Copa America 2011

[RedReet]

Seeing as I didn’t get the response I was hoping for in the Lucas thread, what are people’s thoughts?

Can Argentina really lose it with Messi, Tevez, Di Maria, Aguero, Pastore and Higuain going forward or will they be undone by their poor defence? Home advantage as well as recent friendly wins over Spain and Brazil must have them really fancying their chances.

Brazil look a bit more solid under Menezes, but despite having the likes of Robinho, Pato and Alves they aren’t as flamboyant as you’d expect from a Brazilian team. Individually, they certainly can’t compete with Argentina going forward. In saying that with Lucas bossing the midfield, they have to be fancied.

Don’t think Uruguay can win it, so am hoping they are put out at the group stage and Suarez returns home unscathed.

Really looking forward to it me and can see my annual leave and flexi taking a pasting during July.

[Fernandinho]

Are you trying to say that you are going? If so I hope you have a ball!!

Argentina have an incredible amount of talent up front at the moment, in no particular order...

Messi
Tevez
Aguero
Milito
Pastore
Higuain
Di Maria
Lavezzi
Perotti
Aimar
Riquelme

And some of those guys wont make the squad/choose not to play for the national team.

Their depth in attacking areas is truely astonishing.

[Craig_H]

Arent Aimar and Riquelme about 52 now?

[Fernandinho]

Aimar 31 and Riquelme 32

edit: riquelme recently turned 33

[RedReet]

Are you trying to say that you are going? If so I hope you have a ball!!

Argentina have an incredible amount of talent up front at the moment, in no particular order...

Messi
Tevez
Aguero
Milito
Pastore
Higuain
Di Maria
Lavezzi
Perotti
Aimar
Riquelme

And some of those guys wont make the squad/choose not to play for the national team.

Their depth in attacking areas is truely astonishing.

I f*cking wish (or maybe not after recent images from South America )

Nah, if I stay up for the late matches I'll probably not land into work the next day. Definitely booking days off after late Brazil and Uruguay matches.

[Fernandinho]

Ahh fair enough, I might try and tune into some of these games to catch Luis playing. Have the squads been announced and did Maxi make the Argentine squad?

[Fernandinho]

It seems he didn't. this is the Argentine Squad:


Goalkeepers: Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar).

Defenders: Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Gabriel Milito (Barcelona), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Nicolas Pareja (Spartak Moscow), Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscow).

Midfielders: Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Lucas Biglia (Anderlecht), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Ever Banega (Valencia), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid).

Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Atletico de Madrid), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Diego Milito (Inter Milan)

[Mr Darko]

Good man - was going to start a thread myself. Had quite a good look at Argentina's, Brazil's and Uruguay's last 18, 13 and 16 games respectively and the squads they put out in them.

Of course looking at the groups and subsequent matches it'd be highly likely an Argentina vs Brazil final.

Uruguay have looked quite impressive lately - they done well in their 1-1 game against Netherlands which they went on to win on penalties, Uruguay should have however won the game in 90 mins anyway as Suarez goal ruled 'offside' was completely wrong.

In their 2-1 loss away to Germany Suarez also had a goal wrongly ruled offside and the first goal was an absolute ****-up from their defender.

Also Suarez and Cavani have an impressive recent goal scoring and assist tally. The only slight concern regarding Uruguay is their CB who's captain - almost every threat Germany/Netherlands posed was down to him.

I don't want Uruguay to go out in group stage just so Suarez comes out unscathed, seems quite selfish thinking to me - I hope he wins the cup with them...Uruguay have an amazing history despite having such a tiny population, which deserves a lot respect. Plus it's always nice to see an underdog win.

Brazil haven't looked that dangerous to me so personally I think Uruguay could cause an 'upset' - i.e. if my calculations are correct if Brazil and Uruguay win their groups the two should face each other in the semi-final.

Likely final
Argentina vs Brazil (Argentina to win)

Hopefully
Argentina vs Uruguay (Uruguay to win)

[Fernandinho]

Lucas and Suarez are the only LFC players involed in the competition, here are the fixtures for their respective teams if anyone is interested...


July 3, 2011 16:00

Brazil v Venezuela

Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata




July 9, 2011 16:00

Brazil v Paraguay

Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba



July 13, 2011 21:45


Brazil v Ecuador

Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba




July 4, 2011 19:15

Uruguay v Peru

Estadio del Bicentenario, San Juan



July 8, 2011 19:15

Uruguay v Chile

Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza



July 12, 2011 21:45

Uruguay v Mexico

Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata



Looks like Uruguays group C is very much the group of death for the tornament. I can see it being a 3 way fight for the top 2 spots between Uruguay, Mexico and Chile. It will be very interesting to see who performs better between Luis and Sanchez when the two come up against each other.

I would also love to see Brazil vs Uruguay to see how Lucas manages to pick up Suarez in the area between defence and attack. I could see Luis giving Lucas a real hard time...

[RedReet]

Good man - was going to start a thread myself. Had quite a good look at Argentina's, Brazil's and Uruguay's last 18, 13 and 16 games respectively and the squads they put out in them.

Of course looking at the groups and subsequent matches it'd be highly likely an Argentina vs Brazil final.

Uruguay have looked quite impressive lately - they done well in their 1-1 game against Netherlands which they went on to win on penalties, Uruguay should have however won the game in 90 mins anyway as Suarez goal ruled 'offside' was completely wrong.

In their 2-1 loss away to Germany Suarez also had a goal wrongly ruled offside and the first goal was an absolute ****-up from their defender.

Also Suarez and Cavani have an impressive recent goal scoring and assist tally. The only slight concern regarding Uruguay is their CB who's captain - almost every threat Germany/Netherlands posed was down to him.

I don't want Uruguay to go out in group stage just so Suarez comes out unscathed, seems quite selfish thinking to me - I hope he wins the cup with them...Uruguay have an amazing history despite having such a tiny population, which deserves a lot respect. Plus it's always nice to see an underdog win.

Brazil haven't looked that dangerous to me so personally I think Uruguay could cause an 'upset' - i.e. if my calculations are correct if Brazil and Uruguay win their groups the two should face each other in the semi-final.

Likely final
Argentina vs Brazil (Argentina to win)

Hopefully
Argentina vs Uruguay (Uruguay to win)

Don’t get me wrong, if he was gonna go on and lift the trophy I’d be delighted for him or even make the final.

What I would prefer to avoid is for him to have to play a meaningless 3rd/4th place play-off extending his time away from our club even further.

And maybe selfish again, but I’m quite looking forward too seeing Lucas and Masch face each other in the final to see who comes out on top.

[Mr Darko]

Looks like Uruguays group C is very much the group of death for the tornament. I can see it being a 3 way fight for the top 2 spots between Uruguay, Mexico and Chile

Mexico aren't taking the Copa America seriously though - having just won the CONCACAF gold cup they have selected a weak team for this. If you look at their squad the majority are 20-22 years old and IIRC none of the gold cup players are on it (including Hernandez). If they sent their team that won the gold cup (assuming they weren't tired) then It'd definitely be a battle for 1st and 2nd.

^ So I think Uruguay & Chile will easily get the top two spots.

[Fernandinho]

I was just about to say that! I went through the squad and there is only 2 players from outside the Mexican league, both the Dos Santos boys. One from Spurs and the other playing for Barca B. The squad looks absolutely **** and is a joke. Mind you I don't really understand why they are playing in what I believed to be a south american competition?

[Mr Darko]

In every cup two nations are invited (that don't have to be in South America), Costa Rica were chosen to replace Japan, and Mexico is the other invited nation.

[RedReet]

Did I completely imagine it or were Spain invited but they declined?

[wavydavy]

Sorry feeling lazy. What time will the games be shown in uk?