The Argentine Football Federation Sack Head Coach Sergio Batista
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Monday, 25 July 2011
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Uruguay win the 2011 Copa America in Style
The Uruguayans winning the 2011 Copa America should come as no surprise, after all they did finish in fourth spot at last year's World Cup in South Africa.
Against Paraguay they were definitely the better side. They showed their superiority from the start and were almost up 1-0 after only minutes. It was Paraguay's Justo Villar - who had an excellent campaign by the way and gets my vote for best keeper in the tournament - who managed to keep Parguay level after a well executed Uruguayan corner kick. Justo Villar's heroics would not prevent Uruguay from winning its 15th Copa America. They were the hungrier and much stronger side.
They took opened the scoring with a goal that was half lucky, half skill. The ball hit a wide open Luis Suarez off a Paraguayan deflection, he controlled it beautifully, spun around and unleashed a hell-of-a shot, which oddly took a deflection off a Paraguayan defender and ended up in the back of the net. Justo Villar had no chance at all.
Although Paraguay tried to mount a comeback they were unable to create any clear scoring opportunities. Their constant surge up field left them wide open for the counter attack, which Uruguay was not able to capitalize on, but the Uruguayans kept on pressuring as well and it was their constant pressure which led to their second goal, scored by who else but Diego Forlan.
Paraguay came out flying in the second half, but still could not muster any clear scoring chances and it wasn't until the 85th minute, when off a great counter attack Forlan netted his second goal of the match and gave Uruguay the Victory.
Congratulations to an Uruguay who have fought hard to get to where they are today. Lets not forget this was a side which almost did not make it into the 2010 World Cup. Once in the prestigious tournament however they earned fourth place and today Crowned themselves Champions of South America!
My prediction was pretty close, I did predict three goals though!
See you guys in a weeks time for the U20 World Cup, FIFA really knows how to generate revenue these days!
Against Paraguay they were definitely the better side. They showed their superiority from the start and were almost up 1-0 after only minutes. It was Paraguay's Justo Villar - who had an excellent campaign by the way and gets my vote for best keeper in the tournament - who managed to keep Parguay level after a well executed Uruguayan corner kick. Justo Villar's heroics would not prevent Uruguay from winning its 15th Copa America. They were the hungrier and much stronger side.
They took opened the scoring with a goal that was half lucky, half skill. The ball hit a wide open Luis Suarez off a Paraguayan deflection, he controlled it beautifully, spun around and unleashed a hell-of-a shot, which oddly took a deflection off a Paraguayan defender and ended up in the back of the net. Justo Villar had no chance at all.
Although Paraguay tried to mount a comeback they were unable to create any clear scoring opportunities. Their constant surge up field left them wide open for the counter attack, which Uruguay was not able to capitalize on, but the Uruguayans kept on pressuring as well and it was their constant pressure which led to their second goal, scored by who else but Diego Forlan.
Paraguay came out flying in the second half, but still could not muster any clear scoring chances and it wasn't until the 85th minute, when off a great counter attack Forlan netted his second goal of the match and gave Uruguay the Victory.
Congratulations to an Uruguay who have fought hard to get to where they are today. Lets not forget this was a side which almost did not make it into the 2010 World Cup. Once in the prestigious tournament however they earned fourth place and today Crowned themselves Champions of South America!
My prediction was pretty close, I did predict three goals though!
See you guys in a weeks time for the U20 World Cup, FIFA really knows how to generate revenue these days!
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Uruguay Face an Unlikely Oponent
The Copa America Semifinals did not produce as much drama as the quarter finals, except perhaps for the game between Venezuela and Paraguay.
Paraguay have historically been the better footballing nation and were therefore the favorites, in my books anyway. However, this years Copa America produced some unlikely score lines such as the mighty Argentinians falling to Uruguay and Brazil being embarrassed in a shootout by Paraguay.
Therefore it would not have been strange to see Peru face Venezuela in the final. It seems to me the Vino Tinto, as they are known in Latin America, had the upper hand in their game against Paraguay. They hit posts galore and it was perhaps fitting they lost this match in the same way in which they knocked Chile out of the tournament, with a little luck.
Penalties are a horrible way to bow out of a tournament, but it has happened to some of the best sides in world football and Venezuela were no exception; a miss handled penalty cost them their ticket to Buenos Aires.
Uruguay, the fourth best side in the world, according to last year's World Cup, did not fall and it should come as no surprise that they are in the Finals and should be favorites to win it. However, their road to the finals was not an easy one. They drew their first two matches against Peru and Chile respectively and did not look like the side who fought for third place in South Africa 2010. However, like any great side in a tournament they stepped up when they needed to and managed to squeak out of the group stage and eliminate the hosts in the first knockout phase.
Their match against Peru could have produced an upset and I have to admit that at the end of the first half I thought the game could go into Penalties with Peru knocking out the final great side left in the tournament. The Uruguayans outplayed their rivals, but could not finish their opportunities and it was these missed chances which made me wonder whether Uruguay could over come lady luck.
My predictions did not come to fruition as Uruguay's Luis Suarez scored eight minutes into the second half to give Uruguay a 1-0 lead and iced it with his second goal scored off a beautifully executed counter-attack.
The Final is settled; Paraguay vs. Uruguay in Buenos Aires. I put my money on Uruguay 2-1 in what should be an exciting finish to an historical Copa America.
Paraguay have historically been the better footballing nation and were therefore the favorites, in my books anyway. However, this years Copa America produced some unlikely score lines such as the mighty Argentinians falling to Uruguay and Brazil being embarrassed in a shootout by Paraguay.
Therefore it would not have been strange to see Peru face Venezuela in the final. It seems to me the Vino Tinto, as they are known in Latin America, had the upper hand in their game against Paraguay. They hit posts galore and it was perhaps fitting they lost this match in the same way in which they knocked Chile out of the tournament, with a little luck.
Penalties are a horrible way to bow out of a tournament, but it has happened to some of the best sides in world football and Venezuela were no exception; a miss handled penalty cost them their ticket to Buenos Aires.
Uruguay, the fourth best side in the world, according to last year's World Cup, did not fall and it should come as no surprise that they are in the Finals and should be favorites to win it. However, their road to the finals was not an easy one. They drew their first two matches against Peru and Chile respectively and did not look like the side who fought for third place in South Africa 2010. However, like any great side in a tournament they stepped up when they needed to and managed to squeak out of the group stage and eliminate the hosts in the first knockout phase.
Their match against Peru could have produced an upset and I have to admit that at the end of the first half I thought the game could go into Penalties with Peru knocking out the final great side left in the tournament. The Uruguayans outplayed their rivals, but could not finish their opportunities and it was these missed chances which made me wonder whether Uruguay could over come lady luck.
My predictions did not come to fruition as Uruguay's Luis Suarez scored eight minutes into the second half to give Uruguay a 1-0 lead and iced it with his second goal scored off a beautifully executed counter-attack.
The Final is settled; Paraguay vs. Uruguay in Buenos Aires. I put my money on Uruguay 2-1 in what should be an exciting finish to an historical Copa America.
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