[Fillipo Simone]

(IMG:http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/hash/26/f4/resized_Copa_America_2011.jpg)

Will be held: July 1–July 24
12 teams
8 cities
Holding champion: Brazil (2007)

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Group A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Colombia - (7pts)
2. Argentina - (5pts)
3. Costa Rica - (3pts)
4. Bolivia - (1pt)

RESULTS

Argentina 1 - 1 Bolivia - Views: Fillipo Simone
ARG: Aguero 75'
BOL: Rojas 47'

Colombia 1 - 0 Costa Rica
COL: A. Ramos 44'

Argentina 0 - 0 Colombia

Bolivia 0 - 2 Costa Rica
COS: Martinez 59', Campbell 78'

Colombia 2 - 0 Bolivia
COL: Falcao 14', 28'

Argentina 3 - 0 Costa Rica
ARG: Aguero 46', 52', Di Maria 63'

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Group B

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Brazil - (5pts)
2. Venezuela - (5pts)
3. Paraguay - (3pts)
4. Ecuador - (1pt)

RESULTS

Brazil 0 - 0 Venezuela - Views: Zed.d | Fillipo Simone

Paraguay 0 - 0 Ecuador

Brazil 2 - 2 Paraguay
BRA: Jadson 38', Fred 89'
PAR: Santa Cruz 54', Valdez 66'

Venezuela 1 - 0 Ecuador
VEN: C. Gonzalez 61'

Paraguay 3 - 3 Venezuela
PAR: Alcaraz 33', Barrios 62', Riveros 85'
VEN: Rondon 5', Fedor 89', Perozo 92'

Brazil 4 - 2 Ecuador
BRA: Pato 28', 61', Neymar 48', 71'
ECU: Caicedo 36', 58'

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Group C

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Chile - (7pts)
2. Uruguay - (5pts)
3. Peru - (4pts)
4. Mexico - (0pts)

RESULTS

Uruguay 1 - 1 Peru
URU: Suarez 45'
PER: Guerrero 23'

Chile 2 - 1 Mexico
CHI: Paredes 66', Vidal 72'
MEX: Araujo 40'

Uruguay 1 - 1 Chile
URU: A. Pereira 53'
CHI: Sanchez 64'

Peru 1 - 0 Mexico
PER: Guerrero 82'

Chile 1 - 0 Peru
CHI: Carrillo (og) 92'

Uruguay 1 - 0 Mexico
URU: A. Pereira 14'

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KNOCKOUT STAGE

QUARTER-FINALS:

Colombia 0 - 2 Peru (aet)
PER: Lobaton 101', Vargas 111'

Argentina 1 - 1 Uruguay (4-5 pens)
ARG: Higuain 17'
URU: Perez 5'

Brazil 0 - 0 Paraguay (0-2 pens)

Chile 1 - 2 Venezuela
CHI: Suazo 69'
VEN: Vizcarrondo 34', Cichero 80'

SEMI-FINALS:

Peru 0 - 2 Uruguay
URU: Suarez 52', 57'

Paraguay 0 - 0 Venezuela (5-3 pens)

3RD PLACE MATCH:

Peru 4 - 1 Venezuela
PER: Chiroque 41, Guerrero 63', 89', 92'
VEN: Arango 77'

3rd place: Peru.

THE FINAL:

Uruguay 3 - 0 Paraguay
URU: Suarez 11', Forlan 41', 89'

CHAMPIONS: URUGUAY

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General

TOP SCORER:

5 Paolo Guerrero.

54 goals scored.

All Copa talk here.

This post has been edited by Milan Are Brilliant: Jul 25 2011, 10:13 AM

[acid911]

About time we opened this thread. Thanks, Fillipo. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif) You all know which team I will be supporting, bring on Brazil vs Argentina, and please, please make it good. I want to see Silva and Lucio vs Messi.

[Fillipo Simone]

I like Brazil, because of our lads. But my heart goes to Uruguay, Tabarez and the guys deserved a bronze medal in South Africa, now they simply must get at least bronze or silver.

[acid911]

True, Uruguay and Paraguay are the 2nd and 3rd teams I like in South America. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) And that is purely based on their footballing talents, and the overall game they play. I probably won't get enough time to watch all the matches, but these three teams I definitely plan on following.

[THFC6061]

The 43rd Copa America starts in Argentina on 1st July and runs until 24th July.

12 teams will participate, the 10 regular South American nations and Costa Rica and Mexico as guests. Japan were due to participate but withdrew after the Tsunami earlier this year.

The Copa America used to be called the South American Championship and has run since 1916, making it one of the oldest international football competitions in the world.

Uruguay and Argentina have both won the competition 14 times, with Brazil in third place with 8 wins.

Paraguay and Peru have both been Champions twice and Colombia and Bolivia have both won the competition once each.

Not all the squads have been announced yet (Uruguay & Peru are still missing), but so far 13 players based in England will be participating...

Club Country Player's Full Name Player's Nat
Blackburn Rovers England Roque Santa Cruz Paraguay
Chelsea England David Luiz Brazil
Chelsea England Ramires Brazil
Liverpool England Lucas Leiva Brazil
Manchester City England Pablo Zabaleta Argentina
Manchester City England Carlos Tévez Argentina
Manchester United England Antonio Valencia Ecuador
Sunderland England Cristian Riveros Paraguay
Tottenham Hotspur England Giovani dos Santos Mexico
Tottenham Hotspur England Sandro Brazil
West Bromwich Albion England Gonzalo Jara Chile
Wigan Athletic England Hugo Rodallega Colombia
Wigan Athletic England Antolín Alcaraz Paraguay

23 players based in Italy will participate, including 4 from AC Milan...

Mario Yepes Colombia
Thiago Silva Brazil
Robinho Brazil
Alexandre Pato Brazil

...and 6 from Inter...

Esteban Cambiasso Argentina
Javier Zanetti Argentina
Diego Milito Argentina
Júlio César Brazil
Lúcio Brazil
Maicon Brazil

[acid911]

Stats. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleepysmiley03.gif) Love them to bits!

[il_diavolo_mtl]

I will keep a close eye on colombia, uruguay and brazil. Can't wait...

Also isn't peru kicked out of fifa organized tournaments?

[Rossoneri7]

I like Brazil, because of our lads. But my heart goes to Uruguay, Tabarez and the guys deserved a bronze medal in South Africa, now they simply must get at least bronze or silver.

Uruguay can be labeled the 'black horse' of this event. I believe this dual with Brazil and Argentina, especially with the strength of the players on the pitch .. no one has a chance. But Uruguay have recently proven without a doubt that they are no pushovers as well, so I agree with you assessment right there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I wonder how Argentina will fare out this time around .. A lot has been said and done about their inability to live up to expectations. I think with the experience of Cambiasso & Zanetti, Argentina have a favorable chance of winning it, especially when you take their front line into consideration .. Forget Messi, you have Lavezzi, Tevez, Milito, Agüero, Higuaín, and Di Maria. That can cancel out anything Brazil pairs against them. They don't have the best defense, but they have a very strong midfield of destroyers and box-to-box players of experience .. Add to that the advantage of the venue being on home soil.


Even with that said, Brazil are not exactly a walk in the park either .. They are a nation that can produce three separate teams and all of them would be as devastating. However, I'm rooting for Argentina for this one .. Bring me acid911 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/96.gif)

This post has been edited by Rossoneri7: Jun 26 2011, 07:55 PM

[Jack Bauer]

Don't care who wins it TBH, just hope for a good football, and won't cry too much if Brazil flops. It'd give our Brazilian players more time to get ready for the Super Cup.

[acid911]

However, I'm rooting for Argentina for this one .. Bring me acid911

Oh hell yeah, bring it on! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Argentina didn't do diddlysquat last time in the final, when they were brushed aside 0-3 by a second tier Brazil team. They had a magic team back then, with every player in their starting XI the best. But they got served on a plate. For me they will always be dirty losers, jealous of their bigger brothers.

Dirty losers, who played some great football when they are in the mood, though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) I'll give them that, LOL.

[dst]

Brazil are no big brothers at the Copa America. Argentina have 14 compared to their 8.

[acid911]

Brazil are no big brothers at the Copa America. Argentina have 14 compared to their 8.

I know. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) It's like Coppa Italia for us, we never take it seriously and leave it for inter, likewise the same for Brazil. They play their B-team, while Argentina knows that this is probably the only trophy they can win (keeping in mind their quarters and semi appearances in FIFA World Cups), so they go all out. Look at this mother of a squad:

Ayala, Gago, Heinze, Zanetti, Crespo, Riquelme, Tévez, Lucho González, Mascherano, Burdisso, Diego Milito, Messi and Cambiasso.

That's 13 top class players, or in other words, the best they have. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) While in the same 2007 tournament, Brazil had guys like Dida, Lucio, Maicon, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Pato (granted he was very new then), Kaka missing.

[Fillipo Simone]

But I don't think it was a less serious squad - all the players left out - that was Dunga's doing, wasn't it?

[acid911]

Yes it was that wretched Dunga's doing, surely it was. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) But Brazil's NT over time has always been less focused on the continental stage, their main aim being the World Cup. As far back as I can remember. What they do and how they prepare for the FIFA World Cup is miles ahead of the teams the take for the Olympics, Confederations and Copas.

Ronaldo, for instance last played in 1999. The other main stars also are usually missing. Maybe it's got to do with prestige, because usually most European teams play full strength in the Euros.

[Zed.D]

Brazil are no big brothers at the Copa America. Argentina have 14 compared to their 8.

Oh yes they are, considering they have won 4 out of the last 5 Copas. Argentina won their last Copa nearly 20 years ago. it's a joke.

Anyway, I think being the hosts and the pressures and expectations that come with it, Argentina will probably choke. that is unless Messi finally pulls a Maradona and wins it for them.