OT - Copa America Quarterfinals

Submitted by grand river fi… on

copa america quarterfinals

 

 
 
 
The Copa America has been filling the void in the summer sports lull the past couple weeks and I'd encourage anyone to watch the 2nd half of the tournament starting on Wednesday. The group stage was tense, physical with plenty of good game. It finished this morning,  setting up fantastic quarterfinal matchups for Wednesday, and hopefully a great tournament thereafter.
 
Chile, the hosts, won group A. They are hoping to win their first ever Copa America. Their star player Arturo Vidal (juventus) was arrested for drunk driving after crashing his Ferrari while leaving a casino after the second group game, has not been suspended, and started in Chile's 5-0 defeat of Bolivia. Chile has never won the tournament. They play Uruguay, who has not looked good, and finished 3rd in group B. Suarez isn't playing, and Cavani hasn't looked good thus far.
 
Bolivia advanced having beaten Ecuador in the group stage for their first victory outside of Bolivia since 1997. Bolivia is looking to win their second Copa America (suck on that Chile) and will have the support of many banished mgoblog folks. Bolivia's 5-0 loss to Chile featured Chilean fans taunting them about their loss in the War of the Pacific and lack of access to the sea. They play Peru, who was their ally in that war. Peru has looked very solid, Zambrano, Vargas, Advincula and Ascues look like the best back four in the tournament. They finished second in group B, and were unlucky to lose to Brazil to a goal in the 94th minute following an amazing pass from Neymar.  They really could/should have won their group. Their match with Columbia this morning was extremely physical, Peru will be a handful for any team in the tournament.
 
On the other side of the brack, Argentina will play Columbia. Argentina will be without Zabaleta, but Columbia will be without both Carlos Bacca and Carlos Sanchez. Messi has been playing on the left like this season at Barcelona, Aguero has been in the middle with DiMaria on the left. Pastore has been playing after a great season with PSG, and has done well, but Argentina hasn't seem to really clicked, despite winning their group.  Columbia were third in group C after being upset by Venezuela, but they followed that up by beating Brazil 2-1 in an extremely physical game which they dominated. The post game brawl resulted in a Neymar getting suspended for the rest of the tournament. Their match against Peru this morning was also aggressive, James elbowed Advincula in the face, and Cuardado didn't get even carded for a fast two footed lunge that would normally be a red card. Columbia is extremely athletic and physical, and will be extremely difficult for anyone to beat. Brazil certainly don't want to play them. 
 
Brazil advanced finishing top of their group without playing very well.  Two 2-1 wins over Peru and Venezuela were unconvincing, they were beaten by Columbia, and will now be without their only real attacking talent, as Neymar got suspended for 4 games following the Columbia game. I really couldn't believe that Robinho was playing today, but they won, and advanced and will play Paraguay, the 2011 runners up.  Paraguay started the tournament coming back from two goals down to get a draw against Argentina, and have looked very solid throughout the tournament. Nelson Valdez is an amazing story and a solid reason to root for Paraguay.  Ivan Piris had a great season playing for Udinese and has also been solid this tournament. They have a great chance of beating Brazil, especially with Neymar suspended.
 
Has anyone else been watching?  Sorry for the long post, but hopefully I can get some people to tune in or get some discussion started. Additionally this will have implications for the USMNT fans out there as Copa America Centenario that will be in the US next summer is basically a copa America with an additional two concacaf teams.
 
I'm predicting Chile-Peru, Argentina-Paraguay with Argentina beating Chile in the final.

 

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BlueCE

June 22nd, 2015 at 1:44 AM ^

Great recap. I have not been watching but many of my friends are so this is super helpful to follow the conversations.

Just one thing: Colombia, not Columbia



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Joined: 12/08/2009

MGoPoints: 2279

harmon40

June 22nd, 2015 at 2:46 PM ^

Colombia beat Brazil 1-0, not 2-1.

I am a Colombia fan (lived in Bogotá for 3 years in the mid-90's), and can tell you Colombian fans have been very disappointed thus far. The cafeteros back into the KO round with 1 goal in 3 games, not what they were expecting to achieve with the Falcao-James connection.

They may actually sit Falcao to start the Argentina match and go back to the World Cup line-up that was so productive for them.

Colombia looks schizophrenic right now - they lose to Venezuela, then beat Brazil, then tie Peru. Which squad will show up to face Argentina??

Joined: 05/02/2009

MGoPoints: 5743

HarBooYa

June 22nd, 2015 at 8:15 AM ^

Great summary, thanks.

I have been watching. Seeing teams like Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay give the top more known teams a run has been eye opening. Can't believe the depth of talent on these teams. We need to get the usmnt down that way more often to lift our competition level. Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean islands are not going to help us get there. Excited for us to play the euro teams in friendlies but this tournament is what we need. Excited for next years event to see how we do.

Joined: 06/22/2011

MGoPoints: 3099

grand river fi…

June 22nd, 2015 at 1:49 PM ^

The United States has been invited to play in past Copa Americas but always sent a B team and never really took it seriously.  Its a shame they haven't been in the last two tournaments because it'd be by far the most competitive games they'll play other then a world cup. Next summer should be interesting the Conmebol teams are super competitive.

Joined: 06/15/2010

MGoPoints: 1046

skurnie

June 22nd, 2015 at 9:44 AM ^

The Mrs is Peruvian and I follow their National Team relatively closely. They've looked great so far in this tournament and I expect them to beat Bolivia. And then Chile/Peru would be a great semifinal featuring lots and lots of Police in Riot Gear. 

Solid recap here, OP. Thanks for posting.

Joined: 07/31/2013

MGoPoints: 20170

SailingNomad

June 22nd, 2015 at 10:32 AM ^

Lima-based Mgoblogger here.  I thought Peru looked sloppy against Venezuela, until Pizarro managed to come through in the clutch once again.  A very solid performance against Colombia yesterday.  Colombia very easily could have/should have been down to 10 men in the second half, but Peru held on admirably.  I hope they don't take Bolivia lightly and go through to what would be an epic semifinal against Chile. 

Joined: 08/19/2009

MGoPoints: 117

kakusei

June 22nd, 2015 at 3:34 PM ^

im in santiago for the summer and have made it to three matches; Chile really seemed to gel during that game against Bolivia, and if they make it past Uruguay they should be in the final.  Brazil looked more fluid yesterday than they did against Colombia, and without Neymar no less (it was awesome to see him dominated by Sanchez and then suspended in the game against Colombia).  My money is on a Argentina-Chile final.  

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MGoPoints: 925