World Soccer - UK (2022-01)

Inmany ways, the 2021 final
betweenestablishedpowerhouses
ofthe Braziliangamesymboliseda
newdawnin South Americanfootball:
hereweretwoemergingsuper-clubs,
withmammothrevenue streams,
vastfanbasesand astutefinancial
management,contestingthe continental
crown,furthercementingBrazil’s
domination,playingatthe refurbished
EstadioCentenarioinfrontofwell-
heeledfansanda globalTVaudience.
TheCopaLibertadoresanditsfinal
carrytheromanceof a spectacle
inits purestform.Theyepitomise
themadnessandmayhemofthe
continent’sgame,oneofthelast
bastionsofuncheckedfootball passion,
buttimesare changing.In 201 8,the
finalwasshiftedtoMadridbecause
every singleclichéaboutArgentinian
footballturned outtobetrue– chaos
ruled.“Weliveit as a scam,” wroteformer
BocaJuniorsplayer DiegoLatorre.
In 2019 , organisersmoved the
final from SantiagotoLimabecause
ofsocial unrestin Chile.Itwasthe
yearthatCONMEBOLreplacedthe
traditionalhome-and-away format
withasingle-legdecider, mimicking
theChampionsLeaguefinalina bid
toexploitthematch’s commercial
potential.All thestereotypesof
Europeanelitefootballwerepresent:
thematchorganisation,the fanzones,
thesecurityoperation,theinfluxof
footballtouristsand,aboveall,the
monetisationofthe entire event.
Itwas no differentinMontevideo.
NeartheUruguayancapital’s lighthouse,
a fanzoneprovidedexposure to brands
andsponsors.Supportersdidn’tmind.

URUGUAY

BraziliansPalmeiras

makeittwoinarow

SamindraKuntireports

eye

witness

Theyweresimplyhappyto attendand

dreamtofrenewed,continentalglory.

Inspite of the– by South American

standards– limiteddistance between

Montevideoandboth SaoPauloand

Riode Janeiro,many hadstruggled

mightilytogetthere.

Infact,mostordinary supporters

weresimplypricedout.Ticketprices

rangedfrom$200-$65 0. In Brazil,the

minimumsalaryis a paltry$196 with

unemploymentandinflationonthe rise.

Detachedfromreality, CONMEBOL–

alongsidetouroperators,airlinesand

hotelowners– contrivedtorenderthe

finaltheplaygroundofthe greatand

thegood,therichand thefamous.

Palmeirasdidn’tevensellouttheir

allocationof 12 ,000tickets.

Withallthe commercialisation

andcorporatisation,CONMEBOL

risklosingthe

keyasset: the

final’s authenticity thatdiffersinevery

possiblewayfromtheoftenantiseptic

ChampionsLeague’sshowpiecematch.

Supportersthatdidget to

Montevideo– somebyboatvia

BuenosAires – wanderedthrough

a marvellouscapitalofblossoming

blueJacarandasandchurrasquerias

barbecues. Downtown,theydiscovered

thecoffee housefrequentedby

renownedwriterEduardoGaleano.

Historystruckthemoncethey

enteredthe iconicEstadioCentenario.

Thestadiumreceiveda faceliftahead

ofits 21st CopaLibertadoresfinal.

Flamengofansreminiscedabout

theirfirst-evercontinentalcrown in

1981 , wonbyZicoandCo.atthevery

samevenueagainst Chile’sCobreloa.

Butthisfinalwasaboutmodernity,

bothPalmeiras andFlamengo

Tenmonthsonfromtheirlastsuccess,

SaoPaulogiantsPalmeirasbeatRiorivals

Flamengotothe 2021 CopaLibertadores

Equaliser...Gabriel

Barbosascores

forFlamengo