A nerve-wrecking 2-2 draw against Bolivia was enough for Peru to make it through to the quarter finals of the Copa tonight. They fell behind twice, were down to 10 men and attacking in an increasingly desperate, shambolic, manner when they were saved in the 85th minute as new Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro nailed his [...]
July 3, 2007
Some Second Round Thoughts
The second round of group games are now done and we picked the…..
Best Game: Colombia 2-4 Argentina. A South American special: hot sticky night; stadium crammed with flag waving, drum beating, ticker tape throwing fans and two teams with plenty of talent and no little edge between them. Colombia go in front. Argentina answer with [...]
July 3, 2007
Worrying about having nothing to worry about
Argentina fan and Guardian blogger Marcela Mora y Araujo worries about having nothing to worry about given Argentina’s smooth progress through the group stages of recent tournaments:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/07/03/no_worries_companero.html
July 3, 2007
Anger grows at poor officiating in Copa
Referees are always controversial figures but the Copa America seems to have the worst on display. It’s a real shame that often these refs are the key figures in Copa matches, rather than the players.
Colombia’s coach Jorge Luis Pinto was furious with the decision to award the penalty that led to Argentina’s equalizer last night [...]
July 3, 2007
Magic Moments in Maracaibo
There were three moments that will forever remain with me when I think back to last night’s Argentina-Colombia game:
1) The atmosphere. It was classic South America. The constant beating of a big bass drum by an Argentina fan. The rhythm section of the Colombians. The ticker tape welcome for the teams. The heat. Even though [...]
July 3, 2007
Crespo refuses to give up hope of playing again in Copa
Hernan Crespo says it is very unlikely that he’ll feature again for Argentina in the Copa after pulling a muscle in his right leg while taking a penalty in last night’s victory against Colombia, but refuses to abandon all hope.
“It is very difficult to think I can come back but I refuse to say goodbye [...]
July 3, 2007
Today’s Headlines
With pure guts, Argentina win and qualify for the quarters – Infobae, Argentina
Roman, The Terrible – Clarín Argentina
On the edge of elimination – El Tiempo Colombia
To the rhythm of: “I alone am the alligator…” – Ultima Hora Paraguay (which explains what that Paraguayan goal celebration was about)
Paraguay loss endangers USA’s Copa America stay – [...]
July 3, 2007
Last Night’s Goals
It continues to rain down goals in Venezuela. Another 10 from last night’s two games keeping the Copa’s goal-per-game ration well above 3.5. Those Chinese reporters who made the long trip looking for a tournament where teams still liked to attack must be very pleased.
USA-v-Paraguay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOd_wGyBp4E
Colombia-v-Argentina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRZvDo9CL6M
Best goal of the night? Paraguay’s first against the [...]
July 3, 2007
Argentina beat Colombia to reach quarter-finals
Argentina beat Colombia 4-2 tonight in Maracaibo as the Copa favourites booked their place in the quarter finals. The game was another disaster for Colombia who have let in nine goals in their two games and look favourites to be sent straight home with Ecuador and the USA.
After going behind to an early Colombian goal [...]
