smaller countries was entirely unknown. The big three often used players little known outside South America, so routinely their squads appeared experimental. Occasionally, it appeared that the favourites were not very interested – judging by the players they used. Copa America had little coverage outside the continent, but still – there was Brazil, and there was Argentina – the former vividly remembered from 1978 when they won the world championship, and the latter – eager to get revenge and prove better, for Brazil ended without losing a match at the World Cup and felt wronged by the suspect Argentinian victory over Peru, which eliminated Brazil. That much was calculated and expected… and it was not to be really.
Group 1 – Chile, Colombia, and Venezuela. Easy to predict group… Venezuela was the outsider, Colombia – not strong enough, Chile – on a slight ascent. All depended on Chile – if they played well, no problem. If they did not, may be Colombia had a chance. Colombia had no stars… the only recognizable name was their coach: the Yugoslavian Blagoje Vidinic, once upon a time a famous goalkeeper, known for coaching Morocco and Zaire at the World finals in 1970 and 1974. Nothing surprising happened – Venezuela tied her home games, thus leaving things as they were expected to be: the clash between Chile and Colombia was decisive. Colombia won at home against Chile – 1-0. The last three matches were simple to calculate: both favourites had to win big against Venezuela and Chile had to win somehow their home match against Colombia. Very likely goal-difference would to be decisive factor. Chile had small advantage: they hosted Venezuela after Colombia and the last match of the group was also in Santiago. Colombia won 4-0 against the outsiders. Chile, knowing already how much they had to score , won 7-0. Now they had to beat Colombia in Santiago – and they did: 2-0.
1. Chile 4 5 2 1 1 10-2
2. Colombia 4 5 2 1 1 5-2
3. Venezuela 4 2 0 2 2 1-12
Chile won the group phase.
Group 2 – Uruguay, Paraguay, and Ecuador. With Uruguay in bad shape, there was a chance for Paraguay, Ecuador been the outsider. So, similar situation to Group 1. Ecuador hosted the opening matches. The similarities with Group 1 ended right here: Paraguay clinched 2-1 victory in Quito. Uruguay had the slight advantage, knowing the result, and, therefore, knowing what to play for – a victory. It was 2-0 before the 10th minute of the match… but not for Uruguay. They eventually scored from a penalty – in the 79th minute – but Ecuador missed a penalty meantime. Clearly, Uruguay were in bad shape – it was not just unfortunate day. They needed to win all following matches after such start – Paraguay already had a 2-point lead. And they increased it to 4 points after easy 2-0 victory at home against Ecuador. Then Uruguay hosted Ecuador – and won, but with difficulties: 2-1. The direct clash between the neighbours was to decide everything… Uruguay had a bit of advantage: the first match was in Asuncion. It went well… Paraguay played with 10 men since the 35th minute, when Ovelar was sent off. No team managed to score, but the tie favoured Uruguay – they needed a home win. But Paraguay had their own ambitions, they scored first in Montevideo and the hosts struggled for a long time. The last ten minutes were dramatic – Uruguay finally got the lead. They equalized from a penalty in the 53rd minute, and in the 83rd Paz scored a second goal. 2-1 and only seven minutes in front of home crowd – the chances of Paraguay were slim. If any… In the 88th minute Morel equalized, turning the wheel again and this time Uruguay had only a tiny chance: 2 minutes to go and they had to score. They did not. Eugenio Morel was the hero – he scored both goals for his country and qualified Paraguay.
1. Paraguay 4 6 2 2 0 6-3
2. Uruguay 4 4 1 2 1 5-5
3. Ecuador 4 2 1 0 3 4-7
Paraguay to the ½ finals.
Group 2 was to be the big clash and drama, perhaps the final before the final, for the battle between Brazil and Argentina most likely would have precluded the championship. And a drama it was… Bolivia hosted Argentina and won 2-1. It was strange Argentina… only Passarella, Diaz, and Lopez were from the team winning the World Cup a year earlier. Most players were entirely unknown – Vidalle, Saporiti, Gaspari, Larraquy, Fortunato, Castro, Gaitan, Coscia… looked like Menotti gave a break not only to his champions, but to their reserves too. Did not appear as trying some new players as a part of developing the winning squad – it looked like sheer arrogance, a victory so certain, there was no need even to field half-good players. Brazil visited La Paz next – the approach of Claudio Coutinho was very different from Menotti’s: Brazil had some new players, but it was not rag-tag squad. Zico was not in the team, but Paulo Cesar Carpeggiani was back. The new – and unknown – names were only three: Pedrinho, Nilton Santos, and Juan. The rest of the team were either well established stars like Leao and Roberto Dinamite, or rising stars like Ze Sergio, blended with regulars from 1978. Like Argentina, they scored first. And like the match against Argentina, Bolivia did not give up, equalized, and then scored second and winning goal.
Turning point: Aragones beats Leao from a penalty in the 36th minute – 6 minutes after Roberto Dinamite gave the lead to Brazil also from a penalty. Not only a big upset, but complete destruction of the expected: suddenly modest Bolivia was leading with 4 points. Entirely unknown Bolivian player beat the reigning world champions and the team with most world titles in history. Perhaps the best known name of the Bolivian team was the coach – Ramiro Blacutt. Back in the early 1960s, he had successful playing career, including a season with Bayern (Munich). A historic name – if not the first South American to play in West Germany, certainly he was the first Bolivian to play there. But there was more, much more – he was a regular of the Bolivian squad which won Copa America in 1963! They disturbed the eternal status quo of South America for the first time since 1953. Five countries won the championship until then, but Bolivia was the only pariah to ever win it – so far. It looked like a second miracle happening again with Blacutt in the centre of it. Bolivia had good schedule too – the next match was between Argentina and Brazil, then they played their two away matches, and the last match of the group was the 2nd meeting of arch-enemies. One thing was sure: scheming was impossible between Argentina and Brazil – even if one of them was already gone and the other needed points to prevail over Bolivia, there would be no favours. Brazil vs Argentina at Maracana – time for revenge! Brazil fielded stronger team – Zico was back, but the troubles of the attacking line were easy to see. Coutinho chamged all strikers from the ill-fated visit to La Paz. Instead of Renato, Roberto Dinamite, and Ze Sergio – Tita, Zico, and Palinha. Menotti made only one significant change – Maradona was on the field. The team was still very weird, but jumping ahead, it was the team Menotti chose to use for this tournament. Hard to tell why – the world champions of 1978 were not only far from old, but most of them were the key players at the next world finals in 1982. It did not look like building a new squad – almost none of those used in 1979 became a long-lasting Argentine national team player. Actually, these boys left no trace. Yet, even if they were third-rate, Brazil is enough motivation for an Argentine , and the team fought – Brazil scored first, then Coscia equalized. But that was all… Tita scored a second goal early in the 2nd half and Brazil won 2-1. Only if every remaining match ended with victory of the host country Argentina had a chance to win the group on goal-difference. Most likely the world champions were already eliminated…
Argentina won easy 3-0 over Bolivia, Passarella scoring in the 1st minute, and Maradona scoring the last goal. Brazil had to win too, but not by much – they did: 2-0. It was just perfect for Argentina 1-0 until the last minute, when Zico scored the second goal. No miracle – Bolivia finished their campaign with 2 wins and 2 losses and negative goal-difference. Brazil was leading the group before the last match, but Argentina still had a chance – they hosted direct clash and needed a victory. Any victory… There was no Maradona among the starters, but this time a current star – the biggest Argentine star at the time perhaps – was included: Bochini. Brazil responded in kind – Socrates, the rapidly rising genius was on the field for the first time in this championship. Falcao, another new talent, came out as a substitute. The new Brazlian attacking line – Zico, Socrates, Ze Sergio – proved to be really dangerous at last: Brazil got the lead twice, Socrates scoring both goals. Argentina managed only to equalize – Passarella restored the equilibrium in the 38th minute, and Diaz equalized again in the 71st. The world champions were not able for anything else… 2-2. They were out, Brazil went ahead.
1. Brazil 4 5 2 1 1 7-5
2. Bolivia 4 4 2 0 2 4-7
3. Argentina 4 3 1 1 2 7-6