Copa America 2019: Brazil 0-0 Paraguay (4-3 on penalties) - 3 Talking Points 

#3 Paraguay's physical game plan almost reaps dividends

Paraguay were physical throughout the match

For most of the 90 minutes in Gremio, the match took on the form of a wrestling match as Paraguay seemed to have been given an instruction to hack at anything in yellow.

As expected, Brazil seized the initiative from the get go, launching attack after attack at the Paraguay goal, but they always ran into a brick wall as their visitors seemed to be playing to the maxim of 'missing the ball but not missing the leg'.

There were three yellow cards issued to Paraguayan players inside the first 36 minutes by match referee Tobar Roberto and this seemed to jolt the Brazilian players into action, as they stepped up their physicality a notch or two and dived into their own reckless tackles.

With the rate at which the match progressed, there was always the imminent possibility of a red card being issued and this proved to be the case as Fabian Balbuena was shown his marching orders in the 58th minute.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Paraguay still held on for a draw to head to a penalty shootout, which seemed to be their game plan from the onset as voiced by the commentator because as they say, the lottery of penalty shootouts is anybody's game.

Paraguay showed great resolution (albeit somewhat roughly) to hold Brazil to a stalemate and even though their plan ultimately failed, they can take great pride in their accomplishment.