All-Brazilian Libertadores final heals wounded nation

	South American powerhouse São Paulo is aiming for its fourth Copa Libertadores crown and second continental title a row. AP
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The most successful club team in Brazilian history has given a soccer-mad country a breath of fresh air and hope after Brazil's crash and burn at the 2006 World Cup.

The world had its Tricolore champion, the Azzurri of Italy. Well, Brazil has its own champion Tricolor: the red, white and black of São Paulo Futebol Clube.

Let's be clear: While I'm singing their praises, I'm not a fan. But like every other soccer-loving Latin American, I bow in respect of their achievements. And it's not just because São Paulo is in first place in the Brazilian league, mostly playing with a reserve squad. And not because the team is also appearing in its second consecutive final (and fifth in club history) in the Copa Libertadores, the South American club championship.

As I said in my last column, it's very simple: Without any stars on the roster and without an ounce of arrogance in its ranks, São Paulo has wiped out every strong opponent it has faced -- and it has done it all playing authentic Brazilian-style football.

Wondering where the "Joga Bonito" went? Watch São Paulo. The Tricolor efficiently trashed Mexico's red-hot Chivas de Guadalajara in the Libertadores semifinals, with a 1-0 victory in Guadalajara's Estadio Jalisco (where the hosts had never lost a game in the Libertadores), and then smashing them again mercilessly in the second leg in São Paulo, 3-0.

For this version of the Tricolor to make history, a fourth Libertadores crown to go with its 1992, '93 and '05 titles (not to mention the world club title in '05), it must survive an all-Brazilian affair in the final against another storied club: Internacional of Porto Alegre.

Inter hails from the capital of Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, and plays with an amazing style of pressing, fighting football. It's a style that more closely resembles the Argentinean mode of playing: regular displays of guts and fierce challenges on every ball.

But Internacional also has talent in the best Brazilian way. Rafael Sóbis, formerly a star striker on Brazil's under-20 national team, is translating his success at the highest club level. Fernandão isn't bad either, especially for a forward who toiled in France for three seasons.

But the most exciting player is a kid from Colombia. Wason Rentería is the dancer, the juggler, the center of everything magic that is transpiring for the "Colorado." The 21-year-old Rentería is showing Brazilians that they should think twice before blindly claiming they're the best footballers in the world.

Internacional is always a dangerous side and has a wealth of talent, history and tradition. But its success is still somewhat of a surprise. Inter's young stars carried the club on their backs as the Colorado put down upstart Paraguayan side Libertad to advance to the Libertadores finals.

And so here we are: São Paulo vs. Internacional. Tricolor vs. Colorado. An all-Brazilian finals for the second time ever -- and the second consecutive year. It's the gaúcho hot blood, the fighting spirit and love for its piece of land in the southern tip of Brazil that makes Inter a worthy opponent to the brilliant defending champions. More than 55,000 tickets were sold in less than two hours for Wednesday's first leg at São Paulo's Morumbi Stadium.

The best South America has to offer is once again within Brazilian borders. After a miserable June in Germany that left all Brazilian soccer fans with more questions than answers, it's a welcome relief. The winner of the Libertadores finals will win a spot in December's FIFA Club World Cup.

The possibility looms of a tropical world champion. That has Brazil smiling once again.

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