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COPA AMERICA - QUARTER FINALS - DAY 2 .:. The Aftermath .:.

Monday, 09 July 07, 01:19 AM

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

 

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Game of the day - VENEZUELA 2 x 0 PERU

Sunday, 01 July 07, 02:04 AM

That game meant the world for Venezuela, a win would garatee the first place in the group and a lost could mean the elimination and for Peru a 0 X 0 would be suficient to push the decision for the game against Bolivia.
So for the first time in this year's Copa America I watched the MOST BORING first half of (anti) soccer. Maybe the only emotion was to see the refferee show the peruvian Garcia a red card for throwin an elbow on Maldonado's face.
And thank god the first half was over!!!
The second half was another story... all elements of a good soccer game were present: goals, bad calls by the refferee, running, arguments, last minute plays...
At the 3rd minute a perfect corner kick by Venezuela and the balls finds Chichero that puts the ball into the net.
Peru, then decided to show up for the game. The game was open. Venezuela tried to explore the counter attack using the advantage of the extra player.
At the minute 14 the play that decided the game in my opinion: It was the best chance for Peru to tie the game. Guerrero believes in a (almost) lost ball on the right side and crosses to the middle of the box, Pizzaro followed the play and before he could push the ball into the empty goal a venezuelan defender trips him... an obvious penalty denied by the refferee Armando Archundia. 
After that, the refferee started losing control of the game. The peruvian players were getting more and more desesperate while Venezuela tried to pass the ball around.
Peru's desperation was a double-edged sword, and the worst happened. In one of Venezuela's counter attack plays, Arismendi takes a good run eith the ball and scores with a  low diagonal shot from outside the box...
That was it for Peru, the penalty that the refferee decided to give them and a second goal for Venezuela with 15 minutes left on the clock was like a bucket of cold water on the teams morale.
Peru still tried to score their first goal and on the last chance game in a free kick caused by "game retardation" from the venezuelan goalkeeper Vega. But nothing happened and the game was over...
Honestly I still didn't see anything special in any of the teams from group A (I didn't watch Uruguay's game today)
Venezuela as the home team is really trying hard to make it at least to the semifinals but I wouldn't bet on that.
Peru has some young talents but they still have a lot to impriove...
Bolivia should enjoy the trip because they're not getting any farther...
And as I said I still want to watch Uruguay playing before giving my opinion...
Tomorrow I'll glue myself to the TV and I will post about the two games...
Hoping that Brazil X Chile, Mexico X Ecuador can perform the best of their potential...
IN TIME:
 * As I said group A is the weakest one in the competition so it's all up to Uruguay and Venezuela to make their way to the next round on their last games... I don't think surprises will happen on this group...
* A good note is that there hasn't been any 0 x 0 in this Copa America yet...
TOMORROW'S GAMES PREDICTIONS 
--> BRAZIL X CHILE  - Brazil will play a better soccer and will win this one 2 X 1
--> MEXICO X ECUADOR - A though game for Mexico because Ecuador will not give Castillo the same space he had against Brazil but if Mexico can count on Guardado on the field I believe they can beat Ecuador and garantee a place in the next round ... Mexico wins 1 x 0

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