Venezuela – Latin America’s Japan?

Watching Venezuela tonight I couldn’t help think how they reminded me of Japan. Perhaps the Japan of a few years ago, but Japan nevertheless.
The South Americans have a decent enough bunch of players who have mastered all the requisite technical skills. But they have yet to acquire the savvy and guile needed to succeed at [...]

Venezuela and Uruguay Wins Leave Group A Open

     Group A was blown wide open on Saturday after Uruguay overcame a lacklustre Bolivia 1-0 and hosts Venezuela beat Peru 2-0 in a controversial encounter that gave them only their second Copa America win in 40 years.
     The results mean that Venezuela top the group with four points, followed closely by Peru and Uruguay. [...]

Argentina’s Milito tipped for Barca

Argentine centre half Gabriel Milito could be Barcelona’s next signing.
Reports from Spain suggest that Roma are resisting Frank Rijkaard’s attempts to sign Romanian defender Christian Chivu and that he might turn his attention to the 26-year old Real Zaragoza stopper.
Milito denied any knowledge of the move at a press conference [...]

Dunga Turns to Premiership Stars

Brazil manager Dunga sees Manchester United’s new signing Anderson as the solution to his side’s lack of midfield creativity.
Anderson replaced Diego in the first team select during Friday’s training session. He came on at half time for the Werder Bremen star in the opening round defeat [...]

Politics and Sport – Together Again

This Copa America was always going to have a healthy dose of politics about it.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is the leader of Latin America’s left and perhaps the most virulent anti-American leader in the world today (he famously called George W. Bush the devil in a [...]

Pole Position Peru

     Peru go into this evening’s game against hosts Venezuela on a high and new Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro is confident the Andean side can repeat their good form of the opening match and secure a place in the quarter finals.
     Pizarro had a goal chalked off and was one of Peru’s star performers in [...]

Tevez is fans’ favourite – and with reason

One of the most surprising things about this tournament so far has been the off the field reaction to the Argentines and Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi in particular. Both young players have attracted attention worthy of pop idols or film stars.
Only one has played any football [...]

The Copa of Eastern Promise

One of the most interesting things about the Copa America is how it attracts attention from the oddest places. There are an incredible 7000 journalists accredited for this tournament and some of them come from nations with little or no footballing culture.
The Chinese Xinhua Agency has [...]

Basile Confident the Best is Yet to Come

Argentine manager Alfio Basile was a picture of contentment after last night’s 4-1 win over the US. The experienced coach said his team of superstars did not play as he had hoped but were nevertheless efficient and clinical, especially after falling behind to an early penalty.
“The team didn’t play as I wanted, although there were [...]

Beautiful Game Not for us: Chile’s Valdivia

 Chile started the Copa America with a fine come from behind display to overcome Ecuador but captain Jorge Valdivia has no love of the beautiful game clear and said his Chile side will play to win points rather than to friends.
The Palmeiras midfielder said points make prizes: “As long as we are winning, the football that we [...]

Some First Round Thoughts

Best game so far: Chile 3-2 Ecuador. This had a bit of everything and see-sawed all the way to its last gasp conclusion. Ecuador went ahead twice but Chile kept fighting back and grabbed a late winner from a fantastic free kick curled over the wall.
Biggest surprise: Mexico beat Brazil, fair enough. But it is [...]

Riquelme’s No to Madrid, Wants to Stay at Boca

Following yesterday’s reports that Villarreal had agreed to sell Riquelme to Atletico de Madrid, reports today in Argentina say the playmaker has no interest in going and would prefer to find a way to stay at Boca Juniors where he spent the last four months on loan.

Today’s Headlines

“Argentina make dream debut in Copa” – Infobae, Argentina
“La Selección do a good job in the end” – Clarín, Argentina
“Verón and Riquelme: The new partnership is already up and running. They showed patience in choosing each pass. And with Aimar both got better.” – Clarín.
“Albirroja Explosion” – La Nacion, Paraguay celebrate last night’s five goals [...]

Last Night’s Goals

Colombia-v-Paraguay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk-nVmZXQ6U
Argentina-v-USA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SmY_fny4Yw
The first round of games have been completed and the Copa is proving to be something of a goal-fest. Last night’s ten goals brings the goal-per-game average up to an extravagant four.

Favourites Off To Impressive Start

Falling behind to an understrength USA did not unduly trouble Argentina last night in their Copa opener. They quickly equalised through Crespo and then shortly after half-time threw on Pablo Aimar for Cambiasso and notched up three more goals – Crespo again, Aimar himself and late substitute Carlitos Tevez.
The omens were good for Argentina – [...]

Dunga’s problems mount as Fred pulls out of Copa

Brazil lost one of its strikers today when it was discovered that Lyon attacker Fred had broken a bone in his right foot during a practice game against a local Under-20 side and will take no further part in the Copa.
Coach Dunga is unable to call up a replacement now that the tournament has started [...]

Post-match Analysis from a São Paulo Taxi Driver

The patter in a São Paulo taxi today as the driver discussed Brazil’s loss to Mexico the night before:
“Dunga’s got to go. Now! He’s never been coach before, never. And now he’s in charge of the seleção? That’s not right. The players don’t respect him. Yeah, he’s won a World Cup medal but as a [...]

Copa’s 1st hat-trick as Paraguay hammer Colombia

A disastrous 5-0 drubbing for Colombia tonight as Bayern Munich striker Roque Santa Cruz bagged the Copa’s first hat-trick, helping Paraguay open their campaign with the tournament’s most emphatic victory so far.
His first goal came just two minutes after Colombia’s Alvaro Dominguez passed a penalty to grateful Paraguayan keeper Justo Villar.
He added two more before [...]

More skill and goals from Brazil’s Mexican tormentor

Those interested in seeing more of the man who scored a peach of an opener, then tormented Brazil’s defenders all through the game and capped his night by missing an open goal can check out his best moments here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htu9QZYttMs
At 1:25 he scores a goal from a remarkably similar situation to his miss last night, which [...]

Colombia: We’ll Abandon the Beautiful Game if needs be

Desperate to make up for the disappointment of recent years, Colombia have promised to sacrifice their traditional adherence to the beautiful game in order to survive the Group of Death, says coach Jorge Luis Pinto.
The other teams in Group C are Argentina, USA and Paraguay.
Colombia have a reputation for being one of South America’s flair [...]

Riquelme and Forlan off to Atlético de Madrid

According to reports in Spain Argentine ace Juan Roman Riquelme and Uruguay frontman Diego Forlan are set to move from Villarreal to the footballing purgatory otherwise known as Atlético de Madrid.
The clubs have agreed a fee of US$36 million and now it just remains for Madrid to agree personal terms with the players, which it [...]

Last Night’s Goals

Mexico Goals – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjf0J9Po8aI
Ecuador-v-Chile – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAWFj_oL_AI
Another round of matches another seven goals meaning the Copa has kicked-off with a very entertaining 3.5 goals per game average. While the pick of last night’s goals was Castillo’s opener against Brazil perhaps the most amazing goalmouth action on the night was his incredible miss right at the end. [...]

Brazil’s Morning After Savaging

Mexico B Humiliates the Brazil of Dunga – O Globo
Dunga Fails in First Game that Counts – Folha de S.Paulo
With Two Mistakes, Brazil Lose to Mexico on Debut – Estado de S.Paulo
“The Brazilian team is almost unbeatable. Almost.” – Hugo Sánchez, Mexico coach
“It was a funeral and ended a party” – La Nacion, Chile, celebrates [...]

Brazil Humbled By Mexican Second Team

Dunga’s career as a manager looked to hanging by a thread today after his lackluster Brazil side were embarrassed by a team of Mexican youngsters. Mexico humbled his side of stars 2-0 and it could have been more.
A goal midway through the first half from Mexico’s [...]

Afonso Alves – Brazil’s Mystery Man

O Globo’s Fernando Duarte on Brazil and Heerenveen striker Afonso Alves, pretty much unheard of back in Brazil, even less so as a striker, who now has a chance to break into the Brazil side.
blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/06/27/brazils_striking_pragmatista.html
El Arbitro is of the opinion that Afonso Alves is going to feature more in this Copa than people reckon. Vagner [...]

Brazil’s Santos Generation

Brazilian stars Robinho and Diego have been talking up this year’s Copa as their generation’s chance to leave behind their failure to qualify for the 2004 Olympics, when as the stars of the Under-23 squad they failed to make it to Athens.
But there is another generation in this Brazil squad – the Santos squad of [...]

Mexico face Brazil in disarray

Brazil’s media are close to talking up Mexico into a kind of bogey team for their seleção. The previews of tonight’s game have invariably included footage of Jared Borgetti’s goal in the 1-0 defeat in the Confederations Cup in 2005.
But this is a Mexico close to crisis following their 2-1 loss to bitter rivals [...]

Basile still flirting with Aimar

Argentina coach ‘Coco’ Basile is still flirting with the idea of dropping Cambiasso and starting Pablo Aimar alongside Verón and Riquelme in tomorrow’s opening game against the USA.
Aimar is a firm favourite of many Argentine fans but his international career has been hampered by injuries. But after a season at Real Zaragoza in which he [...]

Tostão on Brazil’s chances

Há muitas dúvidas sobre a qualidade do time brasileiro, que poderá ter grandes dificuldades para vencer todos os adversários e que também poderá ser campeão, mesmo com um time inferior ao da Argentina.
A principal preocupação tem sido o ataque…..Não será surpresa se os defensores forem os artilheiros da seleção.
Folha de S.Paulo, 27/06/07
[There [...]

Last Night’s Goals

Peru-v-Uruguay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnwC9fETiJE

Venezuela-v-Bolivia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElDh559m0Xo
Seven goals from last night’s first round of Group A, several very pleasing on the eye, not bad considering this was most people’s weakest group. El Arbitro’s pick of the bunch? Paolo Guerrero’s against Uruguay: simple take but great one-two with Mendoza in the build-up.

Maradona makes opening after all

Diego Maradona showed up for the opening ceremony last night after all. It had been reported that organisers balked at his demands that be paid US$1.5 million to take part. But the Argentine legend took to the field with presidents Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Evo Morales of Bolivia ahead of their two countries 2-2 [...]

Wednesday’s Headlines

Criminal Refereeing – Meridiano, Caracas, still angry at the two clear penalties not given last night.
Bolivia scratch out a point – La Prensa, La Paz, preferring to reflect on Bolivia’s fighting spirit in coming from behind twice.
Peru surprise in the opener and thrash Uruguay 3-0 – Peru21, which obviously didn’t share coach Julio César [...]

Venezuela lets historic vicory slip from grasp

Hosts Venezuela let the chance of an historic Copa America victory slip from their grasp tonight, when they could only draw 2-2 with Bolivia, having twice taken the lead. The hosts can claim they were hard done by as the referee failed to award them two clear penalties but the Bolivians will feel they showed [...]

Peru thrash Uruguay in opening game

When coach Julio César Uribe said on arrival in Venezuela that he fully expected his side to achieve its objective “which is to win the Copa” there were plenty of sniggers around the continent.
It has been decades since his country’s footballing heyday and rather than fighting it out for titles Peru has in recent years [...]

Pelé and Maradona price themselves out of Copa opening

A report in Chile’s La Tercera says Maradona demanded a fee of US$1.5 million in order to open the Copa America tonight in Venezuela. When they heard his demands organisers instead tried to tempt Pelé to do the honours. But he asked for almost US$1 million and plans had to be abandoned to have one [...]

‘Argentine overwhelming favourites’ says continent’s football fraternity

A poll of South America’s football experts named Argentina the overwhelming favourites to win the Copa America, which kicks off tonight in Venezuela.
A whopping 77 percent of respondents named Argentina as clear favourites, with Brazil second with just 17 percent seeing them as eventual winners. Uruguay and Paraguay were tied for third favourites with just [...]

Tevez: I’d prefer Inter over Real Madrid

Carlos Tevez told reporters that while he is aware of Real Madrid’s interst in signing him from West Ham/Kia Joorabchian that he would prefer a move to Inter Milan. In the past Tevez has said he likes the idea of a move to Inter saying it would be easy to aclimatise to Italian football given [...]

Aimar makes case for starting place

Real Zaragoza playmaker Pablo Aimar has left Argentine coach Alfio Basile with a selection headache ahead of Thursday’s debut. Aimar shone for the reserves – outplaying his first team rivals in yesterday’s training match so much so that in the second half Basile swapped him with Cambiasso.
But can he force his way into Thursday’s team? [...]

Venezuela aims for revolutionary victory over ally

Hosts Venezuela start their campaign tonight against fellow Copa whipping boys Bolivia in the Group A first-round clash in San Cristóbal. Among the sell out crowd are expected to be Venezuela’s president Hugo Chávez and his Bolivian ally president Evo Morales.
Chávez has spent over US$1 billion on hosting the Copa in a bid to boost [...]

Messi: One day I want to play in Argentina

Lionel Messi told reporters yesterday that one day he would like to play for a club back in his native Argentina. “I do not plan to move team. People treat me very well in Spain and I have no problem with the [Barcelona] directors. But one day I want to play in Argentina and realise [...]

Messi: I want revenge against Brazil

Barcelona ace Lionel Messi said he is ready for revenge against Brazil after the 3-0 drubbing the Argentines suffered at the hands of their biggest rivals in London last year.
“Perhaps Brazil is the only squad more powerful than us and is always a rival to be beaten,” he told reporters at Argentina’s camp in Maracaibo. [...]

Recoba out of Uruguay opener

Group A favourites Uruguay will be without Inter Milan star Alvaro Recoba for their opener tonight against Peru in Mérida. Recoba strained a muscle in his right leg in training on Sunday and will be replaced by Fabián Estoyanoff of Deportivo La Coruña.

Brazil team for Mexican opener

Based on Monday’s training session Dunga looks set to play the following 11 players for Brazil’s opener tomorrow night against Mexico in Puerto Ordaz:
Doni
Maicon, Alex, Juan e Gilberto
Gilberto Silva, Mineiro, Elano e Diego
Robinho e Vágner Love
As expected new Chelsea man Alex starts in central defence and there is plenty of running and tackling in a [...]

It’s the final or failure, Tevez says

Argentine striker Carlos Tevez has warned that anything less than a place in the final of the Copa America will make him and his teammates losers. The West Ham star said Argentina have all their top players available for the tournament and must go all the way.
“If we don’t get to the final it [...]

Semi final taken from Caracas

Organisers have moved one of the semi-finals due to be played in Caracas after deciding the ground does not meet security obligations.
The game, due to be played on July 10, will now take place in Maracaibo. It is the second game to be moved for security concerns and heightens long-standing worries that the venues, a [...]

Tevez Out of Argentine Opener

Initial news from the Argentina camp suggests that West Ham United’s inspirational striker Carlos Tevez has been left out of the team that will face the US in their Group C opener on Thursday.
Tevez played for the reserves against the starting 11 in team training matches and complained about being left out to reporters after [...]

Coming soon…..the Copa America!

All the best news and views from South America’s premier football tournament.
El Arbitro will be in Venezuela to cover the Copa and send you all the latest news and gossip. His linesmen will be scouring the continent to bring you all the local reaction to the results.
Starting next week with regular updates from Venezuela.
See the [...]