Humiliation to jubilation - Brazil are South American U20 champions again
What a difference three weeks make!
Brazil have won the 2025 South American U20 Championship in Venezuela, retaining the title they won in Colombia two years ago and extending their record number of wins to 13.
The title was wrapped up with a 3-0 win over Chile in the last round of fixtures in the Final Phase, which comprised of a six-team group. The Brazilians finished three points clear of Argentina, who succumbed to a 3-2 loss to Paraguay on the final day.
If you think it was nothing more than a routine win for the young Brazil team, think again! They began their defence of the title in humiliating fashion:
Having been torn apart by their nearest and dearest rivals, Ramon Menezes’ side’s tournament looked to be over before it had even begun.
They recovered, somewhat, holding on to beat both Bolivia, 2-1, and Ecuador, 3-2, but came close to throwing the three points away on both occasions.
In their final Group B match, the Seleção suffered a 1-0 loss to Colombia, but Ecuador’s failure to break the deadlock against Argentina ensured Brazil went through by the skin of their teeth.
But go through they did and, with no results from the first stage being carried over to the final stage, Brazil had themselves a clean slate.
Then, they had a clean sheet to go with it — a goal from Zenit St Petersburg’s Pedrinho was enough to beat Uruguay. Elsewhere, Argentina beat Chile and Colombia beat Paraguay, suggesting Group B which Brazil had escaped from was far stronger than Group A.
A second match with Colombia followed, again there was only one goal to separate the teams, but this time it was Brazil who struck — Flamengo centre-back Iago was the difference-maker after six minutes.
By now, the disastrous opener was behind them, and Paraguay were next to the Brazilian sword, going down 3-1. However, despite going top on goal difference, Brazil could not shake off Argentina, who beat Chile, Uruguay and Colombia all by one-goal margins.
That set the stage perfectly for Brazil’s rematch with Argentina at the Estadio Brígido Iriarte in Caracas.
In the first half, little appeared to have changed between the teams in the previous 20 days. Argentina dominated, but could not find a way through until a foul in the box by Breno Bidon gave La Albiceleste a penalty, duly converted with a delicate Panenka by Manchester City’s Claudio Echeverri.
But this time, the floodgates would not open, and a cagier second half ignited 12 minutes from time, when Igor Serrote’s clipped ball over the top was met by Rayan, who finished narrowly from a tight angle.
It wasn’t revenge for Brazil, but a 1-1 draw to keep them on top ahead of the final round was good enough.
On the final day, Sunday 16th February, all Brazil had to do was match Argentina’s result. They were taking on Chile and Paraguay, respectively, both of whom had little to play for.
But Chile, who had picked up just one point in the final phase, made life incredibly difficult for Brazil. La Rojita had chances of their own and limited the Brazilians to goulmouth scrambles and speculative efforts from range.
Having come so far, Brazil were not about to fall at the final hurdle — Chelsea striker Deivid Washington took it upon himself to weave his way into the area and strike at goal. Chile ‘keeper Ignacio Sáez should have kept it out, but fortune favoured the Canarinha, and the ball crossed the goal line before Sáez could swipe it clear.
Chile chased an equaliser late on, but that left them exposed on their right hand side, allowing Pedrinho a clear run at goal. He finished well to double the advantage, before the cake was iced two minutes later, when Ricardo Mathias nodded home from a corner to complete a 3-0 win.
Three hours later, Argentina battled back from 2-0 down to level with Paraguay, only for Diego León to score the winner eight minutes from time to cue the Brazilians celebrating a tournament success that would have felt a world away after their opening match.
Paraguay’s win was not enough to take the bronze medals from Colombia, but both will join Brazil and Argentina at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, hosted by Chile. Millonarios’ Néiser Villarreal was the top scorer with eight goals.
The victory for Paraguay over Argentina was, in fact, the only win for a Group A team over one from Group B in the final phase. Seedings for youth tournaments is always going to be challenging, but CONMEBOL clearly have not covered themselves in glory.
Elsewhere in continental youth football, the 2025 AFC U20 Asian Cup is underway in China.
Wins over Qatar and Kyrgyzstan have sent the hosts through from Group A, but they were no match for Australia, who took the maximum nine points.
The other three groups still have one round of matches to play. Iran and Uzbekistan are already through in Group C, eliminating Indonesia and Yemen.
South Korea are through from Group D with two wins, while Syria and Japan will battle for the other quarter-final place as Thailand are already out.
Group B is the most tightly poised; Iraq sit top on four points, Saudi Arabia and Jordan are on three each and North Korea need a win over the Saudis tomorrow to add to their solitary point.
Anthony Tomas is a football writer and commentator, who has written for World Soccer Magazine, MUNDIAL and Flashscore.