A triumph at the cost of the Beautiful Game

He's a cruel one, this God of Football. First he gives us a dream final by pitting two of the most creative and beautiful-to-watch teams against each other and then forces one to play alien football.
Was it Brazil who played against Argentina or was it some European team in yellow jerseys? There was rarely a tinge of South American flavour as Brazil first muscled out Argentina, smothered their artistic flair, closed them out with a few counter-punches so methodically, and brutally, that it would have made any Italian or German coach proud.
You could argue that Brazil were without two of their geniuses - Ronaldinho and Kaka. But surely Brazilian coach Dunga wouldn't have changed his gameplan even if these two artists were in the side. Remember, Dunga captained the ‘boringest' Brazil side when it won the World Cup in 1994. Entertainment be damned, it's results that matter.
The approach adopted by Brazil in the Copa America final was typical of a side which knows that the other side is more skillful. Argentina is a football production house that works non-stop. From Maradona to Messi, the country has churned out players who have given a monotonous delight in watching Argentina's matches. While Brazil had Mr Universes with muscular chests and biceps on Sunday, Argentina had finely sculpted bodies and chiselled legs. Sadly for Argentina, they were completely clueless on how to counter the brawnish Brazil.
Argentinian fans would forever ask what would have happened had Riquelme's shot not hit the bar immediately after Brazil had taken the lead. Nothing. The score would have been 1-1 and Brazil would have continued to pound their South American rivals. Sooner, than later, they would have bulldozed ahead even without the help of Argentinian captain Ayala.
Look at the number of fouls that Brazilian players committed. In the past, it's an aspect of the game that would have been expected against Brazil. Not by them. Except when Brazil were splitting the field with breakneck counter-attacks, the game was always full of interruptions with the referee constantly directing his hand away from the Argentinian goal.
This provided the blue-and-white jerseys quite a number of chances. Riquelme arched his brows and squirrelled his eyes. Yet his free-kicks, and his presence in the midfield, were at best uninspiring. Even the soon-to-be-great Messi got little room to let his mane flow.
Now the question arises: Will we get to see Samba magic even if Ronaldinho and Kaka are back in the side? Surely, but not with Dunga on the bench.