Copa America Cup

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
1

Now that the Euro 2004 is over the Copa America cup is starting from 6 July 2004.

The teams are divided in 3 groups

Group A:

Argentina
Mexico
Uruguay
Ecuador

Group B:

Peru
Columbia
Venezuela
Bolivia

Group C:

Brazil
Paraguay
Costa Rica
Chile

Tue Jul 6 Venezuela v Columbia, Peru v Bolivia

Wed Jul 7 Mexico v Uruguay, Argentina v Ecudor

Thur Jul 8 Costa Rica v Paraguay, Brazil v Chile

Fri Jul 9 Columbia v Bolivia, Peru v Venezuela

Sat Jul 10 Uruguay v Ecuador, Argentina v Mexico

Sun Jul 11 Brazil v Costa Rica, Paraguay v Chile

Mon Jul 12 Venezuela v Bolivia, Peru v Columbia

Tue Jul 13 Mexico v Ecuador, Argentina v Uruguay

Wed Jul 14 Costa Rica v Chile, Brazil v Paraguay

Sat Jul 17 quarter-finals

Sun Jul 18 quarter-finals

Tue Jul 20 semi-finals

Wed Jul 21 semi-finals

Sun Jul 25 Final

Argentina are the current favourites to win the cup. Columbia are the current holders.

Should be a good tournament with plenty of attractive football to watch.

2

DANCE TO PERU’S COPA-CABANA TUNE](http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,15-1141090,00.html)

The 41st edition of the Copa America gets underway in Peru and Argentina are 5/2 favourites to win the tournament for the 15th time.

The Copa America is the world’s oldest international tournament and starts on July 6, and every single game will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Peru will be hoping that they can repeat their feat from 1939 when they hosted the event and won the competition. In fact tournament hosts have fared well in recent renewals, with three of the last four host nations having reached the final at least, so it could well be worth having a dabble at 5/1 on Paulo Autuori’s side.

Just look back to the last Copa America when Colombia exceeded all expectations in the 2001 tournament, completing a six-game run without conceding a goal to win the competition for the first time.

Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda says his team are “fired up” to play a Copa America befitting the defending champions, and promising to field a “decent side” in the hope of regaining the title. Odds of 8/1 are available on the Colombians successfully defending their crown.

One statistical trend to take note of is the fact that since the Copa America was altered to it’s current format in 1993 the host nation has won their group, so the 11/8 on Peru topping Group A with the likes of Colombia, Venezuela and Bolivia looks a very viable option.

Considering all the stops Peru had to pull out to accomodate this event they are also likely to try and field their best team, unlike some of their more revered opponents.

Brazil manager Carlos Alberto Parreira has already said he does not intend to call upon Ronaldo for the competition, and his attitude towards the tournament suggests it could be better looking further than the 3/1 on Brazil.

Parreira thinks the Copa America is an extraneous event given that South American countries already play each other home and away during World Cup qualification. However it should be mentioned that since the Copa America format was altered to it’s current format Brazil have reached the final three times.

Argentina and Uruguay have both lifted the trophy 14 times but the former are the most successful side in Copa America history with 103 victories, although Uruguay (16/1) will be looking to notch up their 100th win in the competition, and for the record Brazil have only picked up 88 victories.

Past Copa America finals:

2001 Colombia 1 Mexico 0 - (Hosts Colombia)
1999 Uruguay 0 Brazil 3 - (Hosts Paraguay)
1997 Bolivia 1 Brazil 3 - (Hosts Bolivia)
1995 Uruguay 5 Brazil 3 (pens) - (Hosts Uruguay)
1993 Argentina 2 Mexico 1 - (Hosts Ecuador)

3

Now THAT is pure flair and style with Brazil and Argentina.

4

Copa America without an American team?

5

[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Talha: *
Copa America *without an American team?
[/QUOTE]

Only the best make it to the cup. :p

6

i c - i didn't know US failed to qualify - another reason why soccer ain't popular here.

7

Ufff I had enough of football for now and I’m never ever going to predict a winner again!

(Uruguay :hula: )

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I will go for my favourite team, Brazil.

9

Brazil gonna win everything!!!!

Important: This is not a prediction. i'm just supporting brazil.

Go Brazil!!!

10

as odd teams are winnin my money is on BOLIVIA :hehe: no j/k me all the way BRAZIL go brazil go

11

Colombia secure opening win](BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Colombia secure opening win)

**Colombia 1-0 Venezuela **

A Tressor Moreno penalty after 22 minutes was enough to hand Colombia victory over Venezuela in the opening match of Copa America.

Moreno converted the spot-kick after Venezuela keeper Gilberto Angelucci had been adjudged to have brought the striker down.

Venezuela came back into the match in the second-half and were unlucky to have a Ruberth Moran goal disallowed for offside.

“It was important to start with a victory, on the right foot,” said Colombia goalkeeper Juan Carlos Henao after the game.

**Peru 2-2 Bolivia **

Substitute Roberto Palacios scored four minutes from time to rescue a point for Peru in their opening Group A match against Bolivia in Lima.

It rounded off a good fightback by the hosts who found themselves two goals down with just 23 minutes of regular time left to play.

Joaquin Botero put Bolivia ahead in the first-half with a stunning strike before Lorgio Alvarez added a second shortly after the interval break.

Claudio Pizzaro reduced Bolivia’s lead from the penalty spot in the 67th minute with Palacios salvaging a point in the 86th minute.

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Viva La Mexíco :>

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Uruguay and Mexico played out an exciting 2-2 draw.

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Saviola stuns Ecuador](BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Saviola stuns Ecuador)

**Argentina 6-1 Ecuador ** :eek:

Striker Javier Saviola scored a hat-trick in 15 minutes as the tournament favourites made light work of Group B rivals Ecuador.

Argentina were held at 1-1 was muchof the match until their second-half burst.

They took the lead through Cristian Gonzalez after five minutes before former Southampton striker Agustin Delgado came off the bench in the 61st minute to equalise.

Then Saviola took centre-stage to put Argentina back in the lead three minutes later.

He added another two in the 74th and 79th minutes. Andres D’Alessandro and Luis Gonzalez also scored to complete the rout.

Uruguay 2-2 Mexico

Paolo Montero’s 88th minute header rescued a draw for 10-man Uruguay against Mexico in the opening game of Group B at the Copa America.

The Uruguayans were reduced to 10 men when substitute Richard Morales was red-carded 10 minutes from time for a foul on Pavel Pardo.

Manchester United forward Diego Forlan had missed a couple of chances before Uruguay finally went ahead five minutes from half-time through Carlos Bueno.

Mexico equalised shortly after when Uruguay goalkeeper Luis Barbat misjudged a cross from Ricardo Osorio and allowed the ball to drop into the net.

Pardo then put Mexico 2-1 ahead in the 69th minute with a stunning shot from 25 yards, before Montero’s late cameo.

15

What the hell??
are they even showing it on any channel in north america???
is it on PPV??
i've been looking at my dish guide, it doesn't mention copa america ne where, not even on PPV.
oh well, i guess it's back to the great american, bore fest, past time now

16

All the matches are being shown live in UK on Sky Sports.

17

FTRAE and FTRAW are showin the matches on dishnetwork...channels 830 & 831 respectively...commentary will be in spanish though, since those are spanish channels :p

watch the Paraguay vs. Costa Rica game tonite on it @ 6:15 pm EST

in Canada, TLN is broadcasting the matches :)

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Paraguay 1- 0 Costarica

Brazil are playing a lacklustre game with chile. I m missing something here. Ronaldo played against Argentine in WC qualifier. But no Ronaldinho in that match, nor Roberto Carlos. And the whole trio is missing today as well. What has happened. This coach has falledn out with Ronaldinho and Carlos because this team certainly lacks flair and style so far. Can someone update me on this?

19

man. can't watch ne thing here. TLN sucks. and i dont get those spanish channels on my dish.
this is soooo queer!!

20

Fabiano saves Brazil](BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Fabiano saves Brazil)

Brazil 1-0 Chile

Fabiano popped up in the 91st minute to score the winner
Brazil left it late before opening their Copa America campaign with a win over Chile.

Luis Fabiano headed home a corner from Alex a minute into second-half injury time.

Brazil were without any of the 2002 World Cup winners, with coach Carlos Alberto Parreira resting the likes of Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldinho from the Copa.

And Chile had a golden chance to go ahead in the first half when they were awarded a penalty for Edu’s sliding tackle on Rodrigo Valenzuela.

Sebastian Gonzalez scored from the penalty spot only for the referee to call for a retake because Chilean players allegedly entered the box before the kick.

Gonzalez sent his second shot high over the crossbar.

Paraguay 1-0 Costa Rica

Julio dos Santos came off the bench to score a late winner as Paraguay beat Costa Rica in Group C at the Copa America on Thursday.

Santos scored a penalty in the 86th minute after Fredy Bareiro was brought down inside the box by Mauricio Wright.

Paraguay gradually found their way after a dismal first-half performance against a well-organised Costa Rican side, who were playing their first game under new coach Jorge Luis Pinto.

Fielding their under-23 team in preparation for the Athens Olympics Games, Paraguay struggled to string any moves together for much of the game.

However, Paraguay coach Carlos Jara Saguier was rewarded when he replaced defensive midfielder Jorge Britez with Dos Santos at half time.

Before his late penalty, Dos Santos had nearly put Paraguay ahead after some intricate play inside the box in the 71st minute, but his shot was saved by Costa Rica goalkeeper Ricardo Gonzalez.