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Copa America to open on Tuesday
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-07-06 09:33
The 41st Copa America will be opened on Tuesday and teams from each group
first set their aim at qualifying from the group stage.
Brazilian soccer players warm up during
their training session at Melgar Stadium in Arequipa, July 5, 2004. The
Brazilian national team is in Peru for the 2004 Copa America tournament,
and will begin play on July 8 against Chile.
[Reuters] |
In Group A, in which an event level is expected, hosts Peru and defending
champions Colombia are the favorites. The group also includes Bolivia and
Venezuela.
Argentine striker Carlos Tevez runs for the
ball during a training session in Chiclayo, July 5, 2004. Argentina's
national soccer team will face Mexico, Ecuador and Uruguay in Group B of
the Copa America 2004 tournament, to be held in Peru from July 6-25.
[Reuters] |
In Group B the main candidates are Argentina and Mexico, although Ecuador
will enjoy an overwhelming support from the public as the group venue is located
just across the Peru-Ecuador border. Meanwhile Uruguay could resort to its
traditional courage.
Paraguay's national players train in front
of the Misti volcano at Sachaca stadium in Arequipa, Peru, July 5, 2004.
Paraguay will face Brazil, Chile and Costa Rica in Group C of the Copa
America 2004 tournament, to be held in Peru from July 6-25.
[Reuters] |
In Group C Brazil, though didn't call such stars like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho
Gaucho, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Dida and so on, will be asure bet to qualify for
the second phase.
Behind Brazil come Paraguay characterized by a collective performance and
deadly counterattacks.
With a backdrop of the Misti volcano, Brazilian soccer players train
during a practice session at Melgar Stadium in Arequipa, Peru, July 5,
2004. [Reuters] |
Each team will play three matches in the group stage with the top two
finishers from each group and the two best third-place finishers qualify for the
second stage.
Copa America to define the destiny of four coaches
At least four coaches face an imminent sacking if their teams have a poor
peformance in the 41st Copa America to open on Tuesday in Peru.
For many people the only acceptable outcome of this South American
competition, which also counts with the participation of Mexico and Costa Rica,
from a different regional soccer confederation, is the conquest of the final.
Among the coaches who are about to be fired are Brazilian Paulo Autuori
(Peru), Marcelo Bielsa (Argentina), Jorge Fossati (Uruguay)and Argentine-Mexican
Ricardo Lavolpe (Mexico).
Autuori is criticized for the recent bad string of matches of the Peruvian
national soccer team which lost 2-0 versus Colombia, and got a 0-0 draw versus
Venezuela playing as hosts in the World Cup regional qualifying tournament. Peru
also lost 2-1 in a friendly match against Argentina in New York.
Argentina's Bielsa keeps a permanent dispute with the sports press and the
fans, because the poor performance of his team in Korea-Japan 2002 remains in
their memory.
Lavolpe has not been able to form a good team in the North, Central American
and Caribbean Soccer Confederation World Cup qualifying tournament.
He has among his toughest critics former Mexican international star Hugo
Sanchez and presently coach of this season's Mexican soccer league champions
UNAM.
Fossati made his debut with Uruguay with a 3-1 defeat versus Peru in
Montevideo as part of the South American World Cup qualifying competitions.
The Uruguayan coach faces serious difficulties with several players and a
crisis on bonuses and salaries in the Mutualist Association of the Uruguayan
Soccer Association (AUF), which almost led to a suspension in the participation
of Uruguay in Copa America 2004.
Colombian Jose Pinto will face his first trial as national team coach of the
Costa Rican team.
The seven other coaches have a more or less certain future, although the
pressure of winning the tournament is there, mostly following the surprising
victory of Greece in the Euro cup 2004.
Copa America will start on Tuesday and conclude on July 25.
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