Showing posts with label Copa América 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Copa América 2011. Show all posts
Cesár González golazo contra Ecuador, Copa América 2011
On 9 July 2011 Cesár González scored one of the best goals of the 2011 Copa América tournament to give Venezuela a 1-0 win against Ecuador and move themselves to the top of group B and within touching distance of qualifying for the knockout stage. The result can be seen as further evidence that Venezuela have finally shed their traditional status as the whipping boys of South American football.
The quality of the strike was reminiscent of another stunning long range strike for Venezuela in a 1-0 win against Ecuador.
Copa América 2011 Predictions
My predictions for the Copa América 2011 tournament.
Group A
Argentina host Copa América for the first time since 1987 and nothing short of a win for the 14 time continetal champions would satisfy the home support. With players like Lionel Messi, Angel Di María, Javier Pastore, Ever Banega, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Sergio Agüero there is an undisputable wealth of talent in the Argentine squad however there are three factors counting against them.
Prediction: Winner
Argentina look by far the strongest side in group A but Colombia should feel confident about bagging a place in the quarter-finals. Colombia have not impressed at Copa América since they won their first and only title in 2001 but their squad for this event has a number of quality players including Falcao and Freddy Guarín of Porto, Teó Gutierrez of Argentine side Racing Club, the enigmatic talent of Dayro Moreno, veteran Milan defender Mario Yepes and Hugo Rodallega of Wigan Athletic.
I reckon there is not enough strength in depth for Colombia to progress past the quarter-finals however some good performances in the early stages could bode well for the future of Colombian football.
Prediction: Quarter-finals
Bolivian football has fallen a long way back from the high tide mark of reaching the Copa América final in 1997. The strength of their squad can be determined by the fact that only five of the team currently play outside Bolivian domestic football, which is now by far the weakest domestic league in the CONMEBOL region. Shakhtar Donesk forward Marcelo Martins is their star player but the rest of the squad just underlines the problems in Bolivian football. The older generation have been under-achieving for over a decade but there are only five under-25s in the squad. The fact that the squad is made up of older players doesn't offer much in the way of big game experience either with only five of their older players boasting more than 30 caps. It is hard to see Bolivia achieving much in this tournament or using the experience to build for the future.
Prediction: 3rd in group (qualification dependent on standings in other groups)
Last minute invitees Costa Rica have by far the most inexperienced side in the tournament with 11 of their 23 players without a single cap. The most experienced player in the team is 27 year old Saprissa defender Heiner Mora who only has 13 caps. Only two of the squad play outside Costa Rica, 18 year old Jacinto Calvo who plays college "soccer" in the United States and 22 year old forward Diego Madrigal who plays for Cerro Porteño in Paraguay.
I can't see anything but trouble for such an inexperienced side and hope that the confidence of some of these young players is not shattered by the maulings they will do well to avoid against Argentina and Colombia. If they can get a result against Bolivia they may well sneak into 3rd place but even if that leads to a quarter-final place they would be staring down the barrel of another mauling at the hands of Argentina or Brazil.
Prediction: Eliminated in group stage
Group B
Back-to-back winners Brazil have a highly talented squad as usual including wonderful attacking talents such as Pato, Neymar, Lucas and Robinho, however as with Argentina their fate is much more likely to be determined by the quality of their defensive players. Aside from 33 year old Lucio looks set to make his 100th appearance for Brazil during the tournament and Liverpool's Lucas Leiva who has steadily developed into one of the world's best defensive midfielders their squad looks much less robust than the teams that won in 2004 and 2007. This may be no bad thing, I'd much rather watch a fluent attacking Brazil akin to the legendary sides of old entertaining but falling short that the efficient and results orientated sides that have ground out so much success in recent decades.
Prediction: Semi-finalist
Argentine manager Gerardo Martino has crafted a well balanced and tactically disciplined side that ran Spain really close in the Quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup. He has stuck with pretty much the same team and tactics and I expect Paraguay to be the dark horses of the tournament. They have a good blend of youth and experience without actually having many world famous superstars. The squad would look even better if their human battering ram of a striker Salvador Cabañas had not been forced into retirement after being shot in the head in Mexico last year. The most famous name on the teamsheet is probably Roque Santa Cruz, who like team mates Paulo da Silva and Christian Riveros he has been strugging to get any first team action in Premier League football.
There are plenty of other less famous names in the squad my particular favourites are Nelson Rivas who ran rings around the Spanish defence until Carlos Puyol blatantly hacked him out of the game, Argentine born midfielders Néstor Ortigoza and Jonathan Santana, Enrique Vera of Liga de Quito and the defenders Antolín Alcaraz and Paolo da Silva.
If Paraguay finish second in the group they look set to face a tough tie against Chile or Uruguay however as the most well balanced squad in the tournament I reckon they could well make it to the semi's where they would almost certainly face a rematch against Brazil.
Prediction: Runners-up
Ecuador have a well balanced squad that is possibly a little on the old side and a little lightweight in attack. Their most famous players are José Valencia of Manchester United, former Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo former Birmingham striker Christian Benítez and another player that never really made it in England Segundo Castillo.
This tournament looks like the first real test for the successors to the golden generation of Ecuadorian football and I fancy them to put in a few decent displays in what is undoubtedly the toughest group.
Prediction: To qualify for quarter-finals as best 3rd placed side but eliminated by Argentina.
In 2007 Venezuela made history by progressing from the group stage for the first time ever and with the expansion of their domestic Primera División, Venezuelan football is continuing to make positive forward steps. Venezuela only just missed out on their first ever World Cup qualification finishing just two points behind eventual semi-finalists Uruguay. They have two vastly experienced players in Juan Manuel Rey and Juan Arango and one of the real standout players from the 2011 South American Youth Championships in Yohandry Orozco. I can't see Venezuela escaping from group B, but hopefully Orozco will light up the tournament and the rest of the team will do enough for the positive vibe in Venezuelan football to continue.
Prediction: Eliminated in group stage
Group C
After their wonderful performance in the 2010 World Cup and Peñarol's surprise passage to the Copa Libertadores final optimism is high in Uruguay. They have a team stuffed with quality players, most notably Luis Suarez of Liverpool and Edinson Cavani of Napoli. they also have plenty of experience in the shape of former two time European golden boot winner Diego Forlan, international journeyman footballer Sebastián "loco" Abreu and captain Diego Lugano. The fact that there wasn't room in the squad for a single Peñarol player after their run to the Copa Libertadores final comes as a bit of a surprise especially the exclusion of Luis Aguilar who looked a hell of a prospect in the Copa Libertadores game I saw him play.
Uruguay have been blessed with an easy looking group with a Mexico under-23 side in turmoil and a Peru side that really struggle for goals and results away from home.
Argentina and Uruguay are tied on 14 wins each in the tournament and nothing would be sweeter for the Uruguayans than to take their 15th title on Argentine soil however I see them falling short, especially if they win their group because bizarrely the group winners face look set to face much tougher quarter-final opponents from Group B (probably Paraguay or Ecuador) than the group runners-up who would look set to face an easier game against Colombia, Costa Rica or Bolivia from group A.
Prediction: Quarter-finals if they win the group / semi's if they finish as runners-up
With their senior side having just played and won the North American Gold Cup Mexico have been allowed to send a side packed with under-23 players to Copa América. The squad was further thinned when eight players were sent home after misdemeanours at their hotel. 22 year old Giovani Dos Santos is their most experienced player with 45 caps and Pablo Aguilar is the only other player to have made more than ten appearances for the senior national team. It is really hard to make any kind of predictions when I have barely heard of the majority of their squad, except that they wont be reaching the semi-finals as they did in 2007.
Prediction: 3rd in group (qualification dependent on standings in other groups)
New Chile manager Claudio Borghi has praised th work of his predecessor Marcelo Bielsa and has stuck with the majority of the side that impressed in the 2010 World Cup. They have a number of exciting players such as Alexis Sánchez of Udinese, 30 year old Monterrey striker Humberto Suazo, Matías Fernández of Sporting Lisbon, Sevilla midfielder Gary Medel and Jean Beausejour who found himself unfairly sidelined by defensive minded Birmingham City manager Alex Mcleish for the majority of the 2010-11 season.
Chile should progress to the quarter finals at least and if they finish as runners-up in the group I fancy them to reach the semi's by beating one of the weaker sides from group A, however if they win their group they will have a much tougher task against a side from group B.
Prediction: Quarter-finals if they win the group / semi's if they finish as runners-up
Peru have really struggled to score goals away from home but Copa América will present them with an opportunity to move on from their embarrasingly poor record in the 2010 World Cup qualification group. They have made positive steps under coach Sergio Markarián however their squad has a distinct lack of experience with 15 of their 23 players having made 10 or fewer appearances for the senior national team.
Prediction: Eliminated in group stage.
Group A
Argentina
Argentina host Copa América for the first time since 1987 and nothing short of a win for the 14 time continetal champions would satisfy the home support. With players like Lionel Messi, Angel Di María, Javier Pastore, Ever Banega, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Sergio Agüero there is an undisputable wealth of talent in the Argentine squad however there are three factors counting against them.
- Once again, as in several previous tournaments, the majority of of the most talented players in their squad are attacking players who will be vying for limited places in the starting line-up while the Argentine defensive line is far from inspiring.
- The manager Sergio Batista is untested at this level and has made several questionable tactical decisions in the warm up games resulting in defeats to Japan Nigeria and Poland over the last year. They have also recorded some great results most notably their 4-1 demolition of world champions Spain and a 1-0 win against Brazil but serious questions remain about whether Batista has what it takes to win at the highest level.
- The advantage of playing the tournament on home soil is hugely diminished by the fact that 22 of their 23 players are based with European clubs and the only home based player is error prone goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo who's mistakes played a big part in River Plate's relegation to the Argentine 2nd division. A few more home based players in the squad would surely have been beneficial.
Prediction: Winner
Colombia
Argentina look by far the strongest side in group A but Colombia should feel confident about bagging a place in the quarter-finals. Colombia have not impressed at Copa América since they won their first and only title in 2001 but their squad for this event has a number of quality players including Falcao and Freddy Guarín of Porto, Teó Gutierrez of Argentine side Racing Club, the enigmatic talent of Dayro Moreno, veteran Milan defender Mario Yepes and Hugo Rodallega of Wigan Athletic.
I reckon there is not enough strength in depth for Colombia to progress past the quarter-finals however some good performances in the early stages could bode well for the future of Colombian football.
Prediction: Quarter-finals
Bolivia
Bolivian football has fallen a long way back from the high tide mark of reaching the Copa América final in 1997. The strength of their squad can be determined by the fact that only five of the team currently play outside Bolivian domestic football, which is now by far the weakest domestic league in the CONMEBOL region. Shakhtar Donesk forward Marcelo Martins is their star player but the rest of the squad just underlines the problems in Bolivian football. The older generation have been under-achieving for over a decade but there are only five under-25s in the squad. The fact that the squad is made up of older players doesn't offer much in the way of big game experience either with only five of their older players boasting more than 30 caps. It is hard to see Bolivia achieving much in this tournament or using the experience to build for the future.
Prediction: 3rd in group (qualification dependent on standings in other groups)
Costa Rica
Last minute invitees Costa Rica have by far the most inexperienced side in the tournament with 11 of their 23 players without a single cap. The most experienced player in the team is 27 year old Saprissa defender Heiner Mora who only has 13 caps. Only two of the squad play outside Costa Rica, 18 year old Jacinto Calvo who plays college "soccer" in the United States and 22 year old forward Diego Madrigal who plays for Cerro Porteño in Paraguay.
I can't see anything but trouble for such an inexperienced side and hope that the confidence of some of these young players is not shattered by the maulings they will do well to avoid against Argentina and Colombia. If they can get a result against Bolivia they may well sneak into 3rd place but even if that leads to a quarter-final place they would be staring down the barrel of another mauling at the hands of Argentina or Brazil.
Prediction: Eliminated in group stage
Group B
Brazil
Back-to-back winners Brazil have a highly talented squad as usual including wonderful attacking talents such as Pato, Neymar, Lucas and Robinho, however as with Argentina their fate is much more likely to be determined by the quality of their defensive players. Aside from 33 year old Lucio looks set to make his 100th appearance for Brazil during the tournament and Liverpool's Lucas Leiva who has steadily developed into one of the world's best defensive midfielders their squad looks much less robust than the teams that won in 2004 and 2007. This may be no bad thing, I'd much rather watch a fluent attacking Brazil akin to the legendary sides of old entertaining but falling short that the efficient and results orientated sides that have ground out so much success in recent decades.
Prediction: Semi-finalist
Paraguay
Argentine manager Gerardo Martino has crafted a well balanced and tactically disciplined side that ran Spain really close in the Quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup. He has stuck with pretty much the same team and tactics and I expect Paraguay to be the dark horses of the tournament. They have a good blend of youth and experience without actually having many world famous superstars. The squad would look even better if their human battering ram of a striker Salvador Cabañas had not been forced into retirement after being shot in the head in Mexico last year. The most famous name on the teamsheet is probably Roque Santa Cruz, who like team mates Paulo da Silva and Christian Riveros he has been strugging to get any first team action in Premier League football.
There are plenty of other less famous names in the squad my particular favourites are Nelson Rivas who ran rings around the Spanish defence until Carlos Puyol blatantly hacked him out of the game, Argentine born midfielders Néstor Ortigoza and Jonathan Santana, Enrique Vera of Liga de Quito and the defenders Antolín Alcaraz and Paolo da Silva.
If Paraguay finish second in the group they look set to face a tough tie against Chile or Uruguay however as the most well balanced squad in the tournament I reckon they could well make it to the semi's where they would almost certainly face a rematch against Brazil.
Prediction: Runners-up
Ecuador
Ecuador have a well balanced squad that is possibly a little on the old side and a little lightweight in attack. Their most famous players are José Valencia of Manchester United, former Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo former Birmingham striker Christian Benítez and another player that never really made it in England Segundo Castillo.
This tournament looks like the first real test for the successors to the golden generation of Ecuadorian football and I fancy them to put in a few decent displays in what is undoubtedly the toughest group.
Prediction: To qualify for quarter-finals as best 3rd placed side but eliminated by Argentina.
Venezuela
In 2007 Venezuela made history by progressing from the group stage for the first time ever and with the expansion of their domestic Primera División, Venezuelan football is continuing to make positive forward steps. Venezuela only just missed out on their first ever World Cup qualification finishing just two points behind eventual semi-finalists Uruguay. They have two vastly experienced players in Juan Manuel Rey and Juan Arango and one of the real standout players from the 2011 South American Youth Championships in Yohandry Orozco. I can't see Venezuela escaping from group B, but hopefully Orozco will light up the tournament and the rest of the team will do enough for the positive vibe in Venezuelan football to continue.
Prediction: Eliminated in group stage
Group C
Urugauy
After their wonderful performance in the 2010 World Cup and Peñarol's surprise passage to the Copa Libertadores final optimism is high in Uruguay. They have a team stuffed with quality players, most notably Luis Suarez of Liverpool and Edinson Cavani of Napoli. they also have plenty of experience in the shape of former two time European golden boot winner Diego Forlan, international journeyman footballer Sebastián "loco" Abreu and captain Diego Lugano. The fact that there wasn't room in the squad for a single Peñarol player after their run to the Copa Libertadores final comes as a bit of a surprise especially the exclusion of Luis Aguilar who looked a hell of a prospect in the Copa Libertadores game I saw him play.
Uruguay have been blessed with an easy looking group with a Mexico under-23 side in turmoil and a Peru side that really struggle for goals and results away from home.
Argentina and Uruguay are tied on 14 wins each in the tournament and nothing would be sweeter for the Uruguayans than to take their 15th title on Argentine soil however I see them falling short, especially if they win their group because bizarrely the group winners face look set to face much tougher quarter-final opponents from Group B (probably Paraguay or Ecuador) than the group runners-up who would look set to face an easier game against Colombia, Costa Rica or Bolivia from group A.
Prediction: Quarter-finals if they win the group / semi's if they finish as runners-up
Mexico
With their senior side having just played and won the North American Gold Cup Mexico have been allowed to send a side packed with under-23 players to Copa América. The squad was further thinned when eight players were sent home after misdemeanours at their hotel. 22 year old Giovani Dos Santos is their most experienced player with 45 caps and Pablo Aguilar is the only other player to have made more than ten appearances for the senior national team. It is really hard to make any kind of predictions when I have barely heard of the majority of their squad, except that they wont be reaching the semi-finals as they did in 2007.
Prediction: 3rd in group (qualification dependent on standings in other groups)
Chile
New Chile manager Claudio Borghi has praised th work of his predecessor Marcelo Bielsa and has stuck with the majority of the side that impressed in the 2010 World Cup. They have a number of exciting players such as Alexis Sánchez of Udinese, 30 year old Monterrey striker Humberto Suazo, Matías Fernández of Sporting Lisbon, Sevilla midfielder Gary Medel and Jean Beausejour who found himself unfairly sidelined by defensive minded Birmingham City manager Alex Mcleish for the majority of the 2010-11 season.
Chile should progress to the quarter finals at least and if they finish as runners-up in the group I fancy them to reach the semi's by beating one of the weaker sides from group A, however if they win their group they will have a much tougher task against a side from group B.
Prediction: Quarter-finals if they win the group / semi's if they finish as runners-up
Peru
Peru have really struggled to score goals away from home but Copa América will present them with an opportunity to move on from their embarrasingly poor record in the 2010 World Cup qualification group. They have made positive steps under coach Sergio Markarián however their squad has a distinct lack of experience with 15 of their 23 players having made 10 or fewer appearances for the senior national team.
Prediction: Eliminated in group stage.
Copa América 2011
The 2011 Copa América is the 43rd edition of the oldest continental championship in world football. Argentina host the event for the first time since 1987 and for the ninth time overall.
Brazil will qualify for the 2013 Confederations Cup as hosts so whichever of the remaining CONMEBOL associations finishes the highest in Copa América 2011 will also qualify for the tournament.
Aside from the ten CONMEBOL representatives there are two invited teams. Mexico will compete in their 8th consecutive Copa América as invitees and Japan were picked as the other invitee replacing the United States who sent an embarassingly understrength team to the 2007 event. Japan formally withdrew from the tournament in May 2011, they were soon replaced by Costa Rica, who have played three times previosly in the event (1997, 2001, 2004).
Group A - Full details
Group B - Full details
Group C - Full details
Colombia vs Peru 0-2 (after extra-time)
Argentina vs Uruguay 1-1 (Uruguay win on penalties)
Brazil vs Paraguay 0-0 (Paraguay win on penalties)
Chile vs Venezuela 1-2
Peru vs Uruguay 0-2
Paraguay vs Venezuela 0-0 (Paraguay win on penalties)
Peru vs Venezuela 4-1
Paraguay vs Uruguay 0-3
Brazil will qualify for the 2013 Confederations Cup as hosts so whichever of the remaining CONMEBOL associations finishes the highest in Copa América 2011 will also qualify for the tournament.
Aside from the ten CONMEBOL representatives there are two invited teams. Mexico will compete in their 8th consecutive Copa América as invitees and Japan were picked as the other invitee replacing the United States who sent an embarassingly understrength team to the 2007 event. Japan formally withdrew from the tournament in May 2011, they were soon replaced by Costa Rica, who have played three times previosly in the event (1997, 2001, 2004).
Predictions
Group stages
Group A - Full details
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Colombia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 7 |
 Argentina | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +3 | 5 |
 Costa Rica | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
 Bolivia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 1 |
Group B - Full details
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brazil | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 5 |
 Venezuela | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 5 |
 Paraguay | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
 Ecuador | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 1 |
Group C - Full details
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chile | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 7 |
 Uruguay | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 |
 Peru | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
 Mexico | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
Quarter-finals
Colombia vs Peru 0-2 (after extra-time)
Argentina vs Uruguay 1-1 (Uruguay win on penalties)
Brazil vs Paraguay 0-0 (Paraguay win on penalties)
Chile vs Venezuela 1-2
Semi-finals
Peru vs Uruguay 0-2
Paraguay vs Venezuela 0-0 (Paraguay win on penalties)
3rd place playoff
Peru vs Venezuela 4-1
Final
Paraguay vs Uruguay 0-3
Group A Copa América 2011
Match reports and highlights from Group A of the 2011 Copa América tournament.
Standings
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 7 |
| Argentina | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +3 | 5 |
| Costa Rica | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| Bolivia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 1 |
Results
| 01-07-11 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 1-1 | Bolivia |
| 02-07-11 | ||
| Colombia | 1-0 | Costa Rica |
| 06-07-11 | ||
| Argentina | 0-0 | Colombia |
| 07-07-11 | ||
| Bolivia | 0-2 | Costa Rica |
| 10-07-11 | ||
| Colombia | 2-0 | Bolivia |
| 11-07-11 | ||
| Argentina | 3-0 | Costa Rica |
Match reports
Copa América 2011 kicked off with great fanfare on 1 July 2011 in La Plata. After the completion of the opening ceremony the first game featured the hosts Argentina against a Bolivia side thet had not won in 9 games and had not experienced victory outside their own borders for 19 games.
The game was a real disappointment for the star studded Argentine team, they failed to score in the first half and then went a goal behind after Edvaldo Rojas put the visitors ahead in the early minutes of the second half when his flick managed to dribble slowly past Ever Banega and goalkeeper Sergio Romero. Argentina huffed and puffed but couldn't find an equaliser until five minutes after the introduction of substitute Sergio Agüero, who scored with a thumping volley on 76'. Argentina didn't really come close to scoring a winner in the remaining minutes. A 1-1 draw against such humble opponents could only be seen as a disastrous start to the tournament for the hosts. As for Bolivia their Argentine manager Gustavo Quinteros can be rightly proud of his players, their hard work and tactical discipline earned them a share of the points in a game against the host nation and favourites.
In the next game Colombia recorded a narrow 1-0 victory against an inexperienced Costa Rica side. In my predictions for the tournament I expressed concerns that Costa Rica would take a mauling in this game, however they looked robust for most of the first half, even after Randall Brenes got himself sent off after 28 minutes. Adrian Ramos scored Colombia's goal seconds before half-time after a defence splitting pass from Fredy Guarín, one of the few times that Colombia managed to show up the inexperience of the Costa Rica back line.
Argentina's status as tournament favourites was further diminished after they could only manage a tepid 0-0 draw with Colombia. The second highly disappointing result for the home side has got Sergio Batista's many critics riled up and it is no surprise given the incoherent and inept display his team put on. Argentina looked out of ideas up front and relied on goalkeeper Sergio Romero to make a number of vital saves at the back. This criticism of Argentina shouldn't detract from Colombia's achievements so far, they were in far from scintilating form in their opening two games and this draw hardly compares to Colombia's finest ever result on Argentine soil back in 1993 but they have secured a couple of good results and put themselves on the brink of qualifying for the knockout stages of a senior international tournament for the first time since they reached the Copa América semi-finals in 2004 as defending champions.
After their solid and disciplined display to earn apoint against Argentina Bolivia crashed to a 0-2 defeat against a highly inexperienced Costa Rica side. This was Bolivia's 20th successive game without a win on foreign soil and leaves them needing nothing short of a win against Colombia in their final group game if they intend to reach the second round. The first half was fairly evenly matched with 19 year old striker Joel Campbell standing out with his pace and ball control he was involved in the best of Costa Rica's play for the remainder of the match. Costa Rica's Argentine coach Ricardo Lavolpe must have been glowing with pride as his young team took control of the game in the second half, especially given the fact that only two of his players were over the age of 22, (27 year old defenders Heiner Mora & Johnny Acosta). Josue Martínez opened the scoring in the 59th minute after fine work from Joel Campbell in the buildup. Campbell then hit the crossbar with a cracking free kick before Bolivia were reduced to 10 men in the 71st minute as Ronald Rivero was sent off for blocking a goalbound shot with his arm. Substitute Allen Guevara missed the penalty but Bolivia's indiscipline cost them again on 76' when Walter Flores was sent off for kicking out at Joel Campbell. In the 79th minute Campbell scored the goal that his performance so richly deserved. The result leaves hosts Argentina in third place and dependent on beating Costa Rica in their final match to ensure qualification.
Colombia secured their progression to the quarter-finals with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Bolivia, Radamel Falcao scored both of their goals in the first half. The result ensured that Colombia topped the group and completed a group stage without conceding a single goal, the only other time they achieved this was in 2001 when they won the tournament.
Argentina went into their final group game with Costa Rica knowing that anything other than a win would lead to almost certain elimination. The hosts won the game 3-0, Sergio Agüero established a one goal lead just before half-time tapping in after a goalkeeper error. Agüero scored his second early in the second half after a perfectly weighted assist from Lionel Messi. Then in the 63rd minute Messi set up Ángel Di María for the third with an even better pass. The result meant that Argentina qualified automatically as group runner-up and that Costa Rica would have to wait to find out if they would qualify as one of the two best third placed teams, however with only three points and a goal difference of minus three, they were dependent on an unlikely sequence of results.
Group B Copa América 2011
Match reports and highlights from Group B of the 2011 Copa América tournament.
Standings
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 5 |
| Venezuela | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 5 |
| Paraguay | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Ecuador | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -13 | 1 |
Brazil, Venezuela and Paraguay progress to the quarter-final.
Results
| 03-07-11 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 0-0 | Venezuela |
| 03-07-11 | ||
| Paraguay | 0-0 | Ecuador |
| 09-07-11 | ||
| Brazil | 2-2 | Paraguay |
| 09-07-11 | ||
| Venezuela | 1-0 | Ecuador |
| 13-07-11 | ||
| Paraguay | 3-3 | Venezuela |
| 13-07-11 | ||
| Brazil | 4-2 | Ecuador |
Match reports
Venezuela held out for a 0-0 draw against Brazil in the opening game of group B, the first time they have ever avoided defeat against Brazil in the history of Copa América. Brazil put on a disappointing display and in the end Venezuela deserved their point.
The goaldrought at the beginning of the tournament continued in the next game with Paraguay and Ecuador settling for a 0-0 draw. Both sides looked good in patches but neither of them could find a goal, Ecuador looked short on composure every time they came close and Paraguay were thwarted by solid goalkeeping from Marcelo Elizaga on the few occasions that they managed shots on target. The result blew Group B wide open with a four way stalemate after the first round of games.
In the second round of games Brazil scored a late equaliser to pick up a 2-2 draw with Paraguay that their performance didn't really deserve bringing back memories of the Copa América final in 2004. Jadson gave Brazil a first half lead with one of the goals of the tournament so far but Paraguay fought back in the second half to earn the advantage that they deserved with goals from Roque Santa Cruz and Nelson Valdéz but Brazil's second half substitute Fred bagged the equaliser in the dying moments of the game.
Venezuela bagged on of the shock results of the tournament with a 1-0 win against Ecuador to go to the top of the group and put themselves on the brink of qualification for the second round. Venezuela finally seem to be shedding their role as the traditional whipping boys of South American football, they completely dominated the game and Cesár González bagged the winner with a wonderful long range strike in the 62nd minute.
Following Costa Rica's defeat to Argentina, Venezuela knew that they had already qualified to the knock out stages of Copa América for the first time ever on foreign soil however they still put on an entertaining display in their final group game against Paraguay, who needed at last a draw to progress to the next round. José Salomón Rincon put Venezuela ahead after only five minutes but Paraguay worked their way back into the game, scoring three goals to establish a two goal lead with only minutes remaining, however Venezuela fought back with two injury time goals to tie the game 3-3 and keep their unbeaten record.
Brazil secured to spot in the group with a 4-2 win against Ecuador who were eliminated. Brazil twice established the lead through Alexandre Pato and then Neymar only to see Felipe Caicedo equalised both goals. Pato and Neymar scored another goal apiece to secure the two goal victory they needed in order to win the group and ensure that the game finished with six goals neatly divided between three forwards.
Group C Copa América 2011
Match reports and highlights from Group A of the 2011 Copa América tournament.
Standings
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chile | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 7 |
| Uruguay | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 |
| Peru | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Mexico | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
Chile, Uruguay and Peru progress to the quarter finals.
Results
| 04-07-11 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | 1-1 | Peru |
| 04-07-11 | ||
| Chile | 2-1 | Mexico |
| 08-07-11 | ||
| Uruguay | 1-1 | Chile |
| 08-07-11 | ||
| Peru | 1-0 | Mexico |
| 12-07-11 | ||
| Chile | 1-0 | Peru |
| 12-07-11 | ||
| Uruguay | 1-0 | Mexico |
Match reports
On the fourth day of the event Peru continued the run of surprise results with a 1-1 draw against group C favourites Uruguay. Paolo Guerrero left the Uruguay defence in his wake as he opened the scoring for Peru with an individual effort on the break. Luis Suárez equalised for Uruguay just before half time but neither side could find a second half winner meaning that the tournament had kicked off with 4 draws in the opening five games.
An under-strength and inexperience Mexico side looked like stretching the run of surprise results even further after Néstor Araujo headed them into a first half lead against Chile, however the Chileans mounted an impressive second half fightback to win the game 2-1 and become the first team to bag more than a single goal in the Copa América 2011 tournament. Esteban Paredes tapped in the equaliser at the midpoint of the second half after the Mexico goalkeeper Luis Michel could only deflect a shot from Pablo Contreras directly into his path. Six minutes later Arturo Vidal scored the winner with a thumping header from a Matías Fernández corner kick.
Uruguay and Chile drew their game 1-1, after a goalless first half in which both sides hit the crossbar, Uruguay took the lead in the 54th minute with a nice control and finish from Álvaro Pereira. Alexis Sánchez equalised for Chile in the 65th minute with an impressive strike. The encounter finished 1-1 and was one of the games of the tournament so far, setting up an intreguing final round of group C fixtures.
Peru clambered above Uruguay into second place with a 1-0 win over Mexico but they left it very late to secure the points. It took them until the 83rd minute to find the vital winning goal which was finished by Paolo Guerrero after Mexico failed to clear their lines following a corner kick. The result means that the group favourites in both group A & group C (Argentina & Uruguay) have drawn both of their opening games and need wins in their final fixtures to secure qualification.
In the final group games Chile beat Peru 1-0 with a desperate 92nd minute own goal from Andre Carrillo to win the group and Uruguay found their first win of the tournament with a 1-0 victory against Mexico to leapfrog Peru into second place, as a result Uruguay will face Argentina in the quarter-finals while Peru get a tie against surprise group A winners Colombia.
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