Copa America Argentina 2011

Group A: Argentina,Bolivia, Costa Rica, Colombia
Group B : Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, Ecuador
Group C: Uruguay, Mexico, Chile, Peru


Matches Group A:
- Argentina - Bolivia - [01/07/2011 - 21:45 (00:45+ GMT) - Ciudad de La Plata]
- Colombia - Costa Rica - [02/07/2011 - 15:30 (18:30 GMT) - 23 de Agosto]
- Argentina - Colombia - [06/07/2011 - 21:45 (00:45+ GMT) - Olímpico de Córdoba]
- Bolivia - Costa Rica - [07/07/2011 - 19:15 (22:15 GMT) - 23 de Agosto]
- Colombia - Bolivia - [10/07/2011 - 16:00 (19:00 GMT) - Cementerio de Elefantes]
- Argentina - Costa Rica - [11/07/2011 - 21:45 (00:45+ GMT) - Olímpico de Córdoba]

Matches Group B
- Brasil - Venezuela - [03/07/2011 - 16:00 (19:00 GMT) - Ciudad de La Plata]
- Paraguay - Ecuador - [03/07/2011 - 18:30 (21:30 GMT) - Cementerio de Elefantes]
- Brasil - Paraguay - [09/07/2011 - 16:00 (19:00 GMT) - Olímpico de Córdoba]
- Venezuela - Ecuador - [09/07/2011 - 18:30 (21:30 GMT) - Padre Ernesto Martearena]
- Paraguay - Venezuela - [13/07/2011 - 19:15 (22:15 GMT) - Padre Ernesto Martearena]
- Brasil - Ecuador - [13/07/2011 - 21:45 (00:45+ GMT) - Olímpico de Córdoba]

Matches Group C
- Uruguay - Perú - [04/07/2011 - 19:15 (22:15 GMT) - Malvinas Argentinas]
- Chile - México - [04/07/2011 - 21:45 (00:45+ GMT) - Malvinas Argentinas]
- Perú - México - [08/07/2011 - 19:15 (22:15 GMT) - Malvinas Argentinas]
- Uruguay - Chile - [08/07/2011 - 21:45 (00:45+ GMT) - Malvinas Argentinas]
- Chile - Perú - [12/07/2011 - 19:15 (22:15 GMT) - Malvinas Argentinas]
- Uruguay - México - [12/07/2011 - 21:45 (00:45+ GMT) - Ciudad de La Plata]


Once all teams have confirmed squads ill post them.

Who do you think will win it, and who do you want to win it? How  do I add a poll on this thread  

Titles
Argentina 14
Uruguay 14
Brazil 8
Paraguay 2
Peru 2
Colombia 1
Bolivia 1

Suarez to start in Uruguay, Lucas in Brazil

I think Brasil can go on and win it despite Argentina's home advantage and the Messi factor. Because at international level he has shown that he is a different player then that at Barca. I think as an entire squad Brasil is more complete defensively they are much more solid then the Argies and I expect big things from the likes of Neymar and Ganso plus Lucas is there too would do his experience and confidence a world of good if they were to go on and win it.

I see Uruguay as the dark horse of the tournament and they are more then capable of springing up a few surprises think Cavani, Forlan and Suarez can terrorise any defense plus "El Maestro" is no mug either.

Is this on the tele in England anybody?

ESPN mate

Brazil to win , Argentina will choke under the pressure and Batista isn't really sure of his best 11 and cannot get the balance right.

As much as it's an important competition, even more so for Brazil as we don't have any qualifying games for the next World Cup, I don't really bother about the title.

We won the last 2 Copa Americas playing B sides, without our main stars, and those trophies came after 2 victories in the finals against Argentina - in the last one they already had Messi, while we had the likes of Doni, Mineiro, Josué, Julio Baptista...

We also won the last 2 Confederations Cup.

In both cases, those trophies were used as excuses (valid excuses, though) to keep managers in their jobs who, despite winning games, were hardly convincing. Parreira's name will live in history for winning the WC 94, but in his last spell with Brazil he was just a shadow of himself, trying to accommodate the so called magic quartet and failing miserably. Dunga should have never been appointed in the first place.

And I feel the same about Mano Menezes. He's not the man to guide Brazil in its most important competition of the past decades. To play a World Cup in your country is a sublime moment and we just can't afford losing - that's the general sentiment here. Mano simply isn't up to it, I don't think.

Football historians say Maracanazzo (the defeat in the WC 50 final at home against Uruguay) is what made Brazil so successful - the shock of losing a title the national newspapers announced as won even before the final match woke up our football team against complacency and installed a much more professional, winning mentality.

Now everyone is willing to correct this historic mistake and win the World Cup at home. It has to happen, anything else is catastrophe. Not saying it's correct, but that's how it's going to be.

Mano Menezes isn't the man for the task, and if that means losing a Copa America so he can go away, then so be it. Come on... er... Colombia!!

Diego I think you are completely underestimating the event.

The tournament may be losing its sheen, it may not have the glamour of a EURO, but it is still a continental tournament.
I, atleast, will be watching it. Especially the Argentina matches.

Would it be possible for the original poster to add in the LFC players involved to the top of this thread.

Maybe all our targets are playing in this

Diego I think you are completely underestimating the event.

The tournament may be losing its sheen, it may not have the glamour of a EURO, but it is still a continental tournament.
I, atleast, will be watching it. Especially the Argentina matches.

I'll be watching every game possible mate, I love it. But it's not even close to the Euro. As I said in the last 2 Copa Americas Brazil decided to send a weakened team without its stars to give some players more chances to prove themselves and still won it - the last one quite easily, with a 3-0 win in the final against a complete Argentina.

Interesting that Argentina and Uruguay both on same number of titles.

You would have thought that would have added some extra spice and determination amongst those teams to play more of a 'first team' this time around.

Actually it's only Brazil that played B teams in the last competitions. Argentina and Uruguay both had their best players. And they've been with the same number of titles since 95, given Brazil won 4 of the last 5 Copa Americas.

The Copa America's bizarre rules include inviting teams from other federations. Even f***in Japan has played it once. Mexico is the most common invited nation; USA and Costa Rica come after. This year it's going to be bloody Mexico again, can't stand them.

I'll be watching every game possible mate, I love it. But it's not even close to the Euro. As I said in the last 2 Copa Americas Brazil decided to send a weakened team without its stars to give some players more chances to prove themselves and still won it - the last one quite easily, with a 3-0 win in the final against a complete Argentina.

Your last final was easy, your last semi was quite hard if I recall well.

This might be the most "complete" Copa in a long long time. Almost all teams are at full strenght.
Suarez, Messi, Tevez, Sanchez, Cavani,Neymar, Robinho, Pato, Ganso, Dani Alvez, Maicon, Lavezzi, Aguero,Forlan,Pastore, Higuain, Zanetti, and many more i may forget. Its not as devaluated as you might think. Maybe it does not have the glamour the Euro has, but still...

Would it be possible for the original poster to add in the LFC players involved to the top of this thread.

Done

Messi??? whos that??? HA! I think argentina will win this one on home soil!! gutted its not on skysports!!

Messi??? whos that??? HA! I think argentina will win this one on home soil!! gutted its not on skysports!!

Nah, last time argies organized one ,in 1987, the had a number 10 called Diego...and still lost to us  (having Enzo, Ruben Paz, Ruben Sosa, Alzamendi, etc in our team might have helped  )
I hope we can spoil the party once again , since we are the only team to have won cups both in Argentina and Brazil, and we never lost a match at home.

But I guess you are right, Argentina lookss good to win it. Brazil has a great squad, but I dont like their coach

Your last final was easy, your last semi was quite hard if I recall well.

This might be the most "complete" Copa in a long long time. Almost all teams are at full strenght.
Suarez, Messi, Tevez, Sanchez, Cavani,Neymar, Robinho, Pato, Ganso, Dani Alvez, Maicon, Lavezzi, Aguero,Forlan,Pastore, Higuain, Zanetti, and many more I may forget. Its not as devaluated as you might think. Maybe it does not have the glamour the Euro has, but still...

I'm looking forward to a great competition. I just mean that I'm not desperate to win it. Winning the Copa America for the 3rd time in a row means we'll certainly keep a manager who I think is not Brazil standard. And I know we can win it with poor managers and somewhat average squads, we've just done it twice - it's not like if winning the Copa America means we're ready for the WC. I don't care if it's a continental competition... if we don't ever win a Copa America again, but it means winning more World Cups - in this particular case, it means having a bigger chance of succeeding in one of the most important World Cups in history for us -, then I'm satisfied.

Is Maxi not in the Argentina squad?

Is Maxi not in the Argentina squad?

No, he was not a regular starter, and now he lost his place in the 23 to Banega, from Valencia.
By the way, I think Argentina still lacks balance. Not a great defence, and I still have doubts about who will feed Messi with the ball. Unless the can find that partner for him, its South Africa all over again for them.

My Prediction is a semifinal between Brazil and Uruguay, and whoever wins that will beat Argentina in the final, just like last time.
ARGENTINA SQUAD
         
Carrizo      1.87      27         GK       River         
Garay      1.82      24         DF     Centre-back   R.Madrid         
Zabaleta      1.74      26         DF     Either side back/Defensive midfielder   Man Cit         
Burdisso      1.83      30         DF     Centre-back/Either side back   Roma         
Cambiasso      1.78      30         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder   Inter         
Milito, G      1.79      30         DF     Centre-back   Barcelona         
Di Maria      1.80      23         FW     Either side wing/Attacking midfielder   R.Madri         
Zanetti      1.78      37         DF     Either side back/Defensive midfielder   Inter
Higuaín      1.82      23         FW     Striker/Either side wing   R.Madri
Messi      1.69      24         FW       Barcelona   
Tevez      1.73      27         FW     Striker/Forward   Man City         
Andújar      1.80      27         GK       Catania   
Pareja      1.80      27         DF     Centre-back   Spartak M
Mascherano      1.74      27         MF     Defensive midfielder/Centre-back   Barcelona
Biglia      1.78      25         MF     Defensive midfielder   RSCA         
Agüero      1.72      23         FW     Striker/Attacking midfielder   A.Madrid      
Rojo      1.87      21         DF     Left-back/Centre-back   Spartak M
Pastore      1.73      22         MF     Attacking midfielder   Palermo
Banega      1.73      23         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder   Valencia         
Gago      1.77      25         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder   R.Madrid         
Lavezzi      1.72      26         FW     Striker/Either side wing   Napoli         
Milito, D      1.77      32         FW     Striker   Inter         
Romero, Sergio      1.91      24         GK       AZ



URUGUAY SQUAD
Muslera      1.90      24         GK       Lazio
Lugano      1.88      30         DF     Centre-back   Fenerbhce
Godín      1.85      25         DF     Centre-back   A.Madrid
Gargano      1.68      26         MF     Defensive midfielder   Napoli
Victorino      1.82      28         DF     Centre-back   Cruzeiro
Rodríguez, Cristian      1.75      25         FW     Left-wing   Porto
Cavani      1.88      24         FW     Striker/Right-wing   Napoli
Eguren      1.86      30         MF     Defensive midfielder   Sp.Gijon
Suárez, Luis      1.81      24         FW     Striker/Either side wing   Liverpool
Forlan      1.81      32         FW     Striker/Left-wing   A.Madrid
Pereira, Alvaro      1.82      26         DF     Left-back/Left-midfield   Porto
Castillo, Juan      1.81      33         GK       Colo Colo
Abreu, S      1.93      34         FW     Striker   Botafogo
Lodeiro      1.73      22         MF     Attacking midfielder   Ajax
Pérez, Diego      1.76      31         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder/Right-midfield   Bologna
Pereira, Maxi      1.73      27         DF     Right-back/Right-midfield   Benfica
Arévalo      1.68      29         MF     Defensive midfielder   Botafogo
Scotti      1.83      35         DF     Centre-back/Right-back   Colo Colo
Gonzales, Alvaro (1984)      1.76      26         MF     Right-midfield   Lazio
Cáceres, Martin      1.78      24         DF     Centre-back/Either side back   Sevilla
Silva, M      1.87      28         GK       Def.Sport
Hernández, Abel      1.85      20         FW     Striker   Palermo
Coates      1.96      20         DF     Centre-back   Nac.Mvdeo



BRAZIL SQUAD
Julio Cesar      1.86      31         GK       Inter
Daniel Alves      1.73      28         DF     Right-back/Right-midfield   Barcelona
Lucio      1.88      33         DF     Centre-back   Inter
Thiago Silva      1.83      26         DF     Centre-back/Defensive midfielder   Milan
Lucas Leiva      1.79      24         MF     Defensive midfielder   Liverpool
Andre Santos      1.80      28         DF     Left-back/Left-midfield   Fenerbhce
Robinho      1.75      27         FW     Striker/Left-wing   Milan
Ramires      1.79      24         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder/Either side midfield   Chelsea
Alexandre Pato      1.79      21         FW     Striker   Milan
Ganso      1.84      21         MF     Attacking midfielder   Santos
Neymar      1.74      19         FW     Striker/Either side wing   Santos
Victor, Bagy      1.93      28         GK       Grêmio
Maicon      1.86      29         DF     Right-back   Inter
Luisão      1.93      30         DF     Centre-back   Benfica
Sandro, Raniere      1.87      22         MF     Defensive midfielder   Tottenham
Elano      1.74      30         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder/Right-midfield   Santos
Elias, MT      1.73      26         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder   A.Madrid
Lucas, Marcelinho      1.72      18   MF     Attacking midfielder/Either side midfield   São Paulo
Fred      1.85      27         FW     Striker   Fluminense
Jadson      1.68      27         MF     Attacking midfielder   Shakhtar
Adriano, Correia      1.73      26         MF     Either side midfield/Either side back   Barcelona
Jefferson, Galvao      1.87      28         GK       Botafogo
David Luiz      1.87      24         DF     Centre-back/Left-back   Chelsea
   

      
CHILE SQUAD
Bravo, C      1.83      28         GK       R.Sociedad
Silva, Fco      1.78      25         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder/Either side midfield   U.C.
Ponce, W      1.82      29         DF     Centre-back   Cruz Azul
Isla      1.77      23         MF     Right-midfield/Right-back   Udinese
Contreras, P      1.78      32         DF     Centre-back   PAOK
Carmona      1.79      24         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder/Either side midfield   Atalanta
Sanchez, A      1.68      22         FW     Right-wing/Striker   Udinese
Vidal, Arturo      1.78      24         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder/Either side back   Leverkusn
Suazo, H      1.72      30         FW     Striker   Monterrey
Valdivia      1.73      27         MF     Attacking midfielder/Either side midfield   Palmeiras
Jimenez      1.80      27         MF     Attacking midfielder/Right-midfield   Cesena
Pinto, Miguel      1.80      27         GK       Atlas
Estrada, M      1.78      28         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder/Left-back   Montpel'r
Fernandez, M      1.76      25         MF     Attacking midfielder/Left-midfield   Sporting
Beausejour      1.78      27         FW     Left-wing   Birminghm
Muñoz, Carlos      1.74      22         FW     Striker/Either side wing   S.Wand
Medel      1.71      23         MF     Defensive midfielder/Defender   Sevilla
Jara      1.77      25         DF     /Defensive midfielder   West Brom
Fierro      1.71      28         MF     Either side midfield/Striker   Flamengo
Millar      1.83      29         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder/Either side midfield   Colo Colo
Gutiérrez, Felipe      1.70      20         MF     Attacking midfielder/Left-midfield   U.C.
Paredes, E      1.77      30         FW     Striker/Attacking midfielder   Colo Colo
Garcés, P      1.81      26         GK       U.C.


PARAGUAY SQUAD
         

Villar      1.80      34         GK       Valladlid         
Caceres, M      1.82      25         DF     Centre-back/Right-back   Racing
Marecos      1.82      31         DF     Centre-back/Left-back   Guaraní
Verón, Dario      1.81      31         DF     Centre-back   Pumas
Alcaraz      1.84      28         DF     Centre-back   Wigan
Piris, I            22         DF       Cerro Por
Valdez      1.78      27         FW       Hercules
Barreto      1.75      26         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder   Atalanta
Zeballos      1.81      25         FW     Striker   Olimpia
Santa Cruz      1.91      29         FW     Striker   Blackburn
Estigarribia      1.81      23         MF     Left-midfield/Box-to-Box midfielder   Newells
Barreto, D      1.82      29         GK       Cerro Por
Vera, E      1.79      32         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder/Right-midfield   LUDQ
da Silva, P      1.81      31         DF     Centre-back   Zaragoza
Caceres, V      1.86      26         MF     Defensive midfielder/Centre-back   Libertad
Riveros      1.79      28         MF     Defensive midfielder   Sunderland
Torres, Aureliano      1.78      29         MF     Left-midfield/Left-back   S.Lorenzo
Santana, J      1.81      29         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder   Kayserisp
Barrios      1.87      26         FW     Striker   BVB
Ortigoza      1.80      26         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder/Right-midfield   S.Lorenz
Fernandez, R Jr      1.91      23         GK       Racing
Martinez, Osvaldo      1.67      25         MF     Attacking midfielder   Monterrey
Pérez, H      1.80      22         FW     Right-wing/Striker   Villarreal

COLOMBIA SQUAD
      
Ramos, N            29         GK       Millos
Zapata, Cr      1.86      24         DF     Centre-back/Right-back   Udinese
Yepes      1.86      35         DF     Centre-back   Milan
Bolívar            26         MF       Tolima
Anchico      1.79      27         MF       Pachuca
Sánchez, Carlos    1.82      25         MF     Defensive midfielder   Valencnns
Armero      1.74      24         DF     Left-back/Left-midfield   Udinese
Aguilar, A      1.85      26         MF     Defensive midfielder   Hercules
Falcao, R      1.77      25         FW     Striker   Porto
Cuadrado, JG            23         DF       Udinese
Rodallega      1.81      25         FW     Striker/Left-midfield   Wigan
Martinez, Neco      1.86      28         GK       O. Caldas
Guarín      1.84      25         MF     Box-to-Box midfielder   Porto
Perea, L      1.81      32         DF     Centre-back/Right-back   A.Madrid
Valencia, Juan            25         DF       Junior
Soto, E      1.78      30         MF     Left-midfield/Box-to-Box midfielder   Mainz
Dayro Moreno      1.78      25      MF     Attacking midfielder/Either side midfield   Tijuana
Zuñiga      1.72      25         DF     Right-back   Napoli
Gutiérrez, T      1.79      26         FW       Racing
Ramos, Adrian      1.85      25         FW     Striker/Either side wing   Hertha
Martínez, Jackson      1.84      24         FW     Striker   Jaguares
Mosquera, A      1.82      30         DF     Centre-back/Right-back   America
Castillo, B            33         GK       DIM

Argentina seriously lacks in defence.
But they've got a whole big variety of attacking options to choose from.

Should be a fantastic competition.. Really looking forward to watching it, hoping Uruguay do well, hoping they go all the way. Will be Interesting to watch from out view point though, suarez/ Lucas.. And a whole host of possible new signings.

Eight minutes gone and the Argies all over Bolivia.

A stream for anybody who wants it

http://copa-america-vivo.blogspot.com/

These commentators are F***ing boss!!

How's the game so far (1st half)?