Shame on CONMEBOL

[Fulham South]

After staging such a wonderfuly tournament (honestly, each of the first six games were so very entertaining), CONMEBOL should be ashamed of itself of the way it has handled he final group stage game. Everyone knows that you should hold the final group stage games at the same time so you can avoid the "we'll just pretend to try and we'll both go through" games. Venezuela-Uruguay was a completely drab affair. Already knowing what had taken place in the Bolivia-Peru game, both teams were content to just sit and wait for the game to end 0-0. Afte such an entertaining tourament, it was just sad to see. Venezuela knew they just had to pick up one point to secure top position and were more than happy to oblige. FIFA took care of his problem a few World Cups back by conducting the final group stage games at the same time in different cities (and with NINE stadiums, Copa America has more than enough venues to pull it off).

So far, this has been the biggest problem I've seen with how this tournament has been staged and handled. I think it is a shame though or fans to pay good money to attend a match and end up watching a game like Uruguay and Venzuela where neither team appeared to be that interested in pushing for a winner.

[chibchab]

You're absolutely spot on. I was very surprised to see this set up for the last games of the group stage. I thought this was basic, mandatory stuff in this day and age...

[Visca...]

Yes, the CONMEBOL officials are morons.

[Pablinsky]

that;s not the only thing. what about the quarterfinals? Venezuela playing Uruguay again???

All was laid out to help Venezuela go far in the tournament. it's a shame.

[Fuera del Area]

At least they didn't play to leave a team purposely out of the knockout stages like West Germany and Austria did to Algeria in 1982. That was THE most disgraceful football moment in history.

I am also disappointed in CONMEBOL not playing the final matches at the same time.

[apollo_1444]

everything is constructed so the country hosting the cup as well as brazil and argentina advance this has been around for ages.

[glennaldo_sf]

that;s not the only thing. what about the quarterfinals? Venezuela playing Uruguay again???

I really, really don't understand the quarterfinal lineup???? Why in the world is Venezuela playing Uruguay??? They came from the same group. But at least that's a first place vs third place match. what about.... Brazil vs. Chile???!!! :eek: What a joke!! Why are first place teams playing second place teams while second place teams are playing third place teams?! It just does not make sense. If you come in second in your group, you should play another runner up or a group winner. Group winners should only get the luxury of playing a wild card third place team.

The quarterfinals should look...
Venezuela vs Chile
Peru vs. Brazil
Mexico vs. Paraguay
Argentina vs. Uruguay

Would be a much better QF match up... this current one is bullshLt

[Edgar]

I really, really don't understand the quarterfinal lineup???? Why in the world is Venezuela playing Uruguay???

T1 - The best 3rd placed team
T2 - The second best 3rd placed team

This is AFAIK the QF setup:

A1 vs. T2
B2 vs. T3

B1 vs. C2
C1 vs. A2

The hosts are usually in group A. If they win the group, this setup basically helps them advance to the semifinal or final of the Copa America. First, they face the worst of the 3rd placed qualifiers and if they win, they will not meet a group winner in the semifinal. More money for CONMEBOL.

About the last matchday of the group. The last 2 matches were played as a double header in the same stadium to generate more interest and... more money for CONEMBOL.

[Edgar]

The quarterfinals should look...
Venezuela vs Chile
Peru vs. Brazil
Mexico vs. Paraguay
Argentina vs. Uruguay

Would be a much better QF match up... this current one is bullshLt

I would go with

Mexico - Peru
Brazil - Paraguay

If you win your group (Mexico) you should be rewarded by playing against the weakest second placed team (Peru).

[CG]

and I thought CONCACAF was bad. They at least thinly veil their disguise at keeping the US & Mexico apart. Ridiculous.

[Visca...]

everything is constructed so the country hosting the cup as well as brazil and argentina advance this has been around for ages.
the morons at CONMEBOL didn't count on Group A being the most competitive (Venezuela getting 1st place with only 5 points and a 1pt difference between 1st and 2nd/3rd) and therefore getting a 3rd place team from that Group.

Logic sense would've said that the two best 3rd place teams would come from Group B and C. Then, it wouldn't have looked that bad.

[Visca...]

I would go with

Mexico - Peru
Brazil - Paraguay

If you win your group (Mexico) you should be rewarded by playing against the weakest second placed team (Peru).
If you win your group, you should get one of the 3rd place teams.

and if they are from the same group, reverse them. Very Simple.

[Latin Pride]

Man these brackets are so loopsided that it aint even funny! Why are teams from the same groups playing each other again? and why is Mexico who is a 1st place team and has more points then Venezuela playing a 2nd place team insted of a 3rd?

It should be...

Argentina vs Chile

Mexico vs Uruguay

Venezuela vs Brasil

Paraguay vs Peru

I understand their trying to keep Venezuela away from the best teams but didnt Peru have to play Argentina early in the last Copa America? so why is Venezuela getting this special treatment?

[tomwilhelm]

But the Americans still should have taken this tournament seriously... and have shamed it's perfection by not bringing their best... :rolleyes:

[Visca...]

Man these brackets are so loopsided that it aint even funny! Why are teams from thesame groups playing each other again? and why is Mexico who is a 1st place team and has more points then Venezuela playing a 2nd place team insted of a 3rd?

It should be...

Argentina vs Chile

Mexico vs Uruguay

Venezuela vs Brasil

Paraguay vs Peru

I understand their trying to keep Venezuela away from the best teams but didnt Peru have to play Argentina early in the last Copa America? so why is Venezuela getting this special treatment?
se llama Hugo Chavez ;) :D

[DCUPopeAndLillyFan]

Can anyone blame the US for not taking this seriously now? What idiot would set up brackets where there are two group rematches in the quarters? Worse still, how can one justify a second place team (Brazil) playing a third place team? I never thought I'd point to CONCACAF as an example of how to do things - but the Gold Cup had the same basic setup and their brackets for the knockout stage made far more sense.

This doesn't even touch on the 'draw' rigging the hosts with the easiest group possible. Seriously, when was the last time Boliva wasn't in the host's group?

[jagum]

At least they didn't play to leave a team purposely out of the knockout stages like West Germany and Austria did to Algeria in 1982. That was THE most disgraceful football moment in history.

I am also disappointed in CONMEBOL not playing the final matches at the same time.

The same thing happened in the Gold Cup 2007... isn t it?

[Cool Rob]

Can anyone blame the US for not taking this seriously now?

Who cares about the draw. These CONMEBOL "idiots" only have NINE World Cup championships. It ain't about the draw, it's about the games. The Gold Cup was so well organized- YAY! But North American soccer still has no chance. There's no excuse- the US had an opportunity to step up, play great teams, and just blew it. I'm amazed how shortsighted everyone is. The US cannot win the World Cup without playing South American teams regularly.

[Fuera del Area]

The same thing happened in the Gold Cup 2007... isn t it?

CONCACAF was just as guilty of doing the same thing CONMEBOL did in the group stages, but at least they didn't have any group rematches in the quarterfinals or have a second-place team play a third-place team.

[argentine soccer fan]

everything is constructed so the country hosting the cup as well as brazil and argentina advance this has been around for ages.

Actually this time it was set up for Brazil in Argentina to be in the same side of the bracket, so that neither would have to face Venezuela before the final. But Brazil ********ed it up by losing to Mexico.