Football.

Football is not only a game. It became over the years much more important than religion or one could say that it became a religion itself.

This series of videos, promoted by Carlsberg (because beer is the Holy Water of this religion), show different aspects that make this sport the most incredible in the world.

VIDEO 1 is pure ADRENALINE. It shows the emotions that we feel during a football match. It's going from crying to celebrating, from deep frustration to anxiety to intense bliss and words are just not necessary in this one.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT IN THE OLEOLE VIDEO SECTION

But so many emotions can only bring the worst in us. And that's PURE PASSION. Fans forget social rules and politeness in a desperate attempt to control thing on and off the pitch. They go to extremes to show their disgust, their dissatisfaction. Frequently we see acts of violence and racism which are stains in the beautiful game and serve as a reminder of the things we still need to improve as a society.

VIDEO 2 tells you about this EXTREME (sometimes evil) PASSION

CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT IN THE OLEOLE VIDEO SECTION

Diego Maradona, the new manager of the Argentina Nationall Football Team, will make his debut in Great Britain when the Argies play a friendly against Scotland in Glasgow on November 19. Messi, Aguero and Riquelme will be certain names in coach Maradona's list.

No, it's not just a rumour anymore. Maradona is the new coach of Argentina. I myself decided to wait until today to write about it because I know how Don Diego is; he's got a big mouth and constantly talks more than he should. And he was the one telling every news outlet about how happy he was to be taking over the National Team.

Maradona...

Arguably the best footballer ever. Possibly the best Argentine footballer ever. Certainly a God in his own home country. And I don't know how many times I have to tell the story of a 10-year old Mano Gil so mesmerized by his electrifying performance in the 1986 World Cup that I took a piece of paper, draw a AFA crest and a white number 10 and glued it to a dark blue t-shirt to pretend that I was Maradona.

Maradona...

The man who inspired Messis, Ronaldinhos, Agueros, and many, many other great footballers of this generation...

Maradona...

The man who won a World Cup by himself and gave Napoli their two only serie A titles and a UEFA Cup.

But this same man is the one who has an ego the size of a small big planet and at a certain time of his life he weighted as much as one. Maradona was banned from the sport for using drugs and admitted his addiction to cocaine. In Italy he was involved with people you would never want tosee your kid hanging out with.

He was certainly an inspiration on the field. But can he bring balance to the Argie Team?

Argentina has certainly one of the most talented squads in the world. With an offensive line that can dismantle any defence but they haven't been able to play to their fullest potential lately.

I just can't see Maradona, a still very unstable man, leading this team to a World Cup title. Can you?

Maybe he'll get a hand from God...

Amigos y Hermanos,

6:45pm (hora local)

Estamos en vivo (yo y nuestro fotorgrafo Cordoba) desde el Qualcomm Stadium en San Diego donde en menos de una hora Argentina y Mexico jugarán.

Los hinchas de Mexico ya toman cuenta del estadio que poco a poco recibe la predominancia de los colores Rojo, Blanco y Verde del Tri.

Los hinchas Argentinos tambiém están presentes pero en mucho menor numero.

La cancha nos aparenta en condiciones perfectas para que los dos equipos presenten su mejor fútbol.

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7:10 (hora local)

Ya tengo las aliniaciones para los dos equipos:

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7:42pm (hora local)

Los dos equipos estan calientandose en la cancha...

Los hinchas de Mexico estan muy motivados

8:04 (hora local)

Los equipos entran en la cancha!!!

El partidazo va empezar ahorita

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20 minutos en el primero tiempo y el partido es tan bueno que no hay tiempo para escribir.

Los muchachos del Tri corren corren pero es Argentina que domina el ritmo del partido. Burdisso a los 10 y Lio Messi a los 18 ya hicieran valer la superioridad porteña. Y que GOLAZO lo de Messi!

Otro!!! Argentina hace goles cuando quiere. Mexico no hace nada!

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Final del primero tiempo.

La impresion es que Mexico es un equipo chico frente a Argentina y talvez lo sea. Un equipo sin creatividad. Los jugadores tienen ganas pero la calidad se mostró I.N.C.O.M.P.A.R.A.B.L.E.

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Al menos uno:

Mexico marcó su gol en el minuto 63 y los inchas Aztecas reempazaran a cantar. "Ya no vamos perder de zero" piensan!

Y Argentina con toda la calma marca otro con Aguero.

Yo acabé de leer en el sitio Terra.com que Mexico dominó el primero tiempo. ESTÁN LOCOS?? O talvez están mirando a un otro partido.

Argentina juga fácil, controla las acciones ofensivas de Mexico y trabaja la pelota con calidad. Hasta ahora no les hace falta Riquelme. A Mexico todo les falta!

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Me voy a la Zona Mista...

El partido ya está casi terminando. Argentina gana por 4 a 1. Me voy ahora a la Zona Mista para intentar unas entrevistas con los jugadores.

Y los más de 68 mil hinchas (casi todos de Mexico) se van a sus casas al menos felices por ter visto un gran partido de fútbol...

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Y usted? Cual es su opinion sobre el partido?

VS

El partido de Mexico contra Argentina en este Miercoles en San Diego, California tiene una importancia diferente para los dos equipos.

Para El Tri es una oportunidad que los jugadores tendran para mostrar su capacidad para el nuevo entrenador Sven-Goran Eriksson que estará en la tribuna mirando su nuevo equipo.

Ericksson talvez tendrá que empezar su trabaljo más temprano que imaginava una vez que el actual entrenador Jesus Ramirez ha dicho que no seguirá con Mexico después de eso partido.

Algunas personas han me preguntadolo que yo pienso de la llegada de Ericksson y sobre el futuro de la Seleccion y despues de escuchar muchas otras opiniones ahora ya tengo una:

Creo que uno de los problemas más grandes de la Selección Mexicna es la falta de paciencia y union de la prensa, los directivos, los jugadores y, por ultimo, de los aficcionados.

Sven-Goran Eriksson aun no empezó a trabajar y ya hey personas questionando su trabajo. Dicen que él no conozce el jugador mexicano y que no conozce el fútbol mexicano... Pero Hugo Sanchez es Mexicano cierto??? Entonces eso no es el problema. Si Eriksson eres un buen maestro, que sepa trabajar la mentalidad del atleta mexicano así como mejorar la tactica del equipo creo que tendrá succeso.

El unico problema es que ahora es que las calificatórias estan muy cercita y solo espero que la prensa y los directivos compreendan que no pueden esperar que Eriksson haga miraculos con un equipo que tiene calidad, talento, pero sufre con falta de maturidad y organizaccion tactica.

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Para Argentina el partido de miercoles es como un entrenamiento de lujo. (y así tambien será el partido de domingo contra los EEUU)

Los porteños solo pensan en el partido del dia 18 contra Brasil. El quipo, la prensa, los inchas y el entrenador Coco Basile quieren tener su revancha después del 3-0 en la final de la Copa America en 2007.

Para el partido contra Mexico los Argentinos vienen con fuerza casí total. Tevez y Cambiasso no estaran presentes.

No hay mucho lo que questionar acerca del talento y de la calidad de los jugadores Argentinos, el equipo es el primero del ranking mundial pero falta algo que tranquilidad en los momentos decisivos. Así lo fué en la Copa America y así se pasó con Argentina en los ultimos años.

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POSSIBLES ALINEACIONES:

a continuaccion....

A simple question for elaborate answers...

Will ARGENTINA impose their beautiful game against Brazil???

******  OR ******

 ROBINHO + his entourage will sing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" just like Adriano did 3 years ago???

NOW  I  LEAVE  IT  TO  YOU!!!

Tonight I'm not gonna post a match report. I'm sure most of you already know how the game went, But I wanna start a discussion on "why Argentina won that game and why Mexico lost it". 

The first answer is the obvious one: Argentina scored goals. Mexico didn't.

But football (I decided to use "soccer" only if I write about the MLS) ... so, football, is a much complex game and a more elaborate answer is required for such a great game.

When Argentina came to the field to warm up the players seemed confortable, happy with each other, CONFIDENT. They knew they were ready for it. They knew they had all the tools to build their path to the final. And that's when the win started.

Mexico on the other hand seemed tense. Maybe it was the necessity to beat the team that got them out of the 2006 World Cup, maybe it was the need to prove that this generation of great young players are able to give their best at all levels. And win titles.

Somebody in another blog here in OLEOLE mentioned "LACK OF CHARACTER". I wouldn't go so far to say that players like Guardado, Castillo, Rafa Marquez or Oswaldo Sanchez lack character but maybe the team as whole need to work on the psychological factor that makes the difference in the decisive games.

When this Copa America started I predicted Argentina as the Champions but as the competition moved and Argetina showed great games after great games I started to think that at one point they would fail and 2 days ago I said that Mexico would upset them. 

But in todays game I realized that I should have kept my initial prediction. If you look at Riquelme's face you can see a mature yet passionate superstar. He is not conceided and as a leader for this team he doesn't allow that on his team mates. He has the attitude of a Champion.

And them you have fact that Mexico failed to score in the first have when Guardado had the chance and the ball decided to hit the post. Maybe he should've used his right foot to take that shot but what is meat to be will be. And that ball was meant to hit the post.

Argentina once again kept their posture, got their game together and soon started the famous "KILLER BEE ATTACK".

The first goal came in the end of the first half and then on the second half magic happened!!!

I believe Maradona and many other "inchas fanaticos" had tears in their eyes when they saw Messi, in a sutile lobby shot put the ball far, far, far from Oswaldo Sanchez but softly inside the net.

The third came in a penalty taken with extreme class by Riquelme.

And Argentina is like an full Classical Composition by Verdi... It has a soft begining, sometimes causing some tension but them comes the powerful part, "Il Addagio" the climax that makes everyone astonished and in the end the relief, the classy conclusion of the spectacle.

Messi - not a promise anymore, a beautiful reality 

Mexico was a great rival but not enough to disturb the almost perfect Argentine Orchestra.

BUT.... Now can this perfect Orchestra keep the CONFIDENCE and TRANQUILITY to coldly execute its revenge against a Brazil full of ups and downs???

Well, I hope so... I the name of the good football... In the name of "PLAY BEAUTIFULLY"

WHAT DO YOU SAY???

ARGENTINA will impose their beautiful game against Brazil???

 ******  OR ******

 ROBINHO + his entourage will sing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" just like Adriano did 3 years ago???

We will have a lot to discuss until sunday!!!

URUGUAY 

Although Uruguay collects 14 Copa America titles, the team has been a big disappointment since their last continental trophy in 1995 when they hosted Copa America.

The nation also failed to qualify for the last World Cup. Of course this is a reflex of the poor performance and lack of quality in the national clubs competition. When was the last time Peñarol or Nacional hit the news?

The country is small and with no media attention there's no investment, without investment there's no local evolution in the sport.

When a good player emerges in Uruguay it doesn't take long until a club from Europe or from the neighbors Brasil and Argentina sneak him away from his land with promises of better incomes and more visibility. i don't blame them.

But now Uruguay has the chance of a come back. And waht a come back that would be! La Celeste will face Brazil in the semifinals and they are motivated!

This year they want to take a step further than their second place in the 1999 Copa America.

The thing about analying Uruguay is that not all of the players are really known to most of people. But what is easy to tell is that every sector of the field has its leader.

Carini has been the goalkeeper for La Celeste since 1999. I still remeber when they talked about him as the new Mazurkiewski but maybe because of the poor performance of the national team in the last years that promise is still only a promise, but Carini is a solid, experience leader for the team and as they say, a good team starts with a good goalie.

La Celeste plays with 3 center backs and that's where you're gonna find not only a great player but also the main team leader and captain: Diego Lugano. The 26 year old is a natural winner. He is the one who really knows the ways of the brazilian soccer after playing (and winning titles) with São Paulo FC.

Diego Scotti and Dario Rodriguez complete Uruguay's defensive line.

Five players will block the midfield and create the plays. I honestly and humbly don't know a lot about them. SO PLEASE HELP ME WITH MORE INFO ON URUGUAY'S MIDFIELDERS. SoyManya81, this is a job for you my friend.

Than we complete La Celeste with Diego Forlan and Alvaro Recoba.

"El Chino" Recoba is a national team player for uruguay since 1995. He has been playing for Internazionale of milan since 1999. He is not the most efficient striker but he's consistent and a fighter. There's no lost ball for Recoba.

Forlan is the goal man. He is a quite oportunist player but has ups and downs during a game. Sometimes clumsy, sometimes genius. But its better not to leave him unmarked because his 54 goals in 3 seasons defending Villareal can talk more than any words I write here.

Diego Forlan wants to revive Alcides Gigghia and send Brazil back home

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BRAZIL 

Brazil is always Brazil.

This sentence itself summarizes what this nation represents for soccer in the world. In every single soccer competition in the planet that Brazil participates they can be considered one of the favorites to win. That's why "A seleção Canarinho" causes so much discussion when they can't play what everybody expects.

Many critics are blaming coach Dunga for letting go of players like Ze Roberto, Kaka, Ronaldinho. Adriano, Ronaldo and bringing some new faces like Afonso Alves, Elano and Vagner Love.

But we cannot forget that in the last Copa America (2004) coach Carlos Alberto Parreira didn't use Ronaldinho, Kaka, Robinho nor Ronaldo and yet that young team beat a powerful Argentina in the final in an electrifying game decided on the penalty shoot-out.

Which brings us back to the first sentence: BRAZIL IS ALWAYS BRAZIL.

I mentioned prevously that every good team starts with a good goalie. This isn't the case with Brazil. Doni does not offer the crucial safety that a great goalkeeper should offer. I would never hire him to play for my team and I believe I'm not alone in this. But oh, well...

Brazil's defense is not individually weak. Alex and Juan are actually good defenders. But the problem is the lack of coverage when the wings attack, and boy, they like to attack. Maicon and Gilberto are naturally offensive (not so good ones) but they sometimes go up at the same time leaving the load to the defensive midfielders and to the center backs.

Mineiro and Gilberto Silva - who is the team captain - are solid defensive mids. They are not very good passers and this can create problem when Brazil tries to connect midfield and attack.

Josué is the one that will intermediate this transition he will work as defensive midfielder when Brazil doesn't have the ball and he will help Julio Baptista supplies the forwards when the ball is recovered.

Julio Baptista started the competition on the bench (so did Josue) but he gained the position by playing a very good second half against Ecuador and an even better game agains Chile. He will do what Kaká would be doing if he was on this team. The only difference is that he is NOT Kaka.

Vagner Love finally found his way to the net last game. It would be embarassing if he didn't right? After all there were 6 goals and even Josué scored his. He is dangerous and if he can finally find a confortable position on the field he can really bother a defense.

Do I need to talk about Robinho??? Pelé's protegé has proved he was for sure one of the main responsibles for Real Madrid's title in La Liga. The fast, talented, and extremely smiley forward TERRORIZES defenders with moves that almost one of them already know but they still can't stop him. Will he be able to lead Brazil to a back to back Championship?

 Robinho might be the man to help Dunga keep his job

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MEXICO

After losing the Gold Cup a don't think the Mexican supporters thought that their team would play so well in the Copa America. But I said that on the first post of my former blog;  Mexico feels much more confortable playing against South American teams. It suits their game, their speed, and then there was Castillo. I still didn't understand why Hugo Sanchez didn't put the kid to play against the USA since the beginning, but that's part of the past now.

Castillo is the present. The gift for all the Mexican supporters who were waiting to see this team finally take home this cup. The gifted mexican born, uruguayan breed, is a star in greece but chose to wear his homeland jersey. He is not only the present, he also represent the possibility of a brilliant future for Mexico soccer.

But can they beat the favorites???

Ochoa or Sanchez?? What a pleasant difficult task. If Brazil suffers for not having a trustworthy goalkeeper, Mexico has two.

Rafa Marquez is the maestro of the defense. Solid, experiencend and talented. He is always where he should be and with very good passes makes the transiction to the midfield.

Torrado is the destroyer. He is fast and discipline. Sometimes not very good passing the ball but always there to take it away from the opponent.

Guardado was the man we were waiting to see back on the team. And he came back as if nothing had happened: playing hard, showing his talent, he might be one of my favorite players of this team.

Then there is Nery Castillo... The man that humiliated Brazil's defense with a goal that is probably the most beautiful of the competition. Determination, talent and passion. If Mexico wins this title he should be the one taking the trophy home for a week just as a reward for the great performace he's displaying.

Oh, and I can't forget GRANDPA Cuauhtemoc. I wouldn't even like to play on the same team with him. He cries, he complains with everybody and about everything. He is just like that old grumpy grandpa that hates everything. BUT he is very important for this team. In 15 minutes on the field (that's how much time he can play without collapsing) he is able to create amazing plays, score goals and of course annoy the opponent and the referee, oh and ME.

It might take a whole army to stop Nery Castillo from scoring 

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ARGENTINA

The better the team the easier it is to talk about.

If soccer was a fair game we could just give Argentina the Cup and that's it.

The best team so far. 100%. 4 games, 4 expressive wins. The team scored 13 goals and suffered only 3.

They came to this competition THIRSTY... They want this Copa America sooo bad and they are playing so well and they have so many talents that what could go wrong???

Well, we are talking about soccer my friends... Anything can happen. La Albi-Celeste has 14 titles (just like Uruguay) but it also has been 14 years (since 1993) that they don't win the competition.

In addition to that, for the last 3 world cups Argentina is said to be one of the favorites, always bringing great players, but also, always letting its fanatic supporters down.

I would hate to see Riquelme, one of the most talented players of this generation, retire from the National team without the glory of winnig a last tittle with the jersey that once belonged to Maradona. He deserves it. The whole team deserves. But between deserving and actually winning it's a long way.

Messi, Tevez and Riquelme the wonder kids and the master

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NOW WITH MY PREDICTIONS:

I know we have two VERY HARD games to predict but I'm not afraid to risk. I can be wrong tomorrow but it's all part of my job so here we go

BRAZIL will beat URUGUAY (the score doesn't really matter at this point)

and... ARGENTINA will be surprised by MEXICO's fast attack.

The Final will be between:

BRAZIL  x  MEXICO

Oh What a Great Soccer Weekend!!!

What a great Copa America this has been. I honestly have to say that this Copa America has been more interesting to watch than the 2006 World Cup.

It seems like all the teams wanted to win this title so bad and the ones with more passion and more desire are the ones going to the semi-finals.

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Game 1 - Mexico 6  x 0  Paraguay

Yesterday I was already surprise with the 4 x 1 win by Uruguay, and 6 x 1 win by Brazil. Not for the fact that those teams won their games but for the large goal difference.

Then today I wanted to see Mexico play a good game, and honestly I thought they would have a difficult time facing such a strong Paraguayan defense.

FORGET EVERYTHING I SAID!!!!

I WAS SOOOOOO NAIVE!!!!

I simply forgot that even though Paragauay's defense is pretty solid they are also slow. And playing against the speed and talent of Nery Castillo, Andres Guardado, Cacho & cia. they had no chace.

Yes, I know, Paraguay had to play with 10 players and their second goalkeeper since the 3rd minute of the game when their number 1, Bombadilla, got a red card. But that CANNOT be used as an excuse. We've all seen good teams playing with 10 players and still win, or at least lose by 1 or 2 goals, BUT 6???

Mexico simply played their best. They dominated the game, they controled, they suffocated Paraguay and when "los guaranis" tried to find some space to create with Cardozo or Roque Santa Cruz, "los aztecas" built a wall of good defenders to contain any attempt to jeopardize their clean sheet.

Paraguay didn't even disappoint me, they couldn't play. It's not their fault. It's all about Mexico's good qualities. And just a warning for Argentina.

GOALS:

FIRST HALF -> Castillo (4min) / Torrado (26min) / Castillo (38min)

SECOND HALF -> Arce (33min)  /  Blanco (41min)  /  Bravo (45min)      

Man of the match: will any defense be able to stop Nery Castillo???

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Game 2: Argentina  4  x  0  Peru

Great game for Peru, oh wait... there is a second half... so forget it...

But seriously, the first 45 minutes showed a perfect defensive strategy for Peru. So good that Argentina's players started to pass the ball as fast as possible to Riquelme and to Messi as if they wanted to say "here, you're the talented ones, so please do something now".  But Peru forgot that just defending is not enough to win games.

That's what Alfio Basile thought too. During the half time break I don't know what he told his players but it worked. Also he found out that Tevez and Messi NEED to play together. They understand each other, they know each other's style.

And what else could we explect of a team like Argentina when they finally find out their way to the goal: "KILLER BEE ATTACK"!!!  And it really stings bad, just ask a Peruvian player.

GOALS

SECOND HALF -> Riquelme (1min) / Messi (15min) / Mascherano (29min) / Riquelme (40min)

 Man of the match: Alfio "coco" Basile - for realizing Tevez should play with Messi and whatever he said to motivate his players in the locker room

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TOMORROW:  A DEEP ANALYSIS ON THE 4 SEMIFINALISTS

URUGUAY  x  BRAZIL

MEXICO  x  ARGENTINA

IN TIME: Thanks for all  constant visits and comments. Special thanks to Mijito and ANTIMADRISTA

I knew that all the frustration from watching such boring games yesterday would be erased with this decision of the first place in Group C between Argentina e paraguay.

 Both team came to the field with drastic changes in the rosters but with a lot of desire to win the game. It was a pretty even game in the first half. At no moment Paraguay acted as if afraid of the powerful Argentina. And the captain of the guaranis, Cacéres, commanded the destruction of Argentina’s attempts to score. 

The 0 x 0 score in the first half didn’t reflect the very good quality of soccer shown by both teams.  

A very exciting game to watch in the first 45 minutes. And I already feel sorry for Mexico and Peru because playing Argentina or playing Paraguay is not gonna be an easy task.  

In the second half Argentina and Paraguay continued pursuing the first goal.

At the 22^nd minute “los hinchas argentinos” went crazy when Messy took Cambiasso’s place.They’ve been calling for Messi’s name for most part of the game. 

And Messy was the man who basically decided the game. Influenced by the crazyness of the fans, the wonder boy creates a great play on the left side and passes the ball to Mascherano at the top of the box.

Mascherano stops, looks, and chooses to place the ball at the right bottom side of Bobadilla’s goal.  Great goal for Argentina.  Final Score: Argentina  1  x  0  Paraguay 

Man of the Match:  the wonder boy Messi for changing the story of game

I

Mascherano celebrates his goal with Veron and Riquelme 

IN TIME:

I don’t want to spoil my excitement with Paraguay and Argentina soccer so I’m not gonna spend many lines to describe the USA vs. Colombia game: 

*USA -> The team didn’t pass well, didn’t shoot well  (when they do, the ref call it off-side) and so they lost once again. 

*Colombia -> Passed well, controlled the game but missed ssssoooooo many opportunities that in the end I wished USA had tied the game.