Ok, Robinho showed 10 minutes of his class, but this Brazil full of muscles and centimetres did not deserve such a score. Chile could draw with Humberto Suazo in the second half, but after six, seven dribbles his shot were stopped by Juan. If the player of Monterrey scored, it wouldn't have been easy for the Seleçao to get through but Brazil, good for Dunga, has Robinho.

The Brazilian coach has been criticized for being unexperienced, and maybe he is going against the tradition and the characteristics of the Verde-oro team: no fantasy, a lot of defensive midfielder, no stars (but here it's not Dunga's fault). The quarterfinals seem to be reached, but Brazil needs more if they want to win the Copa. Chile, on the contrary, played well until second Robinho's goal, but they were too nervous during the match, especially after the penalty kick assigne to the Brazilian at the end of first half.

Let's see what happens next Wednesday in Group B, anyway it's a good thing for Brazil that if they will be second at the end, they'll face (what a strange format!) the best third. For Chile it's going to be tough, but beforewe have to wait what happens between Mexico and Ecuador. 

There are miracles in football than cannot be explained. Take for example Greece in Euro 2004, or Verona in Serie A 1985. Unique exploits of underdogs, the eternal loosers that just once lift their head, beating their Goliath. A deeper analysis can show some factors that let us understand how the surprise is just around the corner, just like in Campeonato Sudamericano de Selecciones in 1963.

That year, for the first time in its 50 years history, the future Copa America (it will change its name in 1975) lands in an Andean country. This is Bolivia ruled by Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (Nationalist Revolutionary Movement, MNR), that came into power 11 years before, establishing the universal franchise, realizing the agricultural reform and nationalizing the tin-mines. Seven national teams take part to the Copa, after Uruguay and Chile withdraw, in a tournament that is held in the space of one month, march. All teams play against each other in one single group.

Venues are La Paz, (Estadio Hernando Siles), and Félix Capriles stadium in Cochabamba. The big teams Argentina and Brasile are favourite, but there's a detail: altitude. The 3.640 meters of the capital and 2.550 of Cochabamba, rarefied air and breathing problems frighten even those teams that, in the recent past, has eaten the Verde in one mouthful. The Bolivians start badly on March 10th, they incredibly draw at 4 against modest Ecuador: goals for the hosting team are scored by Lopez, Castillo, Alcócer and Camacho.

One week after, in Cochabamba, the first win comes: 2-1 to Colombia with a double by Maximo Alcócer, one of the most representative players, together with captain Wilfredo Camacho. The Verde defeats Peru, 3-2, on march 24. Paraguay, that until that moment has won all the games, wants to beat Bolivia, but Castillo scores for 1-0 and two minutes before the ending whistle Garcìa scores: 2-0 for the hosting team. Paraguay can still win if Argentina defeats coach Alvim's team, but Bolivia has a historical win. Minute 87, score is 2-2, Argentine goalie Andrada saves a penalty kick of Max Ramìrez, but after one minute Camacho scores again, served by Castillo.

Now Bolivia needs to beat Brazil to win the trophy, while Paraguay, second, will face Argentina. Brazil is not the team that won the World Cup one year before, with stars like Pelè ans Garrincha, but it's always a danger. In front of a 25.000 crowd, in Cochabamba Bolivian coach Alvim (but he is of Brazilian nationality) fields this formation: López; Cainzo, Espinoza; Ramírez, Camacho, Vargas; Blacutt, Alcócer, Ugarte, García, Castillo. Bolivia is 2-0 ahead after 25’ with Ugarte e Camacho, but in just three minutes Marco Antonio and Almìr equalize. Match goes on and off, the Verde leads 4-2 but Brazil equalizes again: 4-4. It's center-forward Alcócer (from Jorge Wilstermann, a Cochabamba club) to score the goal that goes down in Bolivian history. Maybe this is due to altitude, but Bolivia is at fever pitch.

In the whole country the victory raises the roof. "I remember I couldn't keep my jersey, and left the pitch almost naked" says captain Camacho after many years. “Our victory in ’63 –states Camacho- was due to a group of players like Ugarte and Ausberto Garcia, myself –in all modesty-, Alcócer, Ramiro Blacutt y Abdul Aramayo, people who liked to score a goal”. Journalist “Cucho” Vargas, the only correspondent in the championship, reminds a special anedocte about Camacho and Ramirez, the Copa America heroes. “The day we beat Argentina –Vargas says- was a Thursday and the whole country was celebrating. Everybody thought that players should have concentrated in view of the game against Brazil. As a journalist, I didn't have to concentrate, and I was in a dance hall, with a bad light, the Bola Rusch. My surprise was great when I saw two well-known figures, Camacho and Ramírez. I raised from the table, approached them and gave them five minutes to leave the dance hall; otherwise, I would have denounced them, so they left. This is just an anedocte, they stayed friend with me, but Camacho and Ramírez understood in that moment that what I told them was really important to live up to our fans' expectations”.