I second this. Venezuela's defense is pretty good. I think our Mexican team was very wasteful with a lot of our chances. Hopefully Venezuela can shut down Messi and surprise the Argentines.
No way you have someone better than the kid Penaranda, a superstar in the making. I loved how he was abusing the Mexican right-back Aguilar. Also Fletcher looks impressive, just needs to improve his passing but a great defender.
Not so fast, colombiano! Word on the street is that Martino is playing 11 subs tonight. He wants to come in second so he gets the easier quarterfinals match.
IMHO jona is better than gio and vela has been irrelevant this season. But than again our midfielders are struggling to make plays it seems our bandas are the only one doing something. Herrera and guardado have been a let down.
It's been really fun to watch this Venezuela team. They are fearless, always ready to take on their opponent no matter who it is.
This is the way they usually play against Colombia over the years. I am glad other teams can finally see their best in tournaments like this and 2011.
I have to admit, Guerriniesta is one of my favourite players. A joy to watch at Nacional and for Venezuela.
At these high levels we are splitting hairs. I like Vela's creativity and touch same as Gio. Having those two options would have strnenthened the midfield play. Where I think Mexico need depth is at the defensive positions. I like Rafa Marquez, but they need to have someone else step up to captain the backfield. What I like about this age group of mexican players is that even though there are no superstars, there are a lot of individuals that are very good at challenging and maintaining possession as well as passing and have good fitness. There are many interchangeable components which gives depth and gives other teams fits. They don't rely on any slow or clumsy forwards. The forwards in this age group have touch and fitness unless players from years past like Sague, Cuahtemoc, etc who where limited in their abilities.
I kind of thought they might be happy with the result which maintains their unbeaten record and adds to their respectability. It's interesting their performance at this tournament, because already two years before the event their chance of qualifying for the world cup is almost completely gone. After 6 games 1 draw and 5 defeats. The 6 sides that they have played are Ch, Ecu, Peru Parag, Braz, and Bol. That leaves Arg, Col and Uru - the 3 teams that they have not played yet are three of the strongest. The league tables doesn't lie. In competitions like this, in one off matches, anything can happen, but I can't believe that they've suddenly become a great team overnight. Obviously a great tournament for them, but you have to favour Argentina to win, and possibly quite easily.
Two great goals. Both perhaps contenders for goal of the tournament, although perhaps a case of making the shortlist rather than actually winning it. The euros have got some catching up to do in terms of great goals.
Man, have you seen Añor playing? He was by far the best player in the preparation games... He plays very well each weekend with Malaga in Spain... He is smarter with the ball, hace la pausa, busca el espacio, pisa el balón... Juanpi is by far our best card for the future, with only 22 years old and 5 years of experience in Primera División of Spain! Of course, Peñaranda is another value for the future, along with Villanueva and Murillo! I wrotte about all of them like 2 years ago in "Los Vinotinto" thread
Panaranda looked good but he lacked end product in these first 3 games. If he can fix that, he'll become a very good player in the future. He'll never top Guerriniesta though
LoL Guerra is 30 years old, Peñaranda is 19... Guerra plays in Colombia, Peñaranda in Spain... Peñaranda have the récord of the younghest player to score 2 goals in a Game in La Liga... Guerra is present, Peñaranda and Juampi, and Feltscher, and Villanueva, and Martinez, and Murillo are present and future as they Have 19-22 years old... Wilker Ángel is 21 too, and he is rightnow the perfect partner for Vizcarrondo
I just love Guerriniesta. Big big fan of him. As I said, Penaranda was good but I do think he needs to work on his end product. I liked the look of Del Valle last night and the defence did well. Viscarrondo is a clown. I don't rate him at all.
I played with Lobito in the inferior cats in CFC, he is a close friend, but he is very irregular as player, thats why he left Venezuelan League at the age of 28... Vizcarrondo didnt played yesterday BTW. I Have a good feeling about this kids, they are young, they play in Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany) and i know some of them... Villanueva is the one that gives me more hopes, as i know very well about his life, he is a Warrior.
I know he didn't, and that served to work well because I don't rate him at all. Looked insecure against Uruguay and Jamaica.
If he did, to me he did not stand out anywhere like Penaranda, who at times plays like Bertoni or Caniggia.
He didnt played yet... No ha entrado por el esquema... He is more like a 10, like Riquelme... No tiene cabida en un esquema 4-4-2 con doble pivote, he is not a winger, more for a 4-2-3-1... Peñaranda is a pure winger, like Otero, Guerra or Murillo...