Copa America historical all-star teams

Discussion in 'The Beautiful Game' started by Vegan10, May 3, 2016.

  1. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Yes, great addition.

    Interestingly El Grafico chose more standout players (6) from Uruguay than any other nation, followed by Brazil with 5. As previously mentioned, Argentina were more of a solid collective unit than a star studded squad. Any of their key players were second rate stars in comparison to previous generations. It's no coincidence that they are not spoken of as highly or remembered at all.
     
  2. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    So, the 1958 Copa América top two players by El Grafico would look like this:

    1 Didi
    2 Pelé

    It's unknown who would be the third best choice.

    The best players that stood out for Brazil were Didi, Pelé, Zito, Dino and Garrincha, all probably in that order.

    Garrincha, already known for his displays at the 1958 WC, is mentioned again but to a lesser extent than other Brazilians. He does make the ideal team because there is no better choice on the right wing. But he is not a better performer than Zito or Dino for Brazil, but in an ideal selection the best in each position is chosen.
     
  3. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    The Argentinian newspaper, La Prensa, covered every match of Copa América 1958.

    Here's some words that described Brazil's key players in their match vs Peru.

    Brazil 2-2 Peru

    Didi is considered during the game elegant and positive and the virtual conductor of the offense. Pelé is described as dangerous in attack.

    In this match Pelé was subbed out and with that Peru became more dangerous going forward.

    And according to the report, Pelé was the standout player for Brazil. Very difficult to contain and his attacks very penetrating. He showcased at times his "magnificent qualities".

    Didi assumed his natural role in midfield with a "magnificent job organizing and providing plays going forward."

    Zagallo and Dorval also played an important role by setting up attacks.

    Peru for their part were praised for coming back 2 nil down to level things up. They had a "brilliant" performance.

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  4. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
  5. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
  6. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Brazil's next match was against Chile

    1959 Copa América Brazil 3-0 Chile

    Once again the main two Brazilian stars stood out, Pelé and Didi.

    The article states: "Pelé is a complete footballer that doesn't sleep in his laurels, on the contrary he fights and disputes every ball that arrives to his feet, to the extreme where he sometimes adds his magnificent weapons to his game, spurts, velocity, perfect control of dribbling of the ball, sense of the pass and a good shot...."

    For Didi the tabloid states: "One cannot establish a comparison with Didi, the other relevant star, because of the different functions that each run on the field, both with manifested solvency. Didi is the organizer, but without losing sight of goal, with his potent shots from long distance. The controversy of whom is better, a question that runs through their fans, is something that will continue on."

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  7. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Edit: 1959 Copa América
     
  8. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Edit: 1959 Copa América
     
  9. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    1959 Copa América

    Brazil 4-2 Bolivia

    Not much was noted about the players in particular about their displays, although Didi had his hands in most of Brazil's attacks.

    Brazil showed contrasting images between their offense and defense. Bolivia for their part played a solid game against the favorites and at one point were level.

    This time Garrincha made his first appearance for the world champs but is not mentioned much and had little relevance in the final result.

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  10. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    1959 Copa América

    Brazil 3-1 Uruguay

    Violence clash between these two giants, both sides got into a brawl with 4 players sent off. It was a war on the pitch.

    This time neither Didi or Pelé could shine. The best performances for Brazil came from Valentim, scorer of 3 goals, Formiga and Garrincha.

    Based on merit, in order, according to the report:
    1 Valentim
    2 Formiga
    3 Garrincha

    For Uruguay the standout players were William Martinez, Douksas and Sasia.

    After the game was over the home crowd applauded the Brazilian side but jeered the Uruguayan squad as both sides left the pitch.

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    Attached Files:

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  11. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    1959 Copa América

    Brazil 4-1 Paraguay

    This was the finest game of Garrincha in the competition. He had already made a fine impression in the previous match against Uruguay, now on his right flank he tormented the opposition with his classical dribblings. It's stated that the most spectacular plays were created and produced by him.

    With the Brazilian vanguard solid as ever, with Djalma Santos as the best and with Garrincha tormenting his marker on his flank, with Didi orchestrating attacks from the center, Pelé and Valentim didn't have to force themselves that much and the hat-trick of Pelé was as easy as they come.

    Paraguay were regarded as an exhausted team that were defeated quickly. They oppsed no threat to the world champs.

    Brazil, the world champs and favorites to win this tournament, all they needed now was to defeat Argentina to crown themselves.


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  12. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Unfortunately the final match for the crown I could not find for the newspaper of La Prensa, it was missing.

    The game ended in a draw and Argentina crowned themselves champs. The draw vs Peru for Brazil was their downfall.
     
  13. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    El Gráfico Copa America 1993 ideal team with first and second line-ups

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  14. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    1995 Copa America Ideal team (El Gráfico)

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  15. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    The 1947 Argentinian team that won the Copa America is regarded undoubtedly as one of the best Argentinian teams ever assembled. It contained a strong defense, with Rossi, Marante, Lacono and Pescia, an all-star attack with Boyé, Mendez, Pontoni, Moreno, Lustau, and luxurious bench players, like Alfredo Di Stefano.

    The team was an offensive machine scoring 28 goals and only conceding 4 in 7 matches. The host nation, Ecuador, were amazed with such a performance — but the question is, out of all these superstars, who was the most important player ? Who was the star amongst stars ?

    Lots of restrospecive ideas surfaced over the years: could it be Jose Manuel Moreno ? Or the more political famous names like Alfredo Di Stefano ? Or what about Norberto Mendez, scorer of important goals vs the Brazil’s and Uruguay’s of his day in match finals ?

    The Argentinian newspaper Clarin covered the event and reached a conclusion.

    It was Rene Pontoni, regarded as indispensable, once he missed games the team felt it, but in his return, the team recovered its “pilot”, as the article states. Pontoni was the most valuable player in Ecuador 1947, the real link that held the midfield and attack together.

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  16. msioux75

    msioux75 Member+

    Jan 8, 2006
    Lima, Peru
    El Grafico and some SA magazines, in their rankings, with a 4-4-2 formation, used to named the 2 DMs firstly and then the 2 AMs.
     
  17. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    The current Copa America of 2019 has produced ESPN to pick the best or ideal top team of the first round.

    GK: Gallese (Peru)
    Defender: Khoukhi (Qatar)
    Defender: Thiago Silva (Brazil)
    Defender: Godin (Uruguay)
    Defender: Lodeiro (Uruguay)
    Midfield: Aranguiz (Chile)
    Midfield: Rodriguez (Colombia)
    Midfield: Coutinho (Brazil)
    Forward: Everton (Brazil)
    Forward: Sanchez (Chile)
    Forward: Suarez (Uruguay)

    Apparently this list was created based on statistics, according to the Spanish article.

    https://depor.com/futbol-peruano/co...al-espn-fase-grupos-fotos-nndc-121191?foto=11
     
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  18. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    #120 Vegan10, Jul 4, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2019
    Some observations since this is very controversial.

    According to EFE the 22 reporters designated these 11 as the all-time ideal team of the Copa Americas with the percentage as follows:

    Portero; José Luis Chilavert (Paraguay) 27,2%
    Lateral: Cafú (Brasil) 77,2%
    Central: Oscar Ruggeri (Argentina) 36,3%
    Central: Elías Figueroa (Chile) 36,3%
    Lateral: Roberto Carlos (Brasil) 81,8%
    Centrocampista: Dunga (Brasil) 27,2%
    Centrocampista: Arturo Vidal (Chile) 27,2%
    Centrocampista: Diego Maradona (Argentina) 31,8%
    Centrocampista: Enzo Francescoli (Uruguay) 45,4%
    Delantero: Ronaldo (Brasil) 77,2%
    Delantero: Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina) 45,4%

    The list went with a 4-4-2 formation.

    Carlos Valderrama lost out to Maradona by one vote as attacking midfielder.

    Pelé and Messi were candidates as either forward or creator but received few votes so didn’t make the list.

    Reviewing the choices chosen there’s many issues. The first thing that stands out is the list favors all modern players with the exception of Elias Figueroa from 1967 to date. Secondly the most popular names are inevitably picked without analyzing what really transpired. For example let’s go through the choices one by one, first with the goalkeeper.

    Chilavert featured in 3 competitions (1991, 1993, 1997) but didn’t really standout. There’s no evidence that he made any all-star side during any of those competitions, according to the Argentinian magazine of El Gráfico. In 1991 Toledo from Chile was chosen, in 1993 it was Goycoechea, and in 1997 I’m not certain.

    The only thing certain is Paraguay never got past the quarterfinals with him and he was never the savior in a KO match, although admittedly eliminated by the home side of Ecuador in 1993 and by the favorites Brazil in 1997.

    Will get to the fullbacks later on.

    To be continued...
     
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  19. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Cafú was chosen as right-back, featured in the competitions of 1991, 1993, 1997 and 1999. According to El Gráfico and Mundo Deportivo he had strong performances in 1993 and 1999, where he was either rated in the first IX or second best lineup. It’s unclear how well he was rated in 1997 and 1991 due to insufficient information. But evidently a strong choice in his position.

    Roberto Carlos at left-back has another strong case. He featured in 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999. He was either voted in the best starting IX or second top lineup’s in 1993, 1995 and 1999, according to El Gráfico and Mundo Deportivo. I’m uncertain about 1997 due to lack of information.

    Will get to the centre-backs soon.
     
  20. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Ruggeri featured in 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1993.

    In 1989 he was very substandard, receiving mediocre grades from Argentina’s newspapers and El Grafico. In 1987 he was average but was top-notch in 1991 and 1993, obtaining inclusions in El Gráfico’s ideal first and second starting IX. In his position he deserves to be taken into account as a serious nominee but it’s not entirely convincing that he deserves a top spot.

    Elias Figueroa featured in 1967 and 1979 when he was already fading. He’s the most controversial choice amongst the defenders chosen because in 1967 Chile didn’t perform well and conceded many goals with him as the primary vanguard. In 1979 Chile reached the final but Figueroa played very few matches and even missed a pivotal first leg vs Paraguay in the final due to getting suspended. Furthermore, in 1967 Brazil didn’t feature and in 1979 neither Argentina or Brazil took the competition seriously. Uruguay was very mediocre in that era going through a weak period. I strongly believe the voters chose him, as with Chilavert due to the popularity of the famous name. There certainly were other stronger choices at centre-back that deserved merit over him.

    Next up the defensive midfielders...
     
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  21. PDG1978

    PDG1978 Member+

    Mar 8, 2009
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Interesting to see this mate, and it's true I think that people get drawn to big names even when making serious efforts and trying to use their memories of tournaments (although as you say Pele and Messi are not selected for example).

    I did notice when we on this board were looking into 1966/67 and 1967/68 (threads started by Tom Stevens not log ago) though that Figueroa does seem to have been praised and highly regarded as an individual for his displays in CA67, and I think they may have led to Penarol deciding to buy him.
     
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  22. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Yes, 1967 is kind of unknown but superficially speaking, against the Argentina’s and Uruguay’s, Chile conceded 2 goals in each game and that was the difference in the competition for Chile’s hopes of progressing. I’m not sure how much that came down to his responsibilities but he was the main vanguard at the back. I’m quite sure on an all-time scale, there were better options at center-back. Will look more into this.
     
  23. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Dunga featured in 1989, 1995 and 1997.

    In 1989 he was included in Don Balon’s ideal starting XI and in El Gráfico’s ideal first lineup in 1995. It’s unknown how well he was rated in 1997. Some match ratings of the newspaper Clarín rated him decent to well in 1989 as well.

    It’s evident that Dunga at the holding midfield position is a strong candidate, at least in the last 30 years.

    Arturo Vidal for Chile is a current player still active. He’s featured in 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2019. He was voted into the ideal starting XI by a panel of Conmebol’s technical study group in 2015 and 2016. He did not perform at a distinctive level in 2011 or in 2019.

    Evidently he has a strong case to be nominated but I get the feeling that the championships recently won back to back have conveniently swayed the voters decision to pick him over some others in past competitions that had more stiffer competition at hand. Chile won in 2015 at home and faced mediocre competition in USA 2016, on both cases rode their luck on penalty shootout wins.

    I’m not entirely convinced with this last designation.
     

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