Sporting publications across Latin America on Monday cheered Brazil's victory over Argentina in the final of the Copa America on Sunday night, singling out Brazil forward Robinho for special praise.
In Peru, headlines included "Eighth Wonder", "Twice Champions", "Brazil Continues to humiliate Argentina" and "Brazil: King of America".
The newspapers praised manager Carlos Caetano Bledorn, better known by his nickname Dunga, for his tactics, organization, skills and strength, in achieving Sunday's 3-0 victory.
Brazil players Josue, Elano and Julio Baptista also received praise.
In Colombia, El Tiempo praised the "new winning style", which focused on defense and closing gaps.
Argentina, which had been popular in the competition, was impotent faced with a Dunga-managed team that had played in the style he had used as a midfielder in the 1994 World Cup.
Roberto Ayala, Argentina's captain who scored an own-goal in the match, told Colombian radio that he had become a target for Brazilian sledging, and that his goal had crushed his own team's spirit.
"We did not lift the cup, which is the whole point of the game. Once again destiny, soccer was whimsical. We thought we could turn the score around, but after the own goal we were finished," Ayala said.
Brazil's press cheered the victory, touting the nation's eighth Copa America title with pride.
"Brazil humiliates Argentina and is champion twice in a row," Rio de Janeiro daily O Globo said. Its sporting section was more brash, headlining with "Clientes" Brazilian slang for suckers.
Brazil has now defeated Argentina in finals three Cups: 2004 Copa America, 2005 Copa Confederaciones and Sunday's game.
Accompanying the headline was a photo of Argentine players Riquelme, Heinze and Lucho Gonzalez obviously despairing at match-end in the Venezuelan city of Maracaibo.
On Monday, Argentine national soccer team coach Alfio Basile said in a Monday press conference on his return from the Copa America that Brazil "beat us fair and square".
"The only truth is what is real,"Our team used the same tactics as we had been using, but we did not make the connection at key moments."
Source: Xinhua
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