And That Was LFW On The 2007 Copa America!

And so after a great three weeks of football it is time for us to take a break and then get back to the day jobs and make some money.
Thanks to everyone who dropped by, we’ve really enjoyed meeting up here with so many other fans of Latin football and come the end of August [...]

Adios Venezuela y Muchas Gracias

They said a Copa America wouldn’t work in “the country of baseball.” They said that political shenanigans would overshadow the football. And they said that the stadiums wouldn’t be ready.
They were partly right about the stadiums. The rest was nonsense. This Copa America has been the best in years. Not because of the goals, that [...]

Why Brazilian Fans Should Not Be Celebrating Today

Once again Brazil’s success on the field will obscure another tragic defeat off it.
Ricardo Teixeira, the corrupt oligarch that has run Brazilian football since 1989, will be reelected for a 6th term as president of the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) today.
He is a tax-dodging autocrat whose rule over Brazilian football has been dogged by [...]

The Goals That Won the Copa – Last Night’s Highlights

We can argue endlessly about which were the Copa’s best goals, but these are the ones that counted the most in the end:
Brazil 3-0 Argentina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a1NZzbCBTQ&mode=related&search=
And here are the goals from the 3rd place play-off:
Uruguay 1-3 Mexico:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6hiLuZNUpM

Robinho Named Copa America’s Best Player While Riquelme’s Enigma Grows

Robinho was named the Copa America’s best player and also finished as top scorer with six goals, one ahead of Juan Roman Riquelme who today merely embellished his reputation for being one of football’s most enigmatic stars.
Speaking after the final whistle Robinho recognized that Brazil had not exactly shone through the tournament.
“This was a group [...]

Quick Reaction From Back Home

“Brazil humiliates Argentina, scores three and conquers second consecutive Copa” – O Globo, Brazil
“Argentina suffer a nightmare against Brazil” – Clarin, Argentina
“Another defeat which hurts the soul…… Brazil deserved it.” – La Nacion, Argentina
“Brazil relive 2004, pass Argentine by with ease and conquer the Copa America.” – Folha de S.Paulo, Brazil
“Sadness without end” – Olé, [...]

Brazil Campeão! A Seleção Sees Off Argentina 3-0

Julio Baptista 4th
Ayala o.g. 40th
Daniel Alves 69th
Brazil! Even when not their old selves beware. They’re still Brazil. Fancied by few before the game A Seleção turned Copa form on its head and showing guts and a killer instinct saw off the tournament’s best team with increasing ease as the game wore on.
Football purists will lament [...]

HT Brazil 2-0 Argentina

Julio Baptista 4th
Ayala o.g 40th
Argentina have it all to do in the second half if they are to turn around the final having fallen behind to a thundering early strike from Julio Baptista and an own goal from their captain Ayala who turned into his own goal a Daniel Alves cross in the 40th minute.
The [...]

Tevez Starts, Elano In For Gilberto Silva

Argentina start with the same team that defeated Mexico in the semi-final, with Tevez keeping his place despite Crespo’s return from injury.
For Brazil Elano comes in for suspended captain Gilberto Silva, with Juan wearing the armband in his absence.
The teams:
Argentina:
Abbondanzieri
Zanetti – Ayala – Milito – Heinze
Verón – Mascherano – Cambiasso
Riquelme
Tevez – Messi
Brazil:
Doni
Maicon – Alex – [...]

Tostão Lets Rip At Brazil

As well as being a Brazilian legend for his part in that golden Mexican triumph of 1970, Tostão is now one of Brazil’s most perceptive – and hence most respected – football analysts. With an economy that would shame his colleagues around the world, twice a week he gets right to the heart of footballing [...]

Footballing Success In The Land of Béisbol

The Miami Herald’s Phil Gunson hails the success of the Copa America in the land of béisbol.

“For us, football is tragic, but for them it isn’t”

“We use (the ball) to achieve an objective, they use it for their personal pleasure. And that has to do with the way of seeing life. For us, football is tragic, but for them it isn’t.”
So said Argentine defender Roberto Perfumo who played in both countries during his career. LFW’s own Andrew Downie, looks [...]

The 5 Match-Ups That Could Decide Today’s Final

Doni -v- Argentina’s Attack
Doni was considered something of a flop in Brazilian football wandering between clubs before to the surprise of everyone he fetched up at Roma. Another surprise was the fact Dunga named him in his starting 11 when everyone expected him to be on the bench. He’s been at fault for several goals [...]

Argentina-v-Brazil: The Big Match Preview

Argentina and Brazil meet in the final of the Copa America in Venezuela today and the football press is marveling at the role reversal of Argentina playing the silky football and Brazil’s turn as the dour defensive team packed with scrappers.
Of course there is some amnesia involved in all this. Sunday will not be the [...]

Mexico beat Uruguay 3-1 To Finish 3rd

Mexico came from a goal down to clinch third place in the Copa America for the third time after they beat 10-man Uruguay 3-1 in Caracas this evening.
Abreu opened the scoring for Uruguay in the 21st minute but Mexico equalised when Blanco scored from the spot in the 35th minute as Uruguay were reduced to [...]

Tevez To Start Final; Crespo On Bench

Argentina will start tomorrow’s Copa America final against Brazil with Carlos Tevez alongside Lionel Messi in the same starting 11 that overcame Mexico in the Wednesday’s semi.
Basile said Tevez would start in prefence to Hernan Crespo, his first choice striker who is fit again after a muscle injury sustained against Colombia in his country’s second match [...]

Blatter Loves Love

FIFA President Sepp Blatter thinks that Vanger Love was the best player of the Copa America.
Blatter said Love, along with Argentina’s Lionel Messi, were his personal favourites from the tournament.
It would be hard to take Blatter seriously were he not so brilliant at holding onto power at such  an influential and powerful organisation as FIFA.  He [...]

Elano Favoured To Replace Gilberto Silva

Elano is in line to replace the suspended Gilberto Silva in Brazil’s midfield for tomorrow’s Copa America showdown with Argentina.
The Shaktar Donetsk utility man took over in Gilberto Silva’s midfield role during Dunga’s training session on Friday. The first team chosen by Dnga for the run out lost 1-0 to the 11 reserves.
Elano’s inclusion would not be a [...]

Argentina And The Heat of Maracaibo

Maracaibo – where tomorrow’s final will be played – is the hottest and most humid of the Copa’s host cities providing a factor that might work against Argentina.
Sunday’s game at 18:05 will be the earliest kick-off they have yet faced and that after one day’s less recovery from their semi-final than the Brazil squad has [...]

The Five Reasons Mexico Is Going For A Sorry Hat-trick

Today’s game against Uruguay will see Mexico trying to win the third place play-off for the third time, having won one of the most dispiriting games in football already in 1997 and 1999.
Mexico’s El Universal goes over the five reasons why the Tri ended up once again in tonight’s game and not tomorrow’s final:
1.
The inclusion [...]

Still Bitter, Uruguay Prepare For 3rd Place Play-Off

Uruguay face Mexico this evening in Caracas in the 3rd place play-off still bitter about their elimination by Brazil in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-final.
Uruguayans claim they were let down by the refereeing on Tuesday night which should have ordered their final penalty kick be retaken as Brazil’s Doni was several strides off his [...]

Selection Headache For Basile As Crespo Passed Fit

Argentina striker Hernan Crespo was passed fit by team doctors today. He is now available for selection for Sunday’s final against Brazil.
While good news for Argentina it leaves coach Coco Basile with a selection headache. Carlos Tevez had seen off competition from Diego Milito to replace Crespo since he pulled a thigh muscle in Argentina’s [...]

Tango-v-Samba

Argentina’s own Marcela Mora y Araujo is blogging on the final over on Football Unlimited here.

The Copa’s Best 11?

It has been a cracking tournament and a very open and attacking antidote to the cautious sterility of the World Cup last summer. So cheers to all 12 teams for making a go of it. But who are the tournament’s best players? Here’s our best 11. We’d be interested in hearing your thoughts:
GK: Ochoa (Mexico)
Very [...]

Fantastic Copa, Shame About The Driving

Maracaibo is filling up for the final and the traffic is destined to get even worse than usual.
The thing that has surprised me most about Venezuela is the driving. My colleagues and I used to argue over which country had the worst drivers: Brazil or Argentina. Both have unenviable rates of traffic fatalities. The correct [...]

Revenge? Of Course, Says Messi

A final against Brazil is exactly what Lionel Messi wanted. He said it before the tournament even started and he repeated it yesterday: “I said it before: I wanted to play in the final of the Copa America against Brazil. I’ve been wanting to play them since we lost 3-0 against them in September last [...]

Venezuela’s Baseball-v-Football Divide

Part of CONMEBOL’s reasoning for awarding this year’s Copa to Venezuela was to speed the advance of football in a baseball-mad country. But what’s the reason behind baseball’s supremacy over football in this corner of a football-obsessed continent? Find out here.

The Ten Keys To Argentina’s Copa Success

This morning’s La Nacion in Argentina identifies the 10 reasons behind Argentina’s Copa success:
1.  Superiority over its rivals:
In terms of possession, chances at goal, mentality, individual responses, collective support.
2. Patience and ability to wear down its opponents:
The team has always projected serenity and belief in its abilities and resources, even when going behind or when [...]

Brazilian Judge Orders Jail For Tevez Agent

The legal murk that surrounds the affairs of Argentina striker Carlos Tevez deepened further today.
A Brazilian judge has ordered the arrest of Tevez’s agent – and probable owner of his rights – Kia Joorabchian as well as the president and several directors of his former Brazilian club Corinthians.
Also ordered arrested was Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, [...]

The Difference Between Brazil And Argentina

I just got back from speaking with four Brazilian players. Julio Baptista, Doni, Vagner Love and Juan met with reporters before the afternoon training session.
The most interesting thing about the encounter was that it confirmed all the stereotypical differences between Argentina and Brazil. The Argentine press conferences take place regularly and feature two players chosen [...]

Abreu, Riquelme, Zidane….and Antonin Panenka

I watched the Argentina-Mexico game last night in Maracaibo with some Argentine and Mexican colleagues and after Riquelme’s chipped penalty and we got to talking about the inevitable – how one day a goalkeeper is going to stand still and the penalty taker will end up looking like a fool.
The Mexican colleague told us it [...]

Some Past Argentina-Brazil Match-Ups

It is one of – if not the – most glamorous games in football featuring the two nations that have done most to enrich the world’s game and who just happen to be neighbours and fierce rivals. Some highlights from the past:
1982: Brazil 3-1 Argentina: World Cup second group round – Brazil blow Argentina [...]

Some Argentina-v-Brazil Copa History

Sunday’s games between South America’s two powerhouses will be the second Copa final in a row disputed between the two sides, after 2004’s 2-2 draw in Lima with Brazil winning the title on penalties.
For most of its history the Copa used a group format which in 1937 required a play-off between the two sides which [...]

Today’s Headlines

“Messico 86: The Maradona of the 21st century scores one for his anthology: the genius of Messi, the class of Riquelme (penalty a lá Zidane), even Heinze scored a golazo! We thrash Mexico 3-0 and now the final of the Copa is with Brazil” – Olé of Argentina reports last night’s win with characteristic restraint
“Hugo [...]

Messi Wondergoal & The Rest Of Last Night’s Action

Messi’s Golazo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fegJUGRLI9w
(For technical ability Chile’s Suazo might argue that his goal against Brazil was better but his was a consolation prize in a game long dead. Messi did this to seal a place in the final.)
Full Match Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy_Qt8Co-MM
Three more goals last night to add to the four Brazil and Uruguay served up to [...]

Argentina Dump Mexico With Messi Wondergoal

FT: Argentina 3-0 Mexico (Heinze, Messi, Riquelme, pen)
Argentina cruised into the final of the Copa America tonight after a comprehensive win over a luckless Mexico in Puerto Ordaz.
Argentina took the lead from a Gabriel Heinze flick just before the break and then doubled their lead on the hour mark through a marvellously deft chip from [...]

HT: Mexico 0-1 Argentina

It is advantage Argentina as right before half-time Riquelme floated a free-kick to the far post where Heinze had slipped past three defenders to be on hand to knock in.
It was a finely balanced 45 minutes that restricted clearcut chances for both teams. Before Argentina’s goal Mexico came closest when Guardado stepped inside three Argentine [...]

Tevez Starts Against Mexico – Full teams

As expected Carlos Tevez starts against Mexico, replacing Diego Milito. Otherwise Argentina unchanged from the team that started against Peru:
Abbondanzieri;
Javier Zanetti, Roberto Ayala, Gabriel Milito, Gabriel Heinze;
Juan Sebastián Verón, Javier Mascherano, Esteban Cambiasso;
Juan Román Riquelme;
Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez
Mexico line-up with:
Osvaldo Sánchez;
Israel Castro, Rafael Márquez, Jonny Magallón, Fausto Pinto;
Fernando Arce, Gerardo Torrado, Jaime Correa, Andrés [...]

Castillo Back In To Face Argentina!

Mexico’s star man Nery Castillo is after all to start tonight against Argentina in what is a huge boost to his team’s chances – providing he is fully fit. He has just been cleared to play in the last hours before the game.
He had been doubtful since injuring his knee in Sunday’s 6-0 victory over [...]

Chile Slap Six With 20-Game Ban

The six Chilean players accused of running amok in a hotel room after their match against Mexico last week have been banned from representing their country for 20 games each, the country’s FA said.
Jorge Vargas, Pablo Contreras, Rodrigo Tello, Jorge Valdivia, Reinaldo Navia and Álvaro Ormeño were accused of attacking employees in the hotel restaurant, [...]

Castillo Out Of Semi

Mexico’s lightning quick striker Nery Castillo will miss tonight’s semi final against Argentina.
The Olympiakos forward has failed to shrug off the knee injury he picked up in the 6-0 quarter final drubbing of Paraguay, according to the team’s press secretary Mauricio Zavala.
His absence will be sorely felt by the Mexicans, who have relied on his [...]

Gabriel Milito Moves To Barcelona

Argentine defender Gabriel Milito is on his way to Barcelona from Real Zaragoza for a fee that could eventually top 20 million euro. The 26-year old has signed a four year contract.
Milito first came to prominence when he won Argentina’s Apertura championship with Independiente in 2002. In 2003 he was on the verge of signing [...]

Some Mexico-v-Argentina Stats And Highlights

Mexico and Argentina have faced each other on 24 occassions with Argentina having won 9 times and Mexico 4, with 11 draws in all.
The last time Mexico’s Tri defeated tonight’s opponents was in the 2004 Copa America in the group stages thanks to a goal by Ramón Morales.
But since then the two sides have played [...]

Tevez Set To Start Tonight Against Mexico

The overwhelming choice of Argentina’s hinchada Carlos Tevez will start tonight upfront alongside Lionel Messi in the semi-final clash with Mexico in place of Diego Milito.
Tevez came off the bench to replace Milito in the quarter-final against Peru and quickly led his teammates through the Peruvian rearguard. Within minutes of taking the field he set [...]

Mexico To Wait Until Very Last For Castillo

Mexico will wait until two hours before kick-off before deciding whether to risk their striker and star-man Nery Castillo in tonight’s semi-final game against Argentina.
Castillo, who has caught the attention of fans, press and scouts alike after several scintillating performances, injured his knee in Sunday’s 6-0 drubbing of Paraguay. The Mexican medical team still say [...]

Today’s Headlines

“The Copa dream dies with penalties” – El Pais, Uruguay
“Lugano bumps into Doni, and Brazil beat Uruguay” – Folha de S.Paulo, Brazil
“Brazil in the final after much sweat” – Lance, Brazil
“The same story: As in 2004 Uruguay eliminated on penalties by Brazil” – Observa, Uruguay

Last Night’s Game

It was intense and close like semi-finals often are but that didn’t stop the goals going in. We cannot find a decent link that has highlights of the whole game so excuse the multiple links.
URU 0-1 BRA: Gol de Maicon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK7WEGhS4F8
URU 1-1 BRA: Gol de Forlán: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3huicO_cH3A
URU 1-2 BRA: Gol de Julio Baptista: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC1mfT2LkQg&NR=1
URU 2- [...]

Mexican Guardado Signs With Deportivo La Coruña

Mexican midfielder Andres Guardado has signed for Spanish side Deportivo La Coruña in a 7 million Euro deal that makes him Mexico’s most expensive ever player.
A deal to take the youngster to PSV Eindhoven broke down after the Guadalajara club received a better offer from Spain, said the president of Guardado’s club Atlas.
“There were negotiations [...]

Angry Uruguayans Dodge Press After Exit

An angry and disconsolate Uruguayan squad boycotted the post-match press conference and shunned journalists in the mixed zone after their nail-biting Copa America exit tonight.
No one from the Uruguayan squad appeared in the press room as is normal and the players studiously ignored the hundreds of reporters who had gathered outside the dressing rooms to [...]

Penalty Heartbreak for Uruguay As Brazil Reach Final

FT: Uruguay 2-2 Brazil (Brazil win 5-4 on penalties)
It was semi-final heartbreak for brave Uruguay as Brazil won a penalty shoot-out to end an absorbing semi-final in Maracaibo tonight.
Uruguay were themselves one sudden death penalty away from Sunday’s game but the excellent Pablo García hit the post, one of several players to rattle the woodwork [...]