Copa America Venezuela 2007

Win or go home is the name of the game from now on.

Venezuela vs Uruguay 6:00PM EDT Univision/GolTV
Venezuela - 2.55
Uruguay - 2.55
Tie - 3.15

Chile vs Brazil 8:30PM EDT - Telefutura/GolTV
Chile - 9.55
Brazil - 1.30
Tie - 4.40

Let’s hope Venezuela v Uruguay is nothing like their first matchup.

Brazil and Chile’s previous meeting was a Robinho show but look for his teammates to help out this time around. Chile will have their work cut out for them.

We have a day off today. Tomorrow begins Round 2 and the quarterfinals kicking off with Venezuela vs Uruguay at 6PM EDT (Univision/GolTV) and then Brazil vs Chile at 8:30PM EDT (Telefutura/GolTV).

By not winning their group, Brazil screws up Venezuela’s plans. The hosts were hoping to have a path to the finals clear of Argentina and Brazil but it was not to be. Luckily for all, this sets up the likely possibility of a classic Argentina vs Brazil in the Copa America final. I’m sure the media and their advertisers are excited at the prospects.

Top Goals through Round 1

1- Nery Castillo. Mexico 1 - 0 Brazil.

2- Juan Carlos Mariño. Peru 2 - 0 Uruguay.

3- Javier Mascherano. Argentina 1 - 0 Paraguay.

Best team: Argentina.
Nobody can argue otherwise.

Surprise player: Humbero Suazo. FW, Chile.
I never heard of the former Colo Colo striker until this tournament and he has left quite an impression with an amazing performance against Ecuador followed by good games vs Mexico and Brazil. He has signed with Mexican side Monterrey, but look for him to end up in Europe before not too long.

Best goalkeeper: Guillermo Ochoa, Mexico.
An amazing game against Brazil and played two games keeping a clean sheet in both.
If Ochoa was #1, then Paraguay’s Aldo Bobavilla deserves a #1b.

Best defender: Rafa Marquez, Mexico.
A poor first round of play for most defenders leading to lots of goals when the games counted but Rafa was solid and Mexico’s defense was stingy even without Pavel Pardo.

Best midfielder: Juan Roman Riquelme, Argentina.
Without a doubt the face of the tournament so far. Riquelme quit the national team a year ago and has made a return in grand fashion playing only two games but impressive in both.

Best forward: Humberto Suazo, Chile.
Yes, I know you wanted me to say Robinho and his 4 goals, but listen up. Two of those came by way of PK - and horribly struck PKs at that. Not only that but Robinho really had one great game against Ecuador and then two average performances. El Chupete Suazo has been the most aggressive and best performing striker. I would put Robinho second, and Crespo third. Messi deserves no mention because he might be a fan favorite but did very little in comparison to the guys mentioned above.

Best goal: Nery Castillo, 1-0 Mexico vs Brazil.
No brainer. There is a reason it is the most clicked posts on this blog. An impressive goal by the Olympiakos star.

Copa America’s website - run by Terra.com - is hacked at this very moment by some people calling themselves Hipermachine and I think they are insulting Dunga. If anybody speaks portuguese please translate what it says here: “Vamo La Dunga Nao Deixa a Peteca Cair Porra!!!”

Screenshot of hacked page

Animated gif of the penalty and Robinho’s goal against Ecuador.

A very efficient Brazil gets a slim win against Ecuador who leaves the tournament with zero points.

The only score came on a poorly struck penalty by Robinho who now is top scorer in the Copa America with 4 goals - two of which have come by PK. It wasn’t an instant classic in the least, but interesting comparing to the horrible two games that preceded it. The pace and quality of this tournament that started so lively and up tempo has come crashing down like a stock market crash. Such is the case that (and I’m not kidding) you could hear crickets chirping on the television broadcast at the end of this game!

Granted the game was more exciting than that for the most part. Ecuador really wanted to score and played that way for a good 60min or so. Brazil wasn’t extremely exciting but one guy who stood up to the limelight was Vagner Love. Outshined by Robinho the last two games, Vagner played really well and had some great chances on goal. The Ecuadorean keeper had just as great of a game stopping pretty much everything and coming up just inches short of saving the penalty kick as well. A valient effort, but like his team, it just wasn’t enough. Brazil advance as second in Group B and will face Chile again in the quarterfinals.

The Star

Vagner Love. F, Brazil.
Best game of Vagner in this tournament so far.  Dunga - who picked up his 2nd win as a coach - will definitely be keeping him in the starting lineup after this effort.

The Ugly Duckling

Dani Alves. D, Brazil.
Now let me say that Dani had a pretty decent game. He did make a big mistake however by picking up a yellow card which would rule him out for the next game and with Maicon out with an injury it leaves his team with a gaping who in the right back position.

When not training, Robinho picks tracks from his iPod to play in the team hotel. Next up: DJ Robinho at the Ministry of Sound.

Hopefully the teams today will provide some fireworks.

In conclusion of Group B play the games today are:

Mexico vs Chile - 6:30 EDT Univision/GolTV
Mexico -  2.50
Chile - 2.70
Tie - 2.80

Brazil vs Ecuador - 8:30 EDT Telefutura/GolTV
Brazil - 1.28
Away - 8.50
Tie - 4.33

Notice how Mexico are NOT heavy favorite today. Reasoning?

First, they are already qualified.
Second, losing will likely benefit them! Winning today means they secure the top spot in Group B. Which means they play either Argentina or Paraguay in the quarterfinals. Losing today by more than a goal, would likely put them as 3rd in the group meaning they would face Chile again.

Will Hugo play all his subs looking to accidentally lose? We’ll find out this evening.

Hugo Chavez ordered Venezuelan troops to dig up Che Guevara from his grave and resuscitate him, all in time for el Che to attend Argentina vs Colombia in person.

Under-rated Brazilian winger Maicon watches his teammates from the hotel balcony. He will miss the next game with a shoulder injury.

Mexican forward Omar Bravo cups his gonads. Must be Hugo Sanchez’s latest strategy at work, kicking his players in the balls.

And in the “We’re not gay, we just enjoy male bonding” category is Elano and Robinho doing… well I have no idea what they are doing, but I sure as hell don’t want a part of that.