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 [...]