Brazil is 1st, Argentina a close 2nd, although that could change after this WC. But My question is who is third? matter of fact how would you rank the top five?
well I think the last WCQs answered that question for us........ 1. Brasil Argentina (could change in this WC) 3. Ecuador 4. Paraguay 5. Uruguay and so on...... this probably won't change till copa america 2007/ or 2010 WCQs.
I cant say there is a third right now, all S.A teams after Brasil and Argentina have been too inconsistant to really have a guarrenteed spot, we'l see how the teams do during the next WCQ and Copa America.
I was inclined to say Paraguay, Colombia or Ecuador, but now that Paraguay, though were not embarrassed (yet), I have to say Ecuador. Historically, we have the advantage in Paraguay in head to head matches, we have a better squad at the moment and we are not done yet. Top 5 for me is 1. Brasil (for now, but looks in danger to lose this) 2. Argentina (looks to be the strongest at the moment) 3. Ecuador (best performance for CONMEBOL side in a long time apart from the big 2) 4. Colombia (I am convinced they would have better results then Paraguay 5. Paraguay (Has good young talent coming up, but no Chilavert)
while i agree that ecuador is currently 3rd, Paraguay still leads the head to head 18 to 10 with 3 draws probably the best since Paraguay in 1998
Even though Paraguay didn't make it through to the next round , people are forgetting that this is the same group that sent Argentina Home in the first round last time, that didn't mean that Paraguay was better than Argentina, also people are forgetting about the Silver medal that Paraguay got just 2 years ago, and that Poland and Costa Rica are different teams than England and Sweeden, Either way this WC was really bad for us specially considering that this is the most talented team we ever had, we were dealt a bad hand with a tough group, bad couch and all the injuries, our top players not playing consistently in their leagues, also bad decisions like putting hopes in Roque Santacruz, a guy that has played 3 games all year and leaving guys that are doing great like Cuevas and cabanias in the bech. I wish the best of luck to Ecuador and I hope they make South America Proud but I think this is still open for debate.
I agree, you cant officially claim Ecuador as 3th because of 2 good games remmember England and Sweden are both much better then Poland and Costa Rica like Danny said, the teams that knocked out Paraguay are the same 2 teams that knocked out Argentina in 02 and only 1 goal seperated us from having the same performance against those team as Argentina had I still say there is no 3th team at the time
Like I said before, the WCQs answered this question for us, I'm not claiming ecuador to be the 3rd best right now just based on their two wins in Germany, I'm basing it on the whole qualifyers campaign......using the altitude or not, winning away from home or not, they have managed to do it for two WCQs.....the question is, can they stay up there indefinately? ala Brasil/Argentina, or are they just riding their hot streak, like we saw with Colombia in the 90s...????
come on man, we ended 4th, that certainly didn't help much either........I know ecuador bombed out, but they made it to the big one (the WC) something both Uruguay and Colombia (two of the 2004 finalists) failed to do......we got to give them a little credit....but the question still is.....are they just riding a hot streak? like we did in the 90s......or are they here to stay ala Brasil/Argentina.? besides the original question was: What SA team is third? (and I answered it as of right now)
Pibe is making a good point with the Hot streak thing, but U are not giving enough credit to Colombia, during the 90's that was more than a Hot streak, they had consistent results and impresive wins for more than 10 years and to me that is more than a hot streak, I consider Bolivia who was said to be an up and coming team after the 94 WC and Chile with the SaSa thing a Hot streak. Now I can go back to 96-97 when Colombia and Paraguay went Head to head most of the Qualifiers for the top spot, Remember Chila slaping Tino asprilla?? that was a long time ago, Paraguay has been getting good results with vicotries against Brazil, in Brazil and argentina and every other team u can name , all of them at sea level, also Ecuador is going to the next round, Paraguay has done that in the last two world cups in groups that didn't have Costar Rica in them. Also we are not getting any credit for making Conmeboll proud two summers ago when it was a Conmebol finals in Athems anyone remember that. My point is that Paraguay has been very consistent since 95, and loosing 2 games against top teams doesn't take any of that away from us.
yea I remember that, we went unbeaten for the first round of qualifyers, then everything came crashing down, and them in the WC we didn't do as good as we had hoped, you may be right, it can be called more than a hot streak, that was our Golden Generation, one whose lost has been very hard on us....anyway about Paraguay, no one is taking anything away from you guys...all I'm saying is that right now things are #1 and #2 between Brasil/Argentina...(Brasil edges Argentina right now) #3 Ecuador, #4 Paraguay, and so on......like I said this will probably change once all of CONMEBOL starts playing each other again....like in the next Copa America.
WC 2006: 1.Argentina 2.Brazil 3.Ecuador Qualifing 2003-2005: 1.Brazil 2.Argentina 3.Paraguay History: 1.Brazil 2.Argentina 3.Uruguay
en los ultimos 5 años es calro que ese 3rd puesto lo disputan paraguay y ecuador Hoy en dia un triunfo vs ticos no se puede medir como gran cosa, para bajar a paraguay por un agonico y tragico gol vs inglaterra....y vs suecia es claro que avanza en el mundial deja relegados a los demas lo de tradicion se acabo, Uruguay no existe en los ultimos 10 años para aspirar a los niveles de paraguay o ecuador.....
Me parece un poco mediocre pelear por el tercer puesto, preferiria ganar la proxima copa america y clasificar primero al mundial y que el resto se reparta lo que quede.
Well, England is not in a good form now. Paraguay should have won. WIthout Cardozo, the attack is toothless. I hope Valdez can be more consistant and same goes for Santa Cruz.
Cinco anios atras todavia la disputa estaba entre Colombia y Paraguay, Colombia recien gano la Copa america, donde Ecuador perdio 4-0 contra chile, en las eliminatorias todavia no havian clasificados, bueno mi punto es que la disputa entre Paraguay y Ecuador se remontan en los ultimos 2-3 anios maximo.
Tenes razon en eso, pero es la realidad cuando estamos compitienedo con paises como Argentina y Brazil por los primeros puestos y estoy de acuerdo con lo de la Copa America te va a dar una mejor idea de donde estamos parados todos.
U think Ecuador could have done better against them?? England didn't look good because every team that plays against us has to get down to our ugly style of play. As for Cardozo he is gone, we have at least 5 guys fighting for his possition, and as for Santrcruz he had no bussiness being there he has played 3 games all year, that is where bad luck and bad desicions came together and rusulted in an early exit for PY.
I think Paraguay will rise again, we got great talent right now and the old guys (as great as they where) are retiring all we need now is a good coach and watch out. I have a feeling the Conmebol representives for 2010 will be..... 1. Brasil 2. Argentina 3. Paraguay 4. Uruguay 5. Chile
Entonces cual es el Standard para decir quien es el 3ro?? depende de resultados cada 20 meses?? entonces si Bolivia tiene mejores resultados que Ecuador y Paraguay en los proximos 20 meses lo pondria arriba de los demas? por que si usamos 22 meses estariamos entronado en territorio de las Olimpiadas donde Paraguay saco la medalla de plata ganadole a equipos fuertes, o si hasemos 24 meses entramos en Copa america donde Ecuador perdia 6-0 con Argentina o 26 cuando Paraguay dejaba afuera a Brazil del las olimpiadas. O podemos decidir cada anio quien es el 3r equipo de America hasi todos tenemos la oportunidad de acceder a tal puesto por lo que veo consistencia durante anios es algo irrelevante hoy en dia.
nos e si estoy equivocado, pero creo q las olimpiadas no cuentan para puntos de la fifa a lo mejor estoy equivocado, pero ay para de nombrar las olimpiadas hombre!!!!!