Dear Mexico and Uruguay,

I want to first extend my deepest sympathies on your respective losses, especially to Uruguay since your loss in my mind was greater, as the hope remained through the last penalty struck.

However overwhelming the urge to say, "that's the end of the Cup run, nothing matters now," please reconsider. Third place is better than fourth place. It is not but a mere consolation. Both Mexico and Uruguay are top teams in the Americas -- Mexico have proven this in two back-to-back competitions.

If nothing else, think of it this way. Here you are in the world's oldest international footballing competition, playing in front of a world whose eyes are still on this dynamite footballing region (for just two more days). Your competition is formidable, and to win now will count for tournament experience for your next generation players (here's looking at you, Uruguay) plus the opportunity to show the world that you play every game with heart.

Remember that regardless of friendly or cup championship, you represent not only your nations footballing tradition but also (for better or worse) the pride and, dare I say, condition of the people in your country.

Sincerely,
At least one fan.

Uruguay's game versus Brasil this evening in Maracaibo, Venezuela, showed that they are capable with hanging with one of the world's best.

Or at least one of the world's best's second team.

Nevertheless, Uruguay's decidedly sud americana style of play with one touch passing and total team football was powerful and empowering at its best and sloppy and slightly lazy at its worst. But it was enough to hang with Brasil, whose second team is still capable of playing their jogo bonito for which the Seleçao are known and loved.

The primary problem with the touch-and-go tonight was that somewhere along the way, they forgot to "go." There was very little effective movement off of the ball for the Uruguayan team, and they often found themselves lacking communication and clustering in a train wreck in small spaces. Combined with lazy, incomplete touches that gave up possession, Uruguay were not quite the team that won so many world championships before Brasil was such a household image of footballers around the globe.

While Argentina have suffered from a few sloppy passes during the Copa América, along with a bit of miscommunication (this isn't quite Pekerman's old U-20 team that we saw dazzling Serbia and Montenegro in Germany), their off-the-ball movement has been incredible and opened up the field and scoring opportunities abound.

Yet this Uruguayan team has instilled my confidence with the style of football characteristic of the River Plate region, and they were at times pure enjoyment to behold. It is an unfortunate consequence of penalty shootouts that the better team may not always come out on top. However, tonight's game showed to me that the better team did win, though I'll admit that I would have loved to behold a Copa América contention between Uruguay and Argentina, provided that the latter can hold off Mexico in tomorrow's semi final match.

 

Uruguay 2(4) :: 2(5) Brasil

Uruguay were one step behind for the entire match this evening in Maracaibo, and it took until a second round of penalties to finally wear them down. Uruguay were dismissed by many after their first group game of the Copa América, in which they were defeated handily by Peru.

However, by securing a third place berth in the small tournament, they managed to break into the semi finals after a decisive victory against hosts Venezuela in the quarters. Facing their first real challenge in knock out play, Brasil looked hungry early, as a Maicon goal in the 13th minute sent the game into a potential blowout by the defending Copa América champions.

But Uruguay managed to regroup and equalise after a strange quarter-blackout in which one of the stadium lights completely shut off, leaving the players with just 3 of their 4 shadows for a large portion of the game. It was in the unusually long extra time added onto this half that Uruguay would find their first equaliser. However it would not last long, as Brasil managed to put away a strange and particularly ugly second goal.

The second half brought defensive football from both squads, which was strange for both sides -- for Uruguay since they were down, and for Brasil since they are, well, Brasil. Yet Uruguay were able to take advantage of their few chances, as Abreu weaseled the ball into the goal, with a slight bit of inadvertent help from Brasilian keeper Doni, as the ricochet went off of a helpless Doni's head.

Brasil came out attacking, finally realising that they could not simply hold and wait for a shootout. Yet their attack yielded nothing substantial, and the regulation time finished with an undecided match.

Robinho coolly took the first penalty, easily beating Uruguayan keeper Carini. Diego Forlan stepped up for Uruguay but was unable to convert, in a devastating mistake. Yet as the penalties ticked on, with Brasil always one more shot closer to securing the win, Afonso was unable to get the ball between the posts, vindicating Forlan and allowing Uruguay another chance, which they gladly, if not suspensefully, took to propel the game into the second, sudden death round of penalties.

Fernando would fail to convert the first penalty of the sudden death round, and Uruguay saw their first wide open chance at taking the Seleçao down once and for all. However, it was not to be, as Pablo Garcia would also be unable to put the ball in the upper right corner, hitting the frame.

Gilberto then put one away for Brasil and placed Uruguay in the do-or-die spot.

It was Doni who would emerge victorious, however, as Lugano's straight away grounder would be easily handled by the Brasilian keeper, whose brilliance throughout the evening played a huge role in getting his squad even that far.

And thus Brasil will play the winner of Mexico v. Argentina, which takes place tomorrow evening at Maracaibo.

The match was eerily reminiscent of one of the 2004 Copa América semi-finals from Peru, in which Uruguay and Brasil battled to a 1-1 tie in regulation, only for Brasil to win in penalties by a margin of 5-3.