Pixy10
member
Reged: 07/06/2007
Posts: 25
Loc: Dublin
|
|
Not only that, but it looks like Uruguay, with 4 points and a -2 goal difference, may well be the 2nd best 3rd placed side, meaning they would face Venezuela (again) for a place in the semi-finals. Not a bad result for both sides, especially Uruguay, since I backed them to win the Copa. The idea of having non-simultaeneous last round group matches has been proven to be unfair (Argentina - Peru in 1978, West Germany - Austria in 1982), but television and money, it seems, still rule the roost ...
To tonights games, I expect Brazil to beat Ecuador and Chile to possibly get the draw they need against Mexico to ensure qualification.
|
Mauricio
member
Reged: 03/06/2007
Posts: 96
Loc: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
|
Quote:
The idea of having non-simultaeneous last round group matches has been proven to be unfair (Argentina - Peru in 1978, West Germany - Austria in 1982), but television and money, it seems, still rule the roost ...
I would go a little bit further here. It seems the confrontations in this Copa America have been arranged so as the home team (Venezuela) would have a much easier way through to the finals. It may only be my imagination but something is kind of odd, just take a look in group B and ask yourself, would you prefer to be the 1st or 2nd in that group?
Brazil was once again devastatingly dissapointing. Even though Dunga has not called the best players he could (and he also called a handfull of some I don't see worthy of the national jearsey - but that was his choice!), This team could be playing a much better football. But they have not system, no definite formation and no credibility with the coach, as it seems. Only a bad half time was enough to make Dunga change Anderson for Diego in the first game. Then Anderson started the second game against Chile and a poor half time (not only Anderson's, but the entire team played badly - with the exception of Robinho, as usual), and he was out. In came Julio Batista who, after a mediocre half time against Ecuador was sacked and in came Diego again... And to tell the truth, it's gotta be really hard to be an offensive midfielder - or a forward for that matter - in Dunga's team, playing with 3 deffensive men in the midfield, who miss 2 meter passed to the side.Let's just hope Dunga faces reality and makes some deep changes in that team, or I'm scared of facing ARgentina eventually. It might be a historical game, so hard a beating it will probably be...
As for Argentina, they keep giving me the impression they play knowing they can score whenever they feel like it. It seems they're just asleep and, when the other team scores the first goal (as the USA and Colombia did) they wake up and then the beating begins. It will be hard to take the trophy away from those guys.
--------------------
Mauricio Drumond
|
badgerboy
member
Reged: 26/03/2007
Posts: 727
Loc: Bucks, England
|
|
Quote:
I would go a little bit further here. It seems the confrontations in this Copa America have been arranged so as the home team (Venezuela) would have a much easier way through to the finals. It may only be my imagination but something is kind of odd, just take a look in group B and ask yourself, would you prefer to be the 1st or 2nd in that group?
I noticed that.
Quote:
Actually if I'm reading the quarter-final draw right I find it a bit odd.
Gp A 1st v 2nd best 3rd
Gp B 2nd v Best 3rd
Gp B 1st v Gp C 2nd
Gp C 1st v GP A 2nd
So - firstly you could end up playing the same team in the quarters as in the groups - if say the second best 3rd comes from Group A. And secondly - you're better off being second in Group B rather than first since in the quarters you play only a "best 3rd" rather than a second-placed team AND if Argentina win Group C you avoid them until the final!
..except I missed how beneficial that should've been for Venezuela (assuming Brazil & Argentina had both actually won their groups) and only realised today that Brazil finishing second means they avoid Argentina until the final regardless of what Argentina do today.
Maybe Brazil's mediocrity so far is simply Dunga's "cunning plan" to give his team the easiest path to the final (no Mexico or Paraguay either). And they might only have to play really well once to win the thing...
|
Mauricio
member
Reged: 03/06/2007
Posts: 96
Loc: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
|
Quote:
Maybe Brazil's mediocrity so far is simply Dunga's "cunning plan" to give his team the easiest path to the final
I would like that to be it. But I wouldnt bet on it though. Dunga is definetely not that sly...
--------------------
Mauricio Drumond
|
subhankar_mondal
member
Reged: 29/08/2006
Posts: 2003
|
|
The quarter-final draw is as follows:
Venezuela v Uruguay
Brazil v Chile
Argentina v Peru
Mexico v Paraguay
I expect Venezuela to go past Uruguay though I base my prediction on the massive home support that they have. Brazil should win again Chile but I do anticipate a much closer match. Also Brazil have to improve vastly and not rely too heavily on Robinho.
Argentina are the favourites to win the Copa America and I predict them to win by at least three clear goals against Peru,who have been impressive. Mexico v Paraguay has to be the tie of the round but I am behind Mexico purely for the enjoyment and delight that they have provided me with through their display in the Copa America.
--------------------
Subhankar Mondal is a football writer for www.goal.com.
|
Pixy10
member
Reged: 07/06/2007
Posts: 25
Loc: Dublin
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Maybe Brazil's mediocrity so far is simply Dunga's "cunning plan" to give his team the easiest path to the final
I would like that to be it. But I wouldnt bet on it though. Dunga is definetely not that sly...
I don't know Mauricio ... this was the guy who published a book, during his time in Japan with Jubilo Iwata, on Malicia ; basically about how to be more 'professional' in football - effectively how to cheat and get away with it!
But seriously, joking aside, I don't think there's any question of Dunga sending his team out to play below par, so as to finish 2nd in the group and secure an easier passage to the final.
Personally I look forward to a Brazil - Uruguay quarter-final, though both sides have been dreadful up to now - particularly the Celeste, who have only scored one goal thus far!
|
Pixy10
member
Reged: 07/06/2007
Posts: 25
Loc: Dublin
|
|
Apologies for the above error: I meant I'm looking forward to a possible Brazil - Uruguay SEMI-FINAL ... no disrespect to Venezuela who have done very well so far.
|
Mauricio
member
Reged: 03/06/2007
Posts: 96
Loc: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
|
Dunga is currently going through some heavy criticism here in Brazil. As I think I've mentioned somewhere here before, Some people (journalists with some serious inside information) say that Dunga is only filling the managing position until Felipão (Luis Felipe Scolari, Portugal manager) is done with the Portuguese team after Euro 2008. But with the results and especially with the porr quality football the team is playing, Dunga is under some serious risk of wasting this great oportunity to show his a serious candidate for this position in the next World Cup. I really don't think he would jeopardize it by intentionally asking his team to play like that. If being 2nd in the group was the issue, he would only lose the first game to Mexico, say it was one of those things in football, when some days you just don't seem top get it right, and would play their best against Chile and Ecuador, showing what his team was really like.
I think Dunga was a great player, who had tons of malicia (or slyness) as a player. But as a manager he has yet to show why he was hired for the highest Brazilian managing position.
--------------------
Mauricio Drumond
|
badgerboy
member
Reged: 26/03/2007
Posts: 727
Loc: Bucks, England
|
|
I think it must just be the case that God or at least the "God of Football" is Brazilian.
I just watched highlights of Brazil v the USA in the U20 World Cup. Had Brazil got the equaliser they were so clearly striving for they would've finished second in their group & faced Argentina next. As it is they are third & still allegedly "sweating on qualification". I'll be amazed if they don't make it though. It's not yet clear who they will face but the way things have been going for them I wouldn't be surprised if Chile (who I haven't seen much of but look impressive) put out a reserve side & lose to Austria (who are pretty poor & would be the perfect opponent in the last 16)...
|
subhankar_mondal
member
Reged: 29/08/2006
Posts: 2003
|
|
These quarter-finals have seen a heck of goals. Goals galore! All the semi-finalists have hit the peak at the right time but you have to say that Argentina should still be the favourites.
--------------------
Subhankar Mondal is a football writer for www.goal.com.
|
badgerboy
member
Reged: 26/03/2007
Posts: 727
Loc: Bucks, England
|
|
For me it's a bit of a shame that it isn't Brazil v Mexico in the semis as I'd give Mexico more chance of upsetting Brazil than I do either of the "underdogs" in the current match-ups.
A bit like in the last World Cup I find myself wanting Argentina to win it simply because I'd like the trophy to go to a team that's been playing quality football from the start of the competition. So have Mexico - pretty much - though their 6-0 over Paraguay was obviously hugely assisted by the Paraguayan keeper being sent off after just two minutes.
Hopefully the semis will be closer than the quarters & at least one "surprise" would be nice. Can't quite see it though...
|
Mauricio
member
Reged: 03/06/2007
Posts: 96
Loc: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
|
I still think that Argentina is just not taking the trophy home if we see one of those games that happen once a decade, when the team that is obviously the best one loses unexplicably, like Germany v Hungary in 54, Holland v Germany in 74 and Brazil v Italy in 82...
For the sake of good quality football I'm hoping Argentina wins the tournament, and for the sake of Brazilian football, I'm hoping that Dunga's eleven won't surprise everyone winning the tournament, or else people will think Dunga is right when it comes to have a midfield with no creativity at all...
--------------------
Mauricio Drumond
|
Sam
member
Reged: 12/07/2006
Posts: 1063
Loc: North Somerset (returning to M...
|
|
Quote:
still think that Argentina is just not taking the trophy home if we see one of those games that happen once a decade, when the team that is obviously the best one loses unexplicably, like Germany v Hungary in 54, Holland v Germany in 74 and Brazil v Italy in 82...
...Or Argentina v. Brazil in '04... 
Sam
--------------------
More fútbol argentino than you can shake a mullet at - Hasta El Gol Siempre
|
Pixy10
member
Reged: 07/06/2007
Posts: 25
Loc: Dublin
|
|
Quote:
Hopefully the semis will be closer than the quarters & at least one "surprise" would be nice. Can't quite see it though...
Semi-finals are often quite tentative, with so much at stake, so we could well see closely-fought encounters. Also, as far as I know, there is no extra-time in this Copa. This could well encourage Mexico and Uruguay (particularly the latter who are by nature a defensive side) to hold out for a penalty shoot-out and pack the midfield, trying to suffucate Argentina and Brazil's creative players.
But this is only a guess, knowing Argentina, they should have enough class to defeat Mexico. I still fancy Uruguay to squeeze past Brazil, but that of course depends on whether Lugano and co. can stifle Robinho, who has been electrifying in the last few games.
|
badgerboy
member
Reged: 26/03/2007
Posts: 727
Loc: Bucks, England
|
|
Brazil have reached the final after beating Uruguay 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
I've only seen the goals & penalty shootout (all courtesy of youtube) so any info. on the balance of play & how well both teams performed would be appreciated.
On paper a close match - which is obviously a good thing & a fair bit of incident (floodlight failure & some ugly scenes at the end as well as the drama of penalties).
|
Sam
member
Reged: 12/07/2006
Posts: 1063
Loc: North Somerset (returning to M...
|
|
I'm a little bit nervous about tonight. Mexico are going to be incredibly pumped up for it after losing the Gold Cup final and, of course, they'll have motivation in the forum of revenge for this...
That being said, their leading scorer and best player to date, Nery Castillo, is almost certainly out injured. But they're still Mexico, so they're still dangerous.
This is going to be a mental game. I just wish I could stay up for all of it. If only it wasn't on so bloody late at night...
Sam
--------------------
More fútbol argentino than you can shake a mullet at - Hasta El Gol Siempre
|
stephen_woodside
member
Reged: 02/05/2007
Posts: 1880
Loc: Huyton, Merseyside
|
|
Argentina will win 3-1 against Mexico tonight i feel sam, at least that is my prediction. Won £150 last night on predicting Uruguay drawing 2-2 with Brazil in the first semi thanks to me refering to my predictions on page 1, i thought Uruguay would win on pens though which they passed up a great opportunity. I wish i could stay up to watch the game but there is work in the morning. Good luck mate and dont be too nervous if you can help it.
--------------------
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Edited by stephen_woodside (12/07/2007 00:26)
|
Sam
member
Reged: 12/07/2006
Posts: 1063
Loc: North Somerset (returning to M...
|
|
I've got work as well, but I think I'll be able to watch the first half at least.
I'm not TOO nervous, don't worry - nowhere near how I'd be if England or United or Barca or River were playing in a big match. But I'm wearing my '86 shirt and hoping like hell they can get through.
It's funny how 'second nations' can find you in the course of your life...
Sam
--------------------
More fútbol argentino than you can shake a mullet at - Hasta El Gol Siempre
|
stephen_woodside
member
Reged: 02/05/2007
Posts: 1880
Loc: Huyton, Merseyside
|
|
I dont know what it is like to have second nation loyalties, not sure i ever will but you can never say never. You have travelled the world much more than me so i can understand your nervous approach. Good job i am not like you because supporting Everton and England is quite enough for me as i get extremely anxious just by supporting one club and country. Enjoy the game, or at least the first half mate .
--------------------
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
|
richards
member
Reged: 12/06/2006
Posts: 88
|
|
Another wonder goal from Messi. If he carries on scoring classic goals at rate he'll soon be spoken of in the same breath as one of the all-time greats ... Matt Le Tissier 
That's going to be one hell of a compilation dvd when he retires.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
[Re: 
Edit
Reply
Quote
