This archive report was first published on 29 June 2019.
Brazil finally pushed past one of their most painful Copa America memories on Thursday night, beating Paraguay on penalties in Porto Alegre to book a semi-final against Argentina. The match, played at Gremio Arena, ended scoreless after 90 minutes before Alisson and Gabriel Jesus settled it from the spot.
In the aftermath of the 2019 Copa America tie, veteran full-back Dani Alves said: "You have to get over life's traumas. Today we deservedly rid ourselves of this trauma from two knock-out stages where this team sent us home,"
Paraguay had already become a source of anxiety for Brazil before kick-off because of what happened in 2011 and 2015. On both occasions, Paraguay knocked Brazil out of the Copa America at the same stage and both exits came on penalties.
This time, Brazil survived the shootout. Alisson saved Gustavo Gomez's effort, Derlis Gonzalez missed wide, and Gabriel Jesus converted the decisive kick to send the hosts into the last four.
Brazil captain Dani Alves said the squad knew the mental test that awaited them. He added: "We knew today that we had to be very, very strong mentally because we knew we were up against one of the toughest opponents in the Copa America,"
"Physical opponents, opponents who don't let the game flow, who are always breaking up the flow in whatever way. It makes it really hard to play but I think we were awesome."
The next challenge is even heavier. Brazil will face Argentina on Tuesday at Mineirao in Belo Horizonte, a stadium tied to one of the country's darkest football nights. That was where Germany crushed Brazil 7-1 in the 2014 World Cup semi-final, a defeat that still hangs over the national team almost five years later.
Willian, who was a substitute in that match when Brazil were already 6-0 down, said the squad had moved on from the humiliation. "With regards to memories of the 7-1 we're very calm about that, it's in the past, it was a long time ago," he said. "Now we're leaving here really strengthened by the way the match went, by the way we qualified," the 30-year-old added.
Brazil have reason to believe they can handle Argentina at Mineirao. They beat Lionel Messi's side 3-0 there in a World Cup qualifier in November 2016. But if they go on to reach the final, another old wound could reopen at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana.
That stadium remains linked to the 1950 World Cup collapse known as the "Maracanazo." Brazil had entered that tournament on the back of a dominant 1949 Copa America on home soil, when they beat Paraguay 7-0 in the final and scored 46 goals in eight matches. They then hosted the 1950 World Cup, which was decided by a final round-robin.
Brazil needed only a draw against Uruguay, the first world champions from 1930, after thrashing Sweden 7-1 and Spain 6-1. Instead, after Friaca put Brazil ahead early in the second half, Uruguay replied through Juan Alberto Schiaffino and Alcides Ghiggia to win the title.
The defeat at the Maracana triggered a silence that became part of Brazilian football folklore. It also gave rise to the idea of the "Phantom of 50," a reminder that still surfaces whenever Brazil meet Uruguay, especially at the Maracana.
