Argentina - Copa America 2011 - inagural match this evening

So..... the Copa America begins today. Its too bad Japan didnt make the event, guess they are still recovering from the Earthquake.

I dont have my hopes up too high.... I have to wonder if Messi will finally have a good few weeks with La Seleccion. The official opening ceremony starts at 1900 local time, the match will get underway at 2145 at the new La Plata Stadium which hosted the U2 360 Tour... nice new (and not very large) stadium.

http://www.ca2011.com/mobile/smart/

Here is another site with info (non official site):

http://www.copa-america2011.net/

Well you don't sound very optimistic. :D

I have a feeling the home side might just go all the way. Messi is on fire and Tevez is better than I've ever seen him. The defence is a worry though.

Argentina to win the cup. ^

Argentina to win the cup. ^

Not on that performance :eek:

At least the goal was pretty...

Not on that performance :eek:

At least the goal was pretty...

Bolivia set out looking for a draw and that's what they got due to that idiot standing on the goal line who tried to be clever instead of kicking the ball out of touch. :rolleyes:

I'm sure they'll get better as the competition goes on. No panic yet. :D

Bolivia set out looking for a draw and that's what they got due to that idiot standing on the goal line who tried to be clever instead of kicking the ball out of touch. :rolleyes:

I'm sure they'll get better as the competition goes on. No panic yet. :D


I agree the Bolivian goal was from a stupid mistake... but overall, Bolivia's game plan was a good one and it was very well executed. Dont forget that while leading 1-0, the Bolivian No. 9 had a one on one with Romero which was well resolved by the keeper but that could have sealed the blunder for La Seleccion.

I hate to be overly pessimistic... but I dont see the team getting it together. Batista is not the right guy for the job... Messi cant seem to stand the pressure of wearing the national jersey and nobody dares even consider that maybe Messi should sit it out on the bench and give another guy a chance. I undertand all he does at Barcelona is from another planet, but I think waiting until he retires to get a team to work is a little too long and a little too unfair for the Fans. At this point, I say bench the guy and lets see what a team without the superstar can do.... Aguero can start and let Messi play the last 20 minutes.

I hate to be overly pessimistic... but I dont see the team getting it together. Batista is not the right guy for the job... Messi cant seem to stand the pressure of wearing the national jersey and nobody dares even consider that maybe Messi should sit it out on the bench and give another guy a chance.

I agree about Batista.....he looks more mafia than national team coach material.
I'd give this team another game before making any drastic changes like dropping Messi. Tevez had a poor game last night yet everyone still thinks he's wonderful. The opening match in these tournaments are always strange affairs.....lets see how they get on in the next match.

Very good point about Tevez.... yes, he also had a dismal match - just like Messi. And yes... nobody dares to say his performance was poor. In the end, the only one that plays a consistent good game is Mascherano.

Colombia is going to be a good test of this team.... in any case, if they dont seriously up their game, if they get to face Brazil they will get slaughtered... :eek:

.... in any case, if they dont seriously up their game, if they get to face Brazil they will get slaughtered... :eek:


I'm not so sure. After watching them play Venezuela I was not too impressed by "o terror do mundo". Let's see what the next match shows us.

I'm not so sure. After watching them play Venezuela I was not too impressed by "o terror do mundo". Let's see what the next match shows us.

I guess the Brazilians didnt want to be rude to the host nation and also offered a dismal performance.... I was surprised that they could not score against a very weak Venezuela, which I see even weaker than Bolivia.

Hmmm... if Paraguay can repeat the last WC's performance they are perhaps the favorites to take the title....?

Another poor game today with an off form Brazil.....they certainly didn't look any better than Argentina that's for sure. No team has impressed so far.

Latest betting odds to win the cup. Uruguay look a decent price.

10/11 Argentina
2/1 Brazil
9/1 Uruguay
12/1 Chile
25/1 Paraguay
25/1 Colombia
50/1 Mexico
100/1 BAR

I agree 9 to 1 for Uruguay is a very good bet..... ^

OK... so now Uruguay also plays a horrible game...... maybe this is a sign of the times with international soccer...?????

OK... so now Uruguay also plays a horrible game...... maybe this is a sign of the times with international soccer...?????

I think you're right. Yet another drawn game with little to get excited about. Seems to be following the same pattern as last years World Cup.........many mediocre games with most teams showing a similar standard of football. The players might be jaded and just want a holiday after a full season playing with their clubs.

The Chile - Mexico game might not have contained a lot of quality but it was the most entertaining game so far.....at least someone won.

I think the Paraguay game was the best so far..... not because of the play on the field but rather because of two specific spectators. Why is it that I dont think Im the only one that noticed.....?

:eek:

I think the Paraguay game was the best so far..... not because of the play on the field but rather because of two specific spectators. Why is it that I dont think Im the only one that noticed.....?

:eek:

I never saw that game.

A couple of hotties was it? :D

I didnt call them hotties..... but to each his own.... :eek:

http://www.canchallena.com/1386873-tiembla-larissa-riquelme

(be sure to close the ads that may come up to see the pictures)

I didnt call them hotties..... but to each his own.... :eek:

http://www.canchallena.com/1386873-tiembla-larissa-riquelme

(be sure to close the ads that may come up to see the pictures)

Larissa is extremely well known here in the US thanks to the pictures from the last world cup of her cell phone being kept in a very appealing place (I can't open the link from work, but I would assume that picture is in the set)

Im not talking about Larissa................. its actually about two Larissa wanna-bes.... :D

I didnt call them hotties..... but to each his own.... :eek:

http://www.canchallena.com/1386873-tiembla-larissa-riquelme

(be sure to close the ads that may come up to see the pictures)

:D ^

Certainly more entertaining than what's been happening on the pitch.

Im not talking about Larissa................. its actually about two Larissa wanna-bes.... :D

I see that now that I won't have the site blocked. The part of the URL I could see was implying it was Larissa again

They definitely are wanna-bes and I agree with you that I wouldn't use the term 'hottie' (but to each their own)

So was Argentina that bad or was Colombia that good? Certainly Colombia had the best chances of goal.

So was Argentina that bad or was Colombia that good? Certainly Colombia had the best chances of goal.

Another poor advert for South/Central American football to be honest. :td:

Japan were invited but could not make it, perhaps we can get Scotland to participate next time.

Japan were invited but could not make it, perhaps we can get Scotland to participate next time.

Scotland would only bring it down to an even lower level. :D

So was Argentina that bad or was Colombia that good? Certainly Colombia had the best chances of goal.

Argentina just had another sorry sorry lame lame game..... what a disgrace. Colombia played quite well and didnt have the cojones to win it.... they should have won the match 2 - 0 if they had capitalized on all the chances.

I guess its also fair to say that the Argentine keeper (Romero) had a very good match.

Japan were invited but could not make it, perhaps we can get Scotland to participate next time.

Yes.... its a shame the Japanese did not come down. They may have had a chance at the finals.... :eek:

Scotland would only bring it down to an even lower level. :D

Doode... with the play from La Seleccion... I would put some money on the skirt wearing boys to win against the current band of punks... :eek: :mad: :td:

I say have the sub-17 squad play and bench all these lazy mfers with their fat Euro and Sterling accounts..... :mad: :rolleyes: :td:

Perhaps Costa Rica will kick Bolivia nicely today and make sure Argentina does not make it to the second round.... similar to the River Plate fiasco, perhaps an elimination with disgrace will be a catalyst for some proper change at the AFA. Maybe it can lay the foundation for Don Corleone to get expelled from Viamonte street.... if this could work, I would gladly palate an elimination of the team right now.

Doode... with the play from La Seleccion... I would put some money on the skirt wearing boys to win against the current band of punks... :eek: :mad: :td:

:D

I didn't enjoy last nights game at all. As if the game wasn't bad enough the TV picture was pathetic.I could hardly see what was happening on the far touch line....was it foggy or were the floodlights like the team not on full power?As if that wasn't bad enough the screen had endless CK propaganda flashing across it....then there was the commentators who wouldn't shut up with their endless drivel.
Why didn't Argentina play all their games in Buenos Aires? I think they are finding it hard playing outside of the capital.....that pitch looked kind of small to me.

Hiddy.... Doode, dont you get HDTV out there in the goonies.....????

:D

Perhaps Costa Rica will kick Bolivia nicely today and make sure Argentina does not make it to the second round....

That's looking likely. Two goals up and Bolivia down to 9 men. Quite an exciting game for a change.

Hiddy.... Doode, dont you get HDTV out there in the goonies.....????

Yes we do but our telly is an antique. :)

Well... Costa Rica won their game so things are more complicated for Argentina. Of course, if they beat Costa Rica they still have a decent chance of continuing into the next round.... but, with this team of "muertos" anything can happen.... :mad:

Yes we do but our telly is an antique. :)

excuses excuses..... :p ;)

I enjoyed the Peru-Mexico game tonight....very entertaining and the best team won. ^

I enjoyed the Peru-Mexico game tonight....very entertaining and the best team won. ^

I felt a little sorry for Gio (Dos Santos) trying to create opportunities for his abysmal teammates (though this is what, the 3rd string team?) Well done to Peru though, they have a good shot at the quarters!

Mexico did come with their C team..... shame, they could have done better with their A squad.

Mexico did come with their C team.....

How come?


I was thinking about the poor form of Argentina.....did the Europe based players arrive with enough time to get rid of the effects of the time difference? Considering the games have been played at 21.45 which is 01.45 Europe time this might have had an effect on their performance.Just a thought....

Mexico did come with their C team..... shame, they could have done better with their A squad.
How come?


Their A team had just finished winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup on June 25th, which is the qualification for the 2013 Confederations Cup. They managed to do this with 5 players suspended. They gave their A team a rest and sent their B team to play a warmup in Quito, and had a further 8 players suspended for inviting ladies to their team hotel. I think Dos Santos is still on the squad because he's only 22 and he has family in Brazil to visit.

Mexico also beat Uruguay yesterday in the U-17 World Cup Final. They could be a team to watch in the years ahead.

I wonder how much the tickets are going for. Has anybody gone to a game?

They gave their A team a rest and sent their B team to play a warmup in Quito, and had a further 8 players suspended for inviting ladies to their team hotel.

My goodness they are strict.

Scotland players used to prepare for important International games by visiting nightclubs and having all night boozing sessions.They played better back in those days than they do now. :D

Darned puritans... I say let the boys fornicate if they can play better the next day. Team Skipper Hiddy says it works so who is to be contrarian on this....?

Darned puritans... I say let the boys fornicate if they can play better the next day. Team Skipper Hiddy says it works so who is to be contrarian on this....?

So they must have organized an orgy last night.;)

Finally! This is more like it. Not even the clumsy officiating seems to be spoiling this game.

Finally! This is more like it. Not even the clumsy officiating seems to be spoiling this game.

Indeed...a very satisfying performance. They easily outclassed the Costa Ricans. ^

I wasn't impressed with the referee either.

Folks Folks..... I dont want to be contrarian for the sake of it, but please lets not get carried away.

These bunch of punks beat the Costa Rica C Team... made up of sub-22 players. For the love of Christ, the poor dude having to defend against Messi makes US$400 a month pocket money while playing at some Houston College on a NCAA Soccer Scholarship..... pleeezzzeeee, lets get serious.

This game yesterday means nothing. Zilcho. La Seleccion still has the same old structural problems which remain unsolved. Don Corleone gave the bozo Batista the Coaching Job for which he is clearly underqualified.... and yesterdays rival was a sorry joke. If Argentina is going to use Costa Rica C as a yardstick then we are gravely mistaken.

I hope Im dead wrong... but it will take a couple of miracles to have this pathetic band of fat ducks to continue much longer in this tournament. I doubt they have the nerves to come back from a game where they are behind.... so unless they can play all the rest of the games and manage to score first, their flimsy nerves will get the best of them and we will be toast.

Folks Folks..... I dont want to be contrarian for the sake of it, but please lets not get carried away.

Oh stop spoiling the party you old cynic. :D

I think it was a good confidence booster no matter how bad the opposition were. From what I've seen of the other teams in this competition you won't need to be anything special to win it anyway.

Well.... these bozos will have to play Uruguay next... lets see what they can come up with... :rolleyes:

Well.... these bozos will have to play Uruguay next... lets see what they can come up with... :rolleyes:

Not a lot and that was against 10 men for most of the game.

Batista has to go.

Quemando directamente hasta el infierno!

And a political comment from a local:

Gracias a Dios quedamos afuera!!!!....de esta manera los Políticos no van a contar con gente "contenta" para seguirnos cagando tanto.

Batista has to go.

Careful with what you wish. They might bring Diego back...:eek:

Careful with what you wish. They might bring Diego back...:eek:

Wouldn't surprise me. :D

Apart from a handful I still think the current crop of players are pretty average to be honest. Not so sure it would make much difference whoever they put in charge.
Yet another couple of surprises today with Brasil and Chile going out. :eek:

Wouldn't surprise me. :D



Oh boy

http://www.clarin.com/copa-america/Ezeiza-pasacalle-pidio-vuelta-Maradona_0_518948354.html :rolleyes:

Oh boy

http://www.clarin.com/copa-america/Ezeiza-pasacalle-pidio-vuelta-Maradona_0_518948354.html :rolleyes:

Whatever they do... the above aint the solution... :mad:

Batista has to go.

Tell us something we dont know............. :rolleyes:

I say that they should make a totem pole in Plaza de Mayo, by impaling Grondona and Batista. Perhaps that will be the medieval move that we need to have a chance at Argentine football having a Rennaisance.

And a political comment from a local:

Gracias a Dios quedamos afuera!!!!....de esta manera los Políticos no van a contar con gente "contenta" para seguirnos cagando tanto.

True.... but, it would have been better to have Brazil stay in and win to make things even more pathetic. This team is a joke, they cant even win a 2nd tier tournament at home... pathetic, simply pathetic.

Might be our expectations of seeing Argentina as a super power in football once again is unrealistic. Even Brasil have faltered over recent years.

Argentinas domestic league is a disaster and the quality of football on show is about entertaining as watching paint dry.

Batista got the boot.... ^

Now if we could just get Batista impaled, life in Argentine Football would be good... :D

Alejandro Sabella would be a good appointment.

At least he looks the part instead of those who strut about like male models.

Alejandro Sabella would be a good appointment.

At least he looks the part instead of those who strut about like male models.


Agreed.... Bianchi would have been better but Sabella is a good bet also.

I hear Bob Bradley is available :D

I hear Bob Bradley is available :D

Care to elaborate....?

Bradley was just fired as coach of the US team. Jürgen Klinsmann is the new coach. I would stick with "la nonna".

Why fired....? Because of the loss against Mexico...??

Klinsmann...???? :rolleyes:

Why fired....? Because of the loss against Mexico...??

I guess that was the last straw (The US was ahead 2-0 in that game). They also lost to Panama in that tournament. Here is a story from ESPN:

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/columnist/carlisle_jeff/id/6812951/bob-bradley-us-head-coach-there-little-downside-making-change-jeff-carlisle

Former player Klinsmann was the coach for the German team in the 2006 World Cup (they were third).

I know who Klinsmann is.... I dont think he is a proper choice... but heck, what do I know...??

Sunil Gulati (the president of the US federation) has wanted Klinsmann as coach since 2006, but Klinsmann was asking for a level of control that Gulati seemed unwilling to allow. It's unclear whether he's asked for or been given that level of control this time. These are troublesome times for the US team, with most of the talent well past prime and the youth system malfunctioning at best. I think people assumed that the team had "evolved" to a point where beating Mexico was a given and competing with the world's elite was just around the corner, so there was a bit of a panic when that illusion was shattered.

The federation wanted to bring in someone who will instill European tactics, yet is familiar with the American talent pool. Klinsmann seems to fit the bill, but I'm not holding much hope for beating traditional rivals Mexico (who seem to be on the cusp of a "once in a generation" team). I think making it out of the group stages in Brazil will be quite a feat.

I wonder how much Klinsmann is going to get paid.... Im sure he was not cheap.... :eek: I hope he can give the US Team a return on their investment....

I wonder how much Klinsmann is going to get paid.... Im sure he was not cheap.... :eek: I hope he can give the US Team a return on their investment....

It's still early but so far the US team under Klinsmann tied 1-1 with Mexico and lost to Costa Rica (1-0) and Belgium (1-0).

It's still early but so far the US team under Klinsmann tied 1-1 with Mexico and lost to Costa Rica (1-0) and Belgium (1-0).

Not sure the US is getting its $$$$ worth....