The Copa América Venezuela 2007 kicks off on Tuesday night in Mérida when Uruguay meet Peru (23:05 British Summer Time), and will end with the final in Maracaibo on the 15th of next month. Know nothing about the tournament or teams? Fret not – we’ve got all the basics right here.
History
The Copa América is the oldest football tournament for national teams in the world. Yes, that’s right – the European Championship didn’t get going until the second half of the twentieth century, the World Cup began way back in 1930, but the first South American championship (not an official event, but now taken as the forerunner to the modern-day Copa) was played in Buenos Aires as an invitational event to celebrate the centenary of Argentine independence in 1916, between Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile. Uruguay crashed their neighbours’ party, won the championship and staged a follow-up event the next year in Montevideo – now an official tournament. They won that too, and the Copa América was born.
The trophy awarded in 1916, now in the Museo Nacional del Fútbol, Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay
Within South America, Brazil have never quite had the same dominance that they’ve held over the World Cup in the last fifty years. They’ve won the Copa América only 8 times (most recently in 2004 – they’re the defending champions this time round), whilst Argentina and Uruguay share the record on 14 apiece. The smart money this year, with Brazil leaving Ronaldinho and Kaká out, is on the albiceleste pulling clear of their rivals from across the river, but who are the other contenders, and how does the tournament work?
The system
This is easy – Three groups of four teams. Since South America only has ten national football associations, Mexico are routinely invited to take part and make up the numbers. The USA always get an invite as well, but until now the USSF has always turned it down. Quite how this helps ’soccer’ to develop in the States is anyone’s guess, but this time they’ve done the sensible thing and decided to give their side some competitive action by accepting. So, twelve sides in total. The top two of each group, plus the two best 3rd-placed sides, go through to the quarter-final.
Time-wise, matches will be late-night in Europe. For our North American readers, Venezuela is on the same timezone as the Eastern Seaboard, thus currently five hours behind British Summer Time. Matches will be played at 18:35 and 20:50 local time. All of Argentina’s group matches will kick off at 20:50 local time (01:50 in the morning in Britain). Both semis will also be at this time, and the final will be a refreshing 17:05 local time (a mere 22:05 in Britain).
Group A
Bolivia – Most recently in the news following FIFA’s ludicrous ban on high-altitude football, Bolivia do struggle away from the heights of La Paz. They got to the final in 1997 (held, surprise surprise, in Bolivia), but haven’t won a Copa América match since. They’re managed by Erwin Sánchez.
Peru – Hosted the 2004 Copa but could only make the quarter-final and have had some dreadful results (and performances) in World Cup qualifying and in friendlies since then. Star men Claudio Pizarro - recently signed by Chelsea from Bayern Munich – and Nolberto Solano are unlikely to take part following fallings-out with the Peruvian FA. Julio César Uribe is the manager.
Uruguay – Always strong in the Copa, even though they didn’t qualify for the last World Cup. In Villarreal frontman Diego Forlán and any number of strike partners there’s a clear goal threat, though precisely what they’ll be like in the other two thirds is a little less certain. Manager: Oscar Washington Tábarez.
Venezuela – Host nation for the first time and on the up. Venezuela is a baseball-playing country first and foremost but their football’s been improving hugely of late, and might be peaking at the right time following Caracas F.C.’s historial humbling (and elimination) of River Plate in this year’s Copa Libertadores. They’ve also been handed by far the easiest group. Of course only a cynic could possibly suggest CONMEBOL are favouring the hosts… Managed by Richard Paez.
Group B
Brazil – Need no introduction, other than to remind everyone that Ronaldinho and Kaká, both in need of a rest, won’t be playing. Werder Bremen playmaker Diego could well step into the void. They’re hardly taking it that seriously – they seldom do these days – but you could do worse than stick a bet on them. Manager: Dunga.
Chile – Failed to qualify for the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, but their clubs have been doing decently in South American competition of late (Colo Colo were runners up in this season’s Copa Sudamericana), and have some very, very, very good young players indeed coming through. This might be one tournament too soon, but they’ll be dangerous. Managed by Nelson Acosta.
Ecuador – One of the breaths of fresh air at the last World Cup, but they’ve got a tough group. If they can stand up to the pressure of expectation back home, they could surprise a few, with manager Luís Fernando Suárez calling this ‘the most important moment in Ecuador’s football history.’
Mexico – Will be sending a very similar squad to that which lost out in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on Sunday, and are looking to make waves. With their clubs performing brilliantly in recents Copas Libertadores and Sudamericana (Pachuca winning the latter this season), they’re yet another Group B team whose football scene is on the up. Managed by playing legend Hugo Sánchez.
Group C
Argentina – Frankly you must have at least a passing interest in Argentine football if you’re on this website. Pre-tournament favourites with precisely no big stars rested and all desperate to end 14 trophyless years since their last triumph in this very competition in 1993 (no, they don’t count the 2004 Olympics). Cruelly beaten by Brazil on penalties in the 2004 final after conceding a stoppage time equaliser, having been the tournament’s best side all the way through. Will this year be their chance for revenge? Managed by Alfio Basile.
Colombia – Won the Copa as hosts in 2001 (when Argentina and Brazil pulled out) and reached the semis three years ago in Peru. Manager Jorge Luis Pinto is, however, viewing the Copa as preperation for the World Cup qualifying campaign, after the country failed to qualify for either of the last two Mundiales. They’ll be dangerous, but experimental.
Paraguay – Probably South America’s third best side at the moment. Club champions Libertad have caused major waves in the Libertadores recently (it could almost have been named for them…), and they’ve got quality throughout the side. With so many Argentina-based players, the clash between the two in Barquisimeto will be a juicy one. Managed by Gerardo Martino.
United States of America – Won the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday, beating Mexico 2-1 in the final in Chicago. Finally accepted an invitation to test themselves against some competitive opposition, and have now gone and spoiled it by naming a squad full of players with little or no experience at international level. The ‘B’ side might well learn something from getting tonked by a full-strength-and-up-for-it Argentina in their first match on Thursday, but the first team would surely have benefitted far more.
Filed under: Argentine football, Argentine national team, Copa América, Fixtures, Football, Football managers, International football, Selección
Great preview Sam, I’m planning on watching most of the games but knew little about the relative minnows.
Not to nitpick, but I think the U.S. have played in the Copa America before, I seem to remember them beating Argentina in the 90s. But they’ve definitely been turning it down for sometime and it’s a shame that, as you mention, they’ve blown it.
Sam,
Very nice preview, but one small point. Brasil played in the 2001 Copa. They lost to Honduras in the 2nd Round. Honduras took Canada’s spot, who along with Argentina pulled out of the competition for security reasons.