3️⃣ things we learned as Colombia thrive while Uruguay crush Brazil hearts.

The Copa América quarterfinals concluded on Saturday with Colombia defeating Panama 5-0 and Uruguay defeating Brazil on penalties following a 0-0 stalemate.

Here's what we made of the action.

This might be Colombia's tournament to lose.

We've seen some fantastic football at the Copa América, as well as some scruffy displays, but how about Colombia's?

 The performances were mostly organized by their captain, James Rodriguez, who continues to prosper when representing the national team, despite disappointing club results.

His influence in the game has helped his teammates shine. They scored on five of his assists, and he eventually added one of his own from the penalty spot.

Colombian football is innovative, energetic, intelligent, and resilient. Of their 11 goals, eight different players have scored, and their defense is equally remarkable. After five games, they actually appear to be the whole package.

Colombia are undefeated in 27 games.

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The longest unbeaten streak in the nation’s history.

The next match is a semi-final against Uruguay, and their 27-game unbeaten streak is on the line. With one more victory, he will have set a national record and be in contention for the crown.

Brazil's actions will raise significant concerns.

Brazil's roster has some of the world's most gifted players, but they struggled to gel on the big stage.

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Eder Militaro, and Endrick; Barcelona's Raphinha; Manchester City's Alisson; West Ham's Lucas Paqueta; Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli. The list is limitless. So, how did their run end so quickly?

Brazil veteran Ronaldinho made headlines when he questioned the current squad's lack of emotion, and unfortunately for them, they failed not prove him wrong.

Brazil has lost its last two penalty shootouts (against Croatia in the 2022 World Cup and Uruguay in the Copa América 2024), missing four of eight shots. 

Perhaps their talents were not blossoming against Uruguay, since the game had the tournament's most fouls (41). Perhaps it was the absence of Vinicius Junior (suspended).

Brazil were given a lifeline when Nahitan Nandez was sent off with 15 minutes remaining, but they still failed to provide the performances that football fans expected.

Crashing out in the quarter-finals, followed by a 0-0 tie with Costa Rica and a 1-1 draw with Colombia, ensures that this is another tournament to forget.

Because this is a massive football nation, questions will be posed to the players in the future. Based on history, Brazil should always be a contender for any big tournament title. But they appear far from it.

A new chapter for Bielsa's Uruguay.

A mastermind is steering Uruguay to the Copa América final four.

Marcelo Bielsa has his players operating exactly as he intends, and on the field, they demand that their opponents play their style of football as well.

Uruguay scored the most goals in the group stages (nine), was one of three teams to finish with a spotless record, and surrendered only once. They then put their bodies on the line to suffocate Brazil for 90 minutes, despite being a man down for the last 15.

It was Uruguay's first red card in a Copa América quarterfinal match in over 20 years (Gustavo Varela versus Paraguay in 2004). Nonetheless, they adhered to Bielsa's game plan, and he guided them to victory via penalty shootout. Three of the four spot kicks were emphatically and accurately executed.

Bielsa's team defeated Brazil in the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time in his career, and it came at the fourth attempt.

The next challenge is a daunting test against Colombia, followed by Argentina or Canada in the final. Uruguay and Argentina are presently tied for the most Copa América titles (15). Their last was in 2011. Can Bielsa lead them into history?