Colombia in Gold Cup?

[chibchab]

Last night in a Colombian news show it was mentioned that Colombia would participate in this summers' Gold Cup. Is this news? Any info?

[Davids26]

They've been involved before (2000), this wouldn't be a surprise as CONMEBOL usually sends at least one team to the Gold Cup.

[kasai]

Nothing against Colombia, but they were just here and they will be participating in the Confederation Cup, which the US is in as well. I hope to see new teams in this Gold Cup. I hope Iran will be a guest, but I doubt it with the current political climate.

[sidspaceman]

Sorry to disappoint ya Kasi but I am pretty sure that Colombia is going to be one of the guest teams. The other guest team is probably going to be Peru.

[chappler]

Anybody heard what cities and venues will be used for the Gold Cup in July?

[sidspaceman]

I've heard Boston, D.C. and Miami.

[SocrStopr13]

How much do you think tickets will cost?

[RalRhino]

This is my pet peeve with CONCACAF (well, my main one.) Why ask nations from outside of the region to play in the regional championship? Its not like there aren't enough teams to fill out a 12 team field. Yes, Columbia might be better than the CONCACAF teams not in the Cup, but what happens if they win the whole thing? Technically, they would be inline to represent CONCACAF in the next Confederations Cup.

CONCACAF will never be taken seriously until they stop inviting outsiders to play in the Gold Cup!

I would be very interested in hearing from someone who disagrees with this opinion.



In an unrelated story, UEFA announced that, based on their strong performance at the World Cup, Senegal has been invited to play in Euro 2004.

[kasai]

Hard to get too excited over guests like Colombia and Peru. At least Colombia is a highly ranked country, but they just participated in the Gold Cup. I guess the prestige of having a South American side will help boost the tourney.

[sidspaceman]

Seems like Peru got the boot and Brazil will get the invite instead.

[chibchab]

Originally posted by RalRhino
This is my pet peeve with CONCACAF (well, my main one.) Why ask nations from outside of the region to play in the regional championship? Its not like there aren't enough teams to fill out a 12 team field. Yes, Columbia might be better than the CONCACAF teams not in the Cup, but what happens if they win the whole thing? Technically, they would be inline to represent CONCACAF in the next Confederations Cup.

CONCACAF will never be taken seriously until they stop inviting outsiders to play in the Gold Cup!

I would be very interested in hearing from someone who disagrees with this opinion.



In an unrelated story, UEFA announced that, based on their strong performance at the World Cup, Senegal has been invited to play in Euro 2004.



I don't know, I think it boosts the competitive level of the tournament. I mean if you replaced Colombia and Brazil, provided they do participate, with say Belize and St. Kitts, the level is just too low and interest may be affected.

[RalRhino]

Originally posted by chibchab
I don't know, I think it boosts the competitive level of the tournament. I mean if you replaced Colombia and Brazil, provided they do participate, with say Belize and St. Kitts, the level is just too low and interest may be affected.

Provided that Brazil and Columbia send their "A" teams, which they won't. I would rather see Panama, El Salvador, Haiti, etc.

Again, how many other confederations invite outside nations to play in their regional championship?

[sidspaceman]

I think CONMEBOL is the only other one.

[CrazyMLSfan]

El tema de que X pais llevara el A team o B o C team, como que ya paso de moda. Yo creo que si la liga colombiana or brazilena trae jugadores de sus ligas y los mexicanos y estadounidenses tambien, pues la competencia es justa. Ahora, si Brazil viene con sus estrellas de Europa y USA solo con los de la MLS, entoces es injusto. Creo que el que gane es el mejor y ya. Esta es una competencia de entre ligas locales sin los jugadores que juegan en Europa.

[chibchab]

Originally posted by RalRhino
Provided that Brazil and Columbia send their "A" teams, which they won't. I would rather see Panama, El Salvador, Haiti, etc.

Again, how many other confederations invite outside nations to play in their regional championship?


Panama,ES, and Haiti will probably be there anyway.

Even Brazil and Colombia's B team is better than the countries they're displacing.

[Captain Canuck]

Originally posted by chibchab
Panama,ES, and Haiti will probably be there anyway.

Even Brazil and Colombia's B team is better than the countries they're displacing.

Perhaps, but so would France & Italy's B teams - why don't we invite them while were at it? Regardless of the invited teams' quality, it does seem silly to have non-region teams in a tournament designed to crown the regional championship.

I'm not actually sure that we would see all three of Panama, ES & Haiti in the Gold Cup. If Brazil & Colombia were to be invited there would be just 10 teams at the most from Concacaf. Mexico, the US & Canada are in for sure, if we assume that Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Jamaica & T&T grab spots (two of those didn't qualify last time, so we shouldn't assume, but just for the sake of argument) that would leave only 2 spots left for the likes of Haiti, El Salvador, Panama, Cuba & 2002 Q-Finalist Martinique to fight over. By inviting guest teams we'll be assuring that a few teams that can reasonably compete in Concacaf will not be in the Gold Cup.

Yes, Comnebol invites teams from other regions into their tournament, but not at the expense of other Comnebol teams. Concacaf is unique in that regard.

[vtravi]

I think they should combine concacaf and conmebol.
Have Copa America for North and South America. This would make to tournament far more exciting.

[Rafael Hernandez]

Originally posted by RalRhino
This is my pet peeve with CONCACAF (well, my main one.) Why ask nations from outside of the region to play in the regional championship? Its not like there aren't enough teams to fill out a 12 team field. Yes, Columbia might be better than the CONCACAF teams not in the Cup, but what happens if they win the whole thing? Technically, they would be inline to represent CONCACAF in the next Confederations Cup.

CONCACAF will never be taken seriously until they stop inviting outsiders to play in the Gold Cup!

I would be very interested in hearing from someone who disagrees with this opinion.





Easy, the fact that CONCACAF invites teams from South America is part of the deal for the Concacaf teams to play in Conmebol and Copa America. Playing in Copa America is a huge boost and it sure has helped us playing. But since Mexico now is permanent invitee, well if you want to screw Costa Rica or the US from getting invited so that some bad soccer nation like Cuba can play in the gold cup, then thats you.


Also since most of North America is also part of South America, its doesn't look as bad. Its not like when they invited South Korea or Japan to the Copa America.

[sidspaceman]

Exactley what part of North America is in South America?

[Rafael Hernandez]

Originally posted by sidspaceman
Exactley what part of North America is in South America?


My bad. I meant to say Latin America instead of South America.