Brazil reach 2022 Copa América Femenina final and qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics

Brazil have done it again!

La Canarinha defeated a brave Paraguay 2-0 on Tuesday evening (26 July) at the Alfonso López Stadium in Bucaramanga to reach the final of the 2022 Copa América Femenina and qualify for the Women's Olympic Football Tournament at the Paris 2024 Games.

The Brazilians, 7-time continental champions, will face Colombia in the final of South America's showpiece event after the hosts also secured their spot for Paris 2024 by winning Monday's other semi-final 1-0 against Argentina.

Brazil have never missed a single Olympic Football Tournament since the first edition at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.

Paraguay chose a surprisingly offensive tactic mostly creating danger from set pieces. Thus was the case in the opening part of the game as Fanny Gauto's free kick was saved by Brazil's goalkeeper Lorena, who is yet to concede a goal in this tournament.

Brazil looked confident seemingly relying on the impressive skills of their attacking trio: Debinha, Kerolin and Bia Zaneratto.

And the favourites did not have to wait long. Midfielder Ary Borges scored the opener in the 16th minute with a flat shot that slipped through the legs of several players and left Paraguay's keeper Alicia Bobadilla, who was by far the best player of the Albirroja, without a chance.

Paraguay didn't give up and it was again Gauto who tested Lorena with a dangerous shot.

But Brazil remained calm. Bia got a hold of the ball after it took several deflections and she beat Bobadilla with ease - 2-0 after only 28 minutes.

The Seleçao had a few more chances before halftime but Bobadilla made some great saves.

In the second half Paraguay started to get tired and all Brazil had to do was to keep them away from their own box. Kerolin even missed a good chance to make it 3-0 when her shot went wide.

After clinching their ticket to Paris 2024 and qualifying for next year's 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Brazil have one goal left.

They want to successfully defend their continental crown when they will meet Colombia in the final on Saturday (30 July). Both teams have reached the decisive game unbeaten.

After the game, two-time gold medal-winning coach Pia Sundhage talked about how special it is to once again qualify for the Olympics. At Tokyo2020 in 2021, Brazil were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Canada.

"It’s fantastic to be back at the World Cup and the Olympics, and if we talk about the Olympics with the Brazilian national team, I think we can do better. I learnt so many things during the quarter-final in Tokyo and we won’t make the same mistakes we did then," said Sundhage.