Riquelme Picks Peru Apart and Argentina Head to Semis

Argentina cruised into the semi-finals of the Copa America tonight thanks to a masterful second half display by Juan Roman Riquelme.
Riquelme scored a brilliant goal two minutes into the second period and set up another for Lionel Messi shortly afterwards. Javier Mascherano scored his second goal in two games in the 76th minute and Riquelme [...]

Mexico Cruises Through To Semis As Paraguay Self-Destructs Early

Paraguay learnt again this evening the harsh lesson that one mistake can mean curtains in knock-out football after suffering a 6-0 defeat in their quarter-final with Mexico this evening.
In what was viewed beforehand as one of the most evenly poised quarter-finals their talented squad was undone by an early mistake by one of their weak [...]

Mexican Guardado Set For PSV

PSV Eindhoven have lined up a deal to bring Mexican forward Andrés Guardado to the club.
The Dutch giants are set to buy 75% of Guardado’s contract from Guadalajara club Atlas, in a deal that would cost them $6.1 million.
The deal is still to be finalised because PSV want to pay in three instalments and because [...]

HT: Mexico 3-0 Paraguay

Mexico as good as secured themselves a slot in the semi-finals after Paraguay hit the self-destruct button early in a game most thought would be finely balanced.
Paraguay’s keepr Bobadilla was sent off in the second minute for taking down Mexico striker Nery Castillo as he pounced on a sloppy back pass.
While Bobadilla can blame his [...]

What You’ve Been Waiting For – The Copa America Song!

Everywhere you go in Venezuela you hear snatches of the Copa America theme song. It’s typically tropical and like Venezuela itself full of life. We think it’s rather catchy but you decide for yourself here. Three Lions it is not.

Mexico, Paraguay Both Make Changes

Roque Santa Cruz returns for Paraguay in today’s quarter final match up against Mexico and will face a team with Oswaldo Sanchez in goal.
Mexican manager Hugo Sanchez looks set to recall Sanchez and drop Guillermo Ochoa, who is the only keeper of the tournament still to be beaten. Sanchez was the recognised first choice before [...]

Argentina-Peru Recalls Unsavoury Past

I’ve already recalled how this Copa America brought back happy memories of the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. Today’s Argentina-Peru quarter final brings back a much darker moment from the same tournament.
The 1978 World Cup took place amid one of the most brutal right wing military dictatorships Latin America has ever seen. Between taking power [...]

Diego Milito Replaces Crespo, Tevez or Aimar In Running

Coco Basile will replace injured striker Crespo with Diego Milito, a like for like substitution.
That leaves Carlos Tevez fighting for a starting place with Estaban Cambiasso and Pablo Aimar, a clear indication that Basile sees Peru as weak opponents – especially considering they are without keyman Farfan.
Argentina’s team for tonight:
Abbondanzieri
Zanetti, Ayala, Milito, Heinze
Verón, Mascherano, Cambiasso [...]

Today’s Headlines

“Finally, Uruguay!” – El Pais, Uruguay
“The vinotinto dream is over while Brazil wake up” – Meridiano, Venezuela
“A second night of Shame. Brazil trash Chile 6-1 and ANF evaluates keeping Acosta on in the middle of the scandal in Venezuela” – La Tercera, Chile
“Brazil hand out the biggest victory of the competition, and now, with confidence [...]

Last Night’s Goals

Venezuela 1-4 Uruguay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVPePhHyJnw
Brazil 6-1 Chile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJUXZmkIGyM
A whopping 12 goals in last night’s two games which is very promising for the rest of the knock-out phase as the Copa returns to the open, goal-laden, football of the first two rounds of the group stage after the drought of the final three group games.
Unfortunately in too [...]