Brazil reached the Copa America final after a first-half goal from Lucas Paqueta, his second in two games, gave them a 1-0 win over Peru on Monday. The host nation will play the winner of Tuesday’s other semi-final between Argentina and Colombia in the title decider at the Maracana stadium on Saturday.
Brazil has won the Copa America every time it hosted the tournament and in the early part of Monday’s match showed exactly why it is favorites to do so again, within the first 20 minutes, Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made two point-blank saves in succession from Neymar and Richarlison plus another two blocks when Casemiro tried his luck from further out.