Top-5 Myths of this Copa America

[cardacciojr]

Top-5 Myths of this Copa America are:
1. Brazil sent a B team. Bullshit. Brazil sent a team without Kaka and Ronaldinho. The rest is A team...because Emerson, Cafu, Dida, R.Carlos are not going to continue playing into their forties. Get over it! This is a scheme by Brazil to shield itself of potential criticism.
2. Mexico is an excellent team. They are a strong team, there is a difference between the two. MEX has made huge leaps and bounds in terms of progress thanks to (a) relative economic strength vis-a-vis other latin american countries, and (b) a strong work ethic similar to US. But they are still incapable of creating talent, for that they need to nationalize sets of players every year. they play a conservative counterattack style that capatalizes on their new toy. Nery. Nery is legitimate acquisition compared to the Francos of yesteryear as he was born in MEX but when you post him as the best player in the world, remember he is Uruguayan, his DNA is 100% and his abilities were honed here. And he as been your MVP by far.
3. Argentina is MEssi. ARG is playing total football. That midfield is continually rotating, continually creating passing options and never still. Everyone on that team is capable of making clean long or short passes, scoring chances or running at defenders. Incredible. This team is great. Plus Riquelme is finally happy after 6 fantastic months in boca and he is delivering while feeling comfortable on the team.
4. The bottom teams of this cup are horrible. The fact that so many teams ate 'goleadas' is more due to the conservative style displayed by the majority of teams than a difference in quality. When the teams approach the game with counterattack styles, the games are even until someone cracks the shell and then the levy is wide open and an even match turns into a landslide. This happened quite often in this tournament. I don't care in and of itself, but its useful to take this into account for the eliminatorias.
5. Uruguay is shit bec. of the first 3 games / URU has recovered its spot as 3rd best S.AMerican after the 4-1 against VENI. URU has been true to its tradition of inconsistent play. That is all. This is the 4th straight top-4 finish for URU and in all of those, we started crappy. Typical so expect more of the same. Against BRZ, go figure...its even. This BRZ scored 9 goals against CHI but only 1 agains another team. And this CHI didnt show up to play. Watch Lugano vs. Robinho, that is the key to the game, they know eachother from their Santos-SaoPaulo clashes and that should set the tone.

[apollo_1444]

with all due respect I personally think that uruguay couldn't scare a death guy. and thats very sad because their players have huge huge potencial.

[albertorei]

Good post.

Uruguay will give a good fight to Brazil and have as good a chance to make it to the final as the other three.

The same with Mexico. And I agree what you said as it being only a strong team and their lack of talent. A strong team is enough to get to the final 4 in South America. I really believe that.

[Uruguay16]

good stuff here, question: does anyone know what that goal celebration when they stick thier thumb in their mouth mean, I hope I dont see that from a uruguayan player it looks so retarded

does anyone know
thanks

[alchemist009]

Mexico is an excellent team. They are a strong team, there is a difference between the two. MEX has made huge leaps and bounds in terms of progress thanks to (a) relative economic strength vis-a-vis other latin american countries, and (b) a strong work ethic similar to US. But they are still incapable of creating talent, for that they need to nationalize sets of players every year. they play a conservative counterattack style that capatalizes on their new toy. Nery. Nery is legitimate acquisition compared to the Francos of yesteryear as he was born in MEX but when you post him as the best player in the world, remember he is Uruguayan, his DNA is 100% and his abilities were honed here. And he as been your MVP by far.

Are you serious? Mexico has always been a solid latin american team and is well-respected internationally. Now, I do agree with you that Nery has been the MVP of the Mexican NT, but let me know remind you...he didn't the win games by himself. Mexico scored three goals yesterday after his departure so let's go with facts, my friend. They've been playing well as a "team" As for Nery's background, who cares??? haha. He was born in Mexico which makes him "Mexican" Bottom line!A so-called "100% DNA" of ethincity doesn't mean crap. Sounds like you're mad cause he's not playing for your country. Chill.
And, last but not least...your comment about Mexico incapable of creating talent?! WOW, I'll leave it at that!

[Cool Rob]

All excellent points made... except for the Mexico jab. For a differing opinion, please see Mexico's U20 team; Carlos Vela, Giovanna Dos Santos (the Brazilian Nery), etc... Mexico has a bright future!

[alchemist009]

All excellent points made... except for the Mexico jab. For a differing opinion, please see Mexico's U20 team; Carlos Vela, Giovanna Dos Santos (the Brazilian Nery), etc... Mexico has a bright future!

Yes yes yes. They definitely have a bright future ahead of them. Villaluz, Barrera, and company...they have a great team all around! Cant wait to see them play for the national team!

[dreyx2000]

1. Agree. Brazil has a pretty complete team. Although Ronaldinho and Kaka would make a marked difference.
2. Mexico does produce talent. El Cabrito, Rafa Marquez, Nery Castillo, el Venado, that ronaldinho looking boy from the sub-20 (Mexico's sub-20 is loaded with talent) and many others whose names I dont even know but have been playing great. And Nery...well, he is MVP so far.....and I would say he is sufficiently Mexican as to having chosen to play for Mexico rather than to play for Uruguay (I understand money may have been involved but regardless, he still chose to play for Mexico). Mexico in my opinion is at the level of most southamerican teams and perhaps even better than at least half of them.
3. Agree. Argentina is Messi, Riquelme, Gago, Tevez, Veron, Mascherano, etc etc etc etc etc etc and many etc more. All great players.
4. The bottom teams are getting better...I would say that there is little difference between the 3rd team in South America and the 10th team in South America....but Brazil is still Brazil and Argentina is still Argentina.....those two are still above the rest.
5. I do not think Uruguay is schitz. It is a great team with even better players. Very respectable. But I do not think Uruguay is the 3rd best South American team. I really dont think there is a clear 3rd. And the victory over Venezuela is certainly not sufficient to name Uruguay as the 3rd best. And as to Uruguay's performance in past Copa America's:
1997 Did not make it past 1st round (only beat Venezuela)
1999 Lucky streak in part. Thanks to penalties advanced to semis and to finals. In whole tournment Uruguay only won ONE game in game time and it was against Ecuador.
2001 In whole tournment Uruguay only had 2 victories in game time: against a very weak Bolivia and against Costa Rica (Uruguay had two games against Costa Rica, the first one was a draw). Achieved 3rd place thanks to penalties.
2004 This was a well earned 3rd place for Uruguay.
2007 Only if Uruguay beats Brazil will I think Uruguay deserves one of the top 4 places on this tournment. Other than that, Uruguay so far got to where it is by only beating Bolivia and Venezuela (and losing terribly against Peru), all 3 arguably the 3 weakest teams in South America.

Please do not take this post as offensive to Uruguay...I have a lot of respect for Uruguay. It is simply my opinion....Uruguay has not yet proven to be among the best of South America. It is one of the bunch.

[cupcake83]

good stuff here, question: does anyone know what that goal celebration when they stick thier thumb in their mouth mean, I hope I dont see that from a uruguayan player it looks so retarded

does anyone know
thanks
I'm pretty sure that players do that when they dedicate a goal to their children. It looks silly but it's much better than the Italians whole "birthing of the football" celebration. That was a bit much (though very funny).

[Ombak]

1. Agree. Brazil has a pretty complete team. Although Ronaldinho and Kaka would make a marked difference.I absolutely agree with you and the previous poster - this is almost a complete team. Kaká would be the biggest difference-maker missing right now, but the truth is the rest of the line-up might have to start tomorrow if it were World Cup qualifying time.

I have said as much on the Brazil forums.

[HINCHADERIVER91]

I'm pretty sure that players do that when they dedicate a goal to their children. It looks silly but it's much better than the Italians whole "birthing of the football" celebration. That was a bit much (though very funny).
AVESES LE PESAN LAS CAMISETAS DEL SELECCION.
ESPECIALLY PRESSURED PLAYERS LIKE DOS SANTOS.

[Denilson70]

Re point 1 .we will onyl know when we take the field for the first elimintoria. I hope Dunga has whispered in Ronaldo's ear to get fit (like he is doing now) and be ready for that first game.

[JAIME CHILE]

Top-5 Myths of this Copa America are:
1. Brazil sent a B team. Bullshit. Brazil sent a team without Kaka and Ronaldinho. The rest is A team...because Emerson, Cafu, Dida, R.Carlos are not going to continue playing into their forties. Get over it! This is a scheme by Brazil to shield itself of potential criticism.
Te encuentro razón, aunque no se puede desconocer que Lucio quedó fuera por lesión, Fred también se lesionó antes de la Copa América, y que Dida y Cicinho perfectamente podrían completar una mejor selección brasileña(aunque D.Alves es muy bueno de todos modos).

D.Álves, Juan, Gilberto, Gilberto Silva y Robinho son de una selección brasileña A.

[rios]

if a portion of the brazilian team looked shaky it's the defense. which has nothing to do with this B-team thing.

[Riotom9]

if a portion of the brazilian team looked shaky it's the defense. which has nothing to do with this B-team thing.


It is true that you can't even really call the Brazil defense a 'B' side. It's the year after the World Cup, every team is in transition.

Lucio is a great player and should be in this squad - but he'll be 33 at the next World Cup and I think it would be a mistake to overly rely on him. The outside backs are some of the best Brazil has, though Cicinho and Marcelo may be important in a few years. The Brazil has little experience at centerback outside of the aging Juan, Lucio, and Edmilson. We'll see who becomes the new pair next year.

[NotQuiteNorse]

I'm not sure what you think "100% Uruguayan DNA" is supposed to mean. DNA isn't based on the state. Uruguay is about 94% European (mostly Spanish and Italian decended). Mexico has a larger percentage of Mestizo mixed ancestry people. Perhaps you mean that he has less Amerindian makeup than a typical Mexican would? I wouldn't really know about that and don't consider it to be very important.

Anyway, didn't Nery only play in Uruguay for like a year before moving to Greece?

PS Damn, Brazil just got a second goal

[KesOne]

Top-5 Myths of this Copa America are:
1. Brazil sent a B team. Bullshit. Brazil sent a team without Kaka and Ronaldinho. The rest is A team...because Emerson, Cafu, Dida, R.Carlos are not going to continue playing into their forties. Get over it! This is a scheme by Brazil to shield itself of potential criticism.
2. Mexico is an excellent team. They are a strong team, there is a difference between the two. MEX has made huge leaps and bounds in terms of progress thanks to (a) relative economic strength vis-a-vis other latin american countries, and (b) a strong work ethic similar to US. But they are still incapable of creating talent, for that they need to nationalize sets of players every year. they play a conservative counterattack style that capatalizes on their new toy. Nery. Nery is legitimate acquisition compared to the Francos of yesteryear as he was born in MEX but when you post him as the best player in the world, remember he is Uruguayan, his DNA is 100% and his abilities were honed here. And he as been your MVP by far.
3. Argentina is MEssi. ARG is playing total football. That midfield is continually rotating, continually creating passing options and never still. Everyone on that team is capable of making clean long or short passes, scoring chances or running at defenders. Incredible. This team is great. Plus Riquelme is finally happy after 6 fantastic months in boca and he is delivering while feeling comfortable on the team.
4. The bottom teams of this cup are horrible. The fact that so many teams ate 'goleadas' is more due to the conservative style displayed by the majority of teams than a difference in quality. When the teams approach the game with counterattack styles, the games are even until someone cracks the shell and then the levy is wide open and an even match turns into a landslide. This happened quite often in this tournament. I don't care in and of itself, but its useful to take this into account for the eliminatorias.
5. Uruguay is shit bec. of the first 3 games / URU has recovered its spot as 3rd best S.AMerican after the 4-1 against VENI. URU has been true to its tradition of inconsistent play. That is all. This is the 4th straight top-4 finish for URU and in all of those, we started crappy. Typical so expect more of the same. Against BRZ, go figure...its even. This BRZ scored 9 goals against CHI but only 1 agains another team. And this CHI didnt show up to play. Watch Lugano vs. Robinho, that is the key to the game, they know eachother from their Santos-SaoPaulo clashes and that should set the tone.

Ciao Uruguay, luck ends today :D

[dreyx2000]

Today Uruguay shut me up. I admit it. great game. Uruguay's last 2 games are the REAL Uruguay.

[KesOne]

On/Off switch. As I was saying, ciao Uruguay :D

[TRICOLOR BRASIL]

The team for the World Cup Qualifiers will be something like:


Dida/Rogério Ceni

Daniel Alves/Cicinho; Lucio; Juan; Gilberto

Gilberto Silva; Mineiro/Josué; Kaká; Ronaldinho

Ronaldo/Adriano; Robinho


In my opinion, a pretty different team than the one playing in this Copa America