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.

 

The end of the semi-final between Argentina and Mexico for the Copa América was not the classico we bore witness to in Brasil's slim victory last night against Uruguay.

In fact, some might comment that the defensive style adopted late in the game by Argentina after going up by three unanswered goals was, in a word, boring.

However, one must look at it in another light. Argentina played that defensive game out of respect. They respected the fight and mettle of the Mexican team, as well as the understanding that Mexico could have converted at least a couple of opportunities that just were not meant to be.

For Mexico, this may be a game of "what if," as several opportunities were squandered, most notably by Andrés Guardado. Mexico looked spirited in the first half, matching the pace set by the Albiceleste. El Tri looked to strike at any moment, especially after finding themselves on the favorable side of the Argentine back four.

Yet it was Gabriel Heinze who found the back of the net in the closing minutes of the first half after leaping with a high boot to connect a cross and send it sailing into the back of Mexico's net.

Mexico came out in the second half fighting, which was to be subdued by a Lionel Messi soft-touch chip shot that caught Oswaldo Sánchez just far enough off his line to be beat.

Even finding themselves two goals behind, there was a little bit of heart still unspent on the last month of tournament play that a Riquelme penalty kick, torn from the pages of Messi's previous goal, surely cashed in.

 

 

And even then, while trying desperately to protect the ball and their secure lead, the Argentines had moments in which it looked like they would (and should have) scored again. But it would end there, a three goal shutout victory that bodes well for an Argentine team that looked nearly flawless as their passes found pace and accuracy throughout the night against an otherwise solid Mexican midfield.

Mexico go on to play Uruguay for the third place on Saturday, while Brasil and Argentina will contest the Copa América cup on Sunday.

**This is a prediction, not a match report! As of this writing this game has NOT occurred yet.**

A rematch of one of the hardest fought games of the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany, Mexico will be looking to get the best of a slightly altered Argentine team who, under new leadership of Alfie Basile, has had some very strong second halves in this tournament, with 9 of their 13 goals coming after the halftime break.

Mexico on the other hand have also shown flashes of brilliance in this cup, defeating Brasil handily in group play while embarrassing Paraguay by six goals in a shutout -- the largest margin thus far in the tournament.

With both teams looking strong, it is too bad that this match is merely a contention to get into the final instead of to lift the cup, as this match, much like Uruguay v. Brasil last night, will be one for the highlight reels.

Mexico must rely on their defense to disrupt the balance in the Argentine attack, but Argentina are their worst enemies in this regard. Quick passing, deft movement off the ball, and continual motion are the Argentine strengths that enable them to keep their opponents in a constant state of reshifting and regrouping. This allows Argentina to find holes in the defense and make room to take shots.

Luckily for Argentina, practically their entire team is capable of putting the ball in the net, but scorers tonight will include Cambiasso and Riquelme, while the Mexican defense focuses on stopping forwards Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez.

For Mexico, their lone goal will come off of a set play or possibly a penalty (if Argentine defender Roberto Ayala's luck continues like in the last game).

I think Mexico will score first, late in the first half, with an equaliser in the run of play just before the halftime break. The second half Argentine goal will stand as the game winner, and it will take a wonder goal reminiscent of Maxi's one-turn punt from Germany.

Well, this is all wild speculation of course, but in any event it should be a sight to behold and a game to match the semi-final magic witnessed last night.

Mexico 1 :: 2 Argentina

Let me state for the record that I am a lifelong fan of the Argentine brand of football. It is my standing definition of the beautiful game - sly one touch passing, total team effort. Anyone can score, but the goal belongs to the team.

It was just over one year ago that Mexico outplayed Argentina in the World Cup Round of 16 matchup. In fact, Argentina relied upon the heroics of a beautiful Maxi Rodriguez goal, a wonder-goal that was required for any viable conclusion short of a penalty shootout for that game.

And the bitterness remains fresh in the mouths of Mexican fans everywhere, especially as Mexico have a chance once again on the international stage to seek revenge for a game that arguably was rightfully theirs.

I remember vividly that, while the Argentine brand of football looked to confuse the European teams that fell under its might in the group stages, Mexico's defense all but put the Argentine fire out with its suffocating and relentless disruption of the otherwise fluid passing game. This effort, led by Rafael Marquez, was among the single most effective and annoying defenses ever mounted against the beautiful South American style of football.

Mexico will be looking to relive that magic again, and if they are successful, they stand a great chance at besting Argentina this time around.

However that is not the entire story, as Argentina have displayed a resolution and ganas that have given it the distinction of the only 9 point team from group play in the entire tournament, along with margins that make their wins look a lot easier than they actually seemed to be.

The key for Argentina will be to eliminate defensive mistakes, as the Mexican attack will surely be relentless and looking for holes that all too often appear in the Argentine back four. Specifically, Argentina should be particularly careful in their tackling near the box, which has gotten them into plenty of trouble in the past.

With the ball at their feet, Argentina will have to get into open space, open up the field, avoid sideline traps that Mexico are great at, and make sure that their passes are quick and have enough mustard on them to get to their destination without interception, something that Argentina have been less than perfect on in Venezuela so far.

If Riquelme continues his leadership and Messi or Tevez turn out a particularly brilliant effort, then Argentina will have no problem in moving on to face the defending champions in the Copa América.

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.