Paraguay, a recent tormentor for the Seleção: What were their last Copa América clashes?

This Friday (28th), Brazil will face a complicated match against a national team that, in the Copa América, has always known how to complicate things for the Seleção

Josué Seixas

2024-06-28 14:48:23

Image Credits: © (Lucas Figueiredo/CBF)

After the disappointing draw in the Copa América debut against Costa Rica, Brazil will have to face this Friday (28th) a complicated test against Paraguay in the second match of the group stage of the continental tournament.

Although the overall history between these two teams leans favorably towards the Brazilian side, in the Copa América the story tends to be a bit different, as Paraguay has recorded historic victories over Brazil, consecutively, in this competition in recent years.

Paraguay, a stormy executioner for Brazil in the Copa América

Paraguay and Brazil have faced each other a total of 82 times throughout history;
Brazil has won 50 times, while Paraguay has won 13 matches;
In total, they have accumulated 19 draws between them.

However, in the Copa América, the recent history leans slightly towards the Paraguayan side.

Since the beginning of the new millennium, Brazil and Paraguay have faced each other a total of six times in the Copa América (2001, 2004, 2011 twice, 2015 and 2019). Surprisingly, Paraguay has prevailed in no less than three of these direct confrontations, also accumulating one draw.

2001 Copa América (Group stage): Brazil 3-1 Paraguay
2004 Copa América (Group stage): Brazil 1-2 Paraguay
2011 Copa América (Group stage): Brazil 2-2 Paraguay
2011 Copa América (Quarterfinals): Brazil 0-0 Paraguay (0-2 on penalties)
2015 Copa América (Quarterfinals): Brazil 1-1 Paraguay (4-5 on penalties)
2019 Copa América (Quarterfinals): Brazil 0-0 Paraguay (4-3 on penalties)

Between 2011 and 2015, Paraguay was the executioner of Brazil in two consecutive Copa Américas, eliminating the five-time champions via penalties. In their most recent clash, Brazil took revenge, eliminating Paraguay precisely via a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Copa América. That year, Brazil would prevail as the champions of the tournament after comfortably overcoming the Paraguayan team.

Will history repeat itself?