The Technical Study Group (GET) of CONMEBOL have confirmed their team of the CONMEBOL Copa América 2021 which came to a close on Saturday with the dramatic final between Argentina and Brazil.
The chosen 11 includes 4 Argentine players, 3 Brazilians, 1 Colombia, 1 Peruvian, 1 Ecuadorian and 1 Chilean.
They are: Emiliano Martínez; Mauricio Isla, Cristian Romero, Marquinhos, Pervis Estupiñán; Casemiro, Rodrigo De Paul, Yoshimar Yotún; Luis Díaz, Lionel Messi and Neymar.
When it comes to justifying the selection, the numbers speak for themselves:
Emiliano Martínez (Argentina): 2 conceded in 6 games, 4 clean sheets (most in the competition) and he stopped 85.7% of the shots he faced.
Mauricio Isla (Chile): 27 passes in the opposition half per game (third for all defenders) and 15.2 passes in the final third per 90 (second amongst the defenders).
Cristian Romero (Argentina): 4.7 ball recoveries per game (second amongst Argentines with at least one game played) and 0 goals conceded while he was on the field.
Marquinhos (Brazil): 2.8 aerial duels per game (the most for Brazil) and 344 passes completed (the best amongst all defenders).
Pervis Estupiñán (Ecuador): 9.6 crosses per game (the most at the CONMEBOL Copa América) and 2.4 chances created per game (the most amongst defenders).
Casemiro (Brazil): 36 aerial duels (the most in the CONMEBOL Copa América) with 63.9% win and 8.3 ball recoveries per 90 (third in the competition).
Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina): 32 ball recoveries (most for Argentina), 6 chances created (second behind the 21 of Lionel Messi) and set up the Ángel Di María winner in the final final.
Yoshimar Yotún (Perú): 63 ball recoveries (most in the competition) and 420 completed passes (most in the CONMEBOL Copa América)
Luis Díaz (Colombia): 4 goals scored (top scorer with Lionel Messi), 5 chances created, 10 shots (40% effectiveness: the best in the tournament for players with over goals scored).
Lionel Messi (Argentina): 4 goals, 5 assists, 28 shots with 11 on target (the best in all categories)
Neymar (Brasil): 3.5 chances created per game (the most amongst players who played more than one game), 21.6 passes into the final third (the best amongst players with more than one appearance).
The technical study group (GET) of CONMEBOL is made up of the Directors of Development of CONMEBOL and important historic managers in South American football.
On this occasion it included Colombians Francisco Maturana and Carlos Restrepo, Uruguayos Daniel Bañales and Gerardo Pelusso, ArgentinEs Sergio Batista and Nery Pumpido and the Brazilian Oswaldo De Oliveira Filho.
