CA News about our Group C Opponents (Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia)

[TimB4Last]

Just an idea - let's see how it works. I'll start.

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/index/0,2527,132315,00.html?articleid=132315

Paraguay put their faith in Martino

"Known for his reliability, low-key approach, love of tactics and reputation for hard work, 44-year-old Argentinian coach Gerardo Martino now faces the biggest challenge of his career: masterminding Paraguay's bid for glory at the Copa America Venezuela 2007 and qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™."

....

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Argentina - Alfio Basile
Paraguay - Gerardo Martino
Colombia - Jorge Luis Pinto

All three of our Group C opponents have 'new' coaches, although Argentina's Basile cannot be properly described as new. I'm sure their experiences are interesting and varied.

Who can tell us more about them?

[Fulham South]

Alfio Basile has coached in Argentina (Racing Club, Velez Sarsfield, and Rosario Central), Uruguay (Nacional), and Spain (Atletico Madrid). He qualified Argentina for the 1994 World Cup as coach. That was the team that crashed out of the Round of 16 against Romania after Diego Maradona was booted for doping after a group match with Nigeria. Before the World Cup, he also led them to two Copa America titles.

After 1994, he coached at San Lorenzo (Argentina) and Club America (Mexico). He ended up at Boca Juniors in 2005 and won the Apertura in 2005 and the Cupa Sudamerica.

http://www.answers.com/topic/alfio-basile

[Fulham South]

Didn't Guatamala have a coach named Jorge Luis Pinto a few years ago? Is it the same guy?

[TimB4Last]

Didn't Guatamala have a coach named Jorge Luis Pinto a few years ago? Is it the same guy?

Almost. Per Wikipedia {Spanish}, he's coached mostly Colombian teams, since 1984; he coached Alianza Lima (Peru) in 1997-1998; he coached Alajuelense in Costa Rica (2002-2003); he returned to Colombia briefly; then back to Costa Rica, where he directed the Costa Rica MNT from 2004-2005; he again returned to Colombia - Cúcuta Deportivo (2006), before being named coach of Colombia's MNT early this year (through 2010). He's 54.

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Luis_Pinto

Someone here should remember him from the Costa Rica days; why he was brought in; why he was let go; what impression he left, etc.

[Davids26]

Almost. Per Wikipedia {Spanish}, he's coached mostly Colombian teams, since 1984; he coached Alianza Lima (Peru) in 1997-1998; he coached Alajuelense in Costa Rica (2002-2003); he returned to Colombia briefly; then back to Costa Rica, where he directed the Costa Rica MNT from 2004-2005; he again returned to Colombia - Cúcuta Deportivo (2006), before being named coach of Colombia's MNT early this year (through 2010). He's 54.

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Luis_Pinto

Someone here should remember him from the Costa Rica days; why he was brought in; why he was let go; what impression he left, etc.

Was he the coach for Costa Rica between Sampson and Guimares' 2nd tenure? I seem to remember them having three coaches in like the span of a year and a half at that time.

[Dan-ny-m398]

I can tell you more about Martino, He was The coach for Libertad (paraguay) for the last few years, he took them to the final four of the Libertadores last year, only to lose to the now World Champions, Inter. He took a completly unknown team (even to most Pyan's jejej) and turned them to a very respectable team in S.A. He is probably a perfect fit to py, becaue, not only is he a good coach, He has been coaching and living in PY for quite a few years already, he knows the players and our style. He can also work with what he has, and makes the best of it. Paraguay has been stuck in the same level since 98 , and we think he can take us one step higher than where we are. I has been very frustrating for the last few years for us, to watch puppet coaches, that make stupid decisions based on what the former President (corrupt bastard) wanted, Starting players that are bench warmers in their team (at best) while players, that are making great contributions to their team, not even get called, Also in 02 we hired Maldini a coach that didn't speak Spanish, didn't even know the name of the players and a whole bunch of absurd things you would not believe. In 04 we had a coach that took the best players, to the Olimpics, he didn't just pick the same guys , because they Play (bench warmers) in germany, he took our best , and we got the silver medal, what was his reward for that?? he got fired as soon as he got back jajja (no joke) anyways we always get that feeling that we could have done more, and I think he can help us.

[Karl K]

Basile and Martino have some pretty impressive resumes.

[Fulham South]

Basile hasn't had the best of form at some places - I know between his Argentina decline in 1994 and him showing up at Boca Juniors, those teams in between weren't all that successful overall. But as far as the list of teams and accomplishments, it is impressive - but maybe a little helter skelter.

[uclacarlos]

Does Colombia have any players of note?

Judging by their domestic league (I know, I know... not always the best indicator), unless they have 18+ guys playing and kicking ass abroad, I'm not so afraid of them.

I think they have a few guys in Argentina, but I don't know. I know they have around 3 guys in Serie A, 2 defenders and a mid-fielder. A forward (?) at Aston Villa.

[ami-berliner]

Does Colombia have any players of note?


Click here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombia_national_football_team#Current_Squad) for "Colombia National Team as of February 6, 2007 against Uruguay." Gotta love Wiki!

[Scotty]

Does Colombia have any players of note?

Well, their most dominant central defender, Mario Yepes (plays for PSG in France), just broke his ankle (http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20070206/ca_pr_on_ru_so/soc_shorts_psg) a couple weeks ago and is expected to be out of action for at least 3 months.

Another one of their defenders, Cristian Zapata, plays his club ball in Serie A with Udinese. He's only 20 years old but has already solidified his place as a starter for them in central defense, and he managed to break into the first team when he was still just a teenager. Look for him to move to one of the big Italian teams before long.

[purojogo]

ok, this might have absolutely nothing to do with the Group C team....but then again, it might,...

Ronaldo said he'll do anything in his power to regain a place in Brazil and specifically is targeting Copa America as the platform where he hopes to prove his doubters -and those who do not want him back for Brazil at all- wrong...

Then you have Riquelme, playing in Argentina for the next 3-4 months at Boca Juniors....Basile has many connections to that club.... and Riquelme has said that he might not be against making a return... so.....if someone like Ronaldo is eager to go.... maybe Riquleme will try and do the same come call up time....

If these two end up going , i do not care what people say, but this COpa Ameria would be anything but weak.... I cannot think -from previous GOld Cup- of anyone who was a better player than ROnaldo or Riquelme, quite honestly....

[Caraemondinga]

Does Colombia have any players of note?

Well we actually do have a crop of players coming up that are mostly from the ones that acted at the 2005 World Youth Cup.

They still got yet to prove but this generation will hopefully regain our glory from the early 1990's team, so on paper, I think that you should actually be pretty scared

here's a list of the most dominant players aborad

we have the best defense in SA:

Cristian Zapata - Udinese, Serie A
Ivan Cordoba - Inter Milan, Serie A
Mario Alberto Yepes - PSG, Ligue 1 (hopefully will regain form by Copa America)
Aquivaldo Mosquera - Pachuca, FMF (excelent defender)
Nelson Rivas - River Plate, Argentine League
Luis Amaranto Perea - Atletico de Madrid, Spanish Primera

A solid midfield:

Freddy Guarin - St. Ettienne, League 1
Jorge Bolano - Parma, Serie A
Jhon Viafara - Southampton, English 2nd League
Juan Pablo Pino - Monaco, Ligue 1 (An absolute crack, watch out for him)
Elkin Soto - Mainz 05, Bundesliga
David Ferreira - Atl. Paranaense, Brazilian League
Fabian Vargas - Internacional, Brazilian League
Tressor Moreno - Veracruz, Mexican League
Abel Aguilar - Udinese, Serie A (on loan with Xerez of Spain though)
Harold Martinez - Udinese, Serie A ( I don't think he will be called up for the NT, since he will arrive in the summer when the transfer market opens up again)

Promising Strikers:

Radamel Falcao - River Plate, Argentine League
Wason Renteria - FC Porto, Portuguese Superliga
Edixon Perea - Bordeaux, Ligue 1
Juan Pablo Angel - Aston Villa, Premiership

[Dan-ny-m398]

Well we actually do have a crop of players coming up that are mostly from the ones that acted at the 2005 World Youth Cup.

They still got yet to prove but this generation will hopefully regain our glory from the early 1990's team, so on paper, I think that you should actually be pretty scared



Colombia always looks good on paper, but after that golden generation of the 90's you haven't been able to translate it to the National team, and no offense I see no reason to think, it will be different this time. At the begining of the last WCQ you guys were much more talented and organized than this time around and still managed to not qualified, also you have the bad habit of throwing the word "CRack" around very often, I seen future colombian "cracks" come and go without ever doing much, Remember Giovani Hernandez?? he was supposed to be the next Pibe, remember Montanio? I can go on and on about future colombian cracks, I don't follow the Colombian league that much and I could be wrong, maybe Colombia could come out strong this time, but to me USA is a much bigger thread to PY than Colombia, and Argentina is just in another level.

[uclacarlos]

Well we actually do have a crop of players coming up that are mostly from the ones that acted at the 2005 World Youth Cup.

Promising Strikers:

Radamel Falcao - River Plate, Argentine League
This kid is legit. I mean, seriously legit.

I noticed him a couple of weeks ago (w/o really "noticing that I noticed") and watched him today during River Plate's match and he's young, he's hungry and he's burgeoning into a legit international.

[TimB4Last]

Argentina - http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-6446408,00.html

"Midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who has not played for Argentina since 2003, has been included in a squad of locally-based players named by coach Alfio Basile for a training camp."

....

Goalkeepers: Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate), Oscar Ustari (Independiente).

Defenders: Hugo Ibarra (Boca Juniors), Daniel Diaz (Boca Juniors), Paulo Ferrari (River Plate), Eduardo Tuzzio (River Plate), Hernan Pellerano (Velez Sarsfield), German Re (Newell's Old Boys), Jonathan Bottinelli (San Lorenzo)

Midfielders: Leonardo Ponzio (River Plate), Fernando Belluschi (River Plate), Agustin Pelletieri (Lanus), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes de La Plata), Jose Sosa (Estudiantes de La Plata), Cristian Ledesma (San Lorenzo), Daniel Montenegro (Independiente), Neri Cardozo (Boca Juniors)

Forwards: Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors), Ezequiel Lavezzi (San Lorenzo), Mariano Pavone (Estudiantes de La Plata), Mauro Zarate (Velez Sarsfield)

[ussoccerFan12358]

Well we actually do have a crop of players coming up that are mostly from the ones that acted at the 2005 World Youth Cup.

They still got yet to prove but this generation will hopefully regain our glory from the early 1990's team, so on paper, I think that you should actually be pretty scared

here's a list of the most dominant players aborad

we have the best defense in SA:

Cristian Zapata - Udinese, Serie A
Ivan Cordoba - Inter Milan, Serie A
Mario Alberto Yepes - PSG, Ligue 1 (hopefully will regain form by Copa America)
Aquivaldo Mosquera - Pachuca, FMF (excelent defender)
Nelson Rivas - River Plate, Argentine League
Luis Amaranto Perea - Atletico de Madrid, Spanish Primera

A solid midfield:

Freddy Guarin - St. Ettienne, League 1
Jorge Bolano - Parma, Serie A
Jhon Viafara - Southampton, English 2nd League
Juan Pablo Pino - Monaco, Ligue 1 (An absolute crack, watch out for him)
Elkin Soto - Mainz 05, Bundesliga
David Ferreira - Atl. Paranaense, Brazilian League
Fabian Vargas - Internacional, Brazilian League
Tressor Moreno - Veracruz, Mexican League
Abel Aguilar - Udinese, Serie A (on loan with Xerez of Spain though)
Harold Martinez - Udinese, Serie A ( I don't think he will be called up for the NT, since he will arrive in the summer when the transfer market opens up again)

Promising Strikers:

Radamel Falcao - River Plate, Argentine League
Wason Renteria - FC Porto, Portuguese Superliga
Edixon Perea - Bordeaux, Ligue 1
Juan Pablo Angel - Aston Villa, Premiership

I gotta admit, I don't know jack about your players, but based on the clubs, it looks like you guys are decent, but do most of these guys dress?

[I. Tristeza]

http://www.goal.com/en-us/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=245714

[purojogo]

MOre on Argenitan, from BBC's Tim Vickery ....pointing out to Basile's beliefs and tendencies...

If tehy hold true, we will see Veron, and possibly Riquelme in Copa America.....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6418585.stm

[TimB4Last]

More on Argenitina, from BBC's Tim Vickery ....pointing out to Basile's beliefs and tendencies...

If they hold true, we will see Veron, and possibly Riquelme in Copa America.....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6418585.stm

Argentina

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6531992?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=2741

....

"Basile said he hoped a largely local team would gel together as a winning team.

"We are going to form a mystique about this group. We are going to train together. We are going to get to know each other and they are going to get to know me well," Basile promised.

It was the first time since January 2003 that the Albiceleste was comprised completely from players active in the Argentine league. Basile said they would train three times a week at the suburban Buenos Aires practice field."

....

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I wonder what the Euro-based players think about this approach.