Copa América

[joew2005]

2011 Copa América

Group Phase
Group A : Argentina 1-1 Bolivia
2 July Group A - Colombia vs Costa Rica
3 July Group B - Brazil vs Venezuela / Paraguay vs Ecuador
4 July Group C - Uruguay vs Peru / Chile vs Mexico
6 July Group A - Argentina vs Colombia
7 July Group A - Bolivia vs Costa Rica
8 July Group C - Peru vs Mexico / Uruguay vs Chile
9 july Group B - Brazil vs Paraguay / Venezuela vs Ecuador
10 July Group A - Colombia vs Bolivia
11 July Group A - Argentina vs Costa Rica
12 July Group C - Chile vs Peru / Uruguay vs Mexico
13 July Group B - Paraguay vs Venezuela / Brazil vs Ecuador

Group A
Argentina Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS1 GA1 GD0 Pts1
Bolivia Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS1 GA1 GD0 Pts1
Colombia Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Costa Rica Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0

Group B
Brazil Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Paraguay Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Ecuador Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Venezuela Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0

Group C
Uruguay Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Chile Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Peru Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Mexico Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0

Quarter Finals
16 July - Group A Winner vs Best 3rd Place 1 (Q1) / Group A Runner Up vs Group C Runner Up (Q2)
17 July - Group B Winner vs Best 3rd Plac 2 (Q3) / Group C Winner vs Group B Runner Up (Q4)

Semi Finals
19 July - Q1 Winner vs Q2 Winner
20 July - Q3 Winner vs Q4 Winner

3rd Place Place Off
23 July -

Final
24 July -


Goal Scorers
1 goal -
Argentina(Sergio Agüero)
Bolivia(Edivaldo Rojas Her)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Copa_Am%C3%A9rica

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...entina?cc=4716

Aguero salvages draw for Argentina
July 2, 2011

Sergio Aguero spared the blushes of host nation Argentina aft scoring an equaliser with 15 mins remaining 2 come away with a 1-1 draw in their opening Copa America clash against Bolivia.

Aguero came on as a substitute in La Plata aft Argentina signalled their attacking intent by starting Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez & Ezequiel Lavezzi up front. Bolivia, meanwhile, forced Shakhtar Donetsk front-man Marcelo Moreno 2 play as a lone striker in order 2 shore up the midfield.

Tevez looked 2 get Argentina off 2 a dream start, producing a glancing header fr Messi free-kick inside the opening mins, only 2 see his effort flash wide of the target. But tat would arguably be the hosts' best chance of the opening stanza, as they struggled 2 break down a resolute Bolivian defence.

The visitors then stunned the home faithful jz aft the half-time break when Edivaldo Rojas back-heeled a Jhasmany Campos corner over the line, despite the scrambling attempt of goalkeeper Sergio Romero 2 keep the ball out.

Moreno had the chance 2 double Bolivia's advantage in the 65th-min, but Romero was up the challenge on tat occasion 2 keep the home side in the contest.

Aguero then scored a soaring volley on 75 mins 2 restore parity aft Nicolas Burdisso chested down Angel Di Maria's cross fr the left flank. The Atletico Madrid striker made no mistake in front of goal, but Argentina were unable 2 secure a late winner as they pushed men 4ward in the closing stages.

Colombia & Costa Rica r the other teams in Group A & meet in the 2nd game of the tournament 2nite.


2 me,Argentina didn't do well.
Argentina is ranked 2nd in Conmebol & 10th in FIFA, while Bolivia is 10th in Conmebol & 93th in FIFA.
Moreover Argentina is the host nation.
The boys wearing the famous blue or blue/white jerseys need 2 do more if they 1 2 win tis tournament.

[joew2005]

2011 Copa América

Group Phase
Group A : Argentina 1-1 Bolivia / Colombia 1-0 Costa Rica
3 July Group B - Brazil vs Venezuela / Paraguay vs Ecuador
4 July Group C - Uruguay vs Peru / Chile vs Mexico
6 July Group A - Argentina vs Colombia
7 July Group A - Bolivia vs Costa Rica
8 July Group C - Peru vs Mexico / Uruguay vs Chile
9 july Group B - Brazil vs Paraguay / Venezuela vs Ecuador
10 July Group A - Colombia vs Bolivia
11 July Group A - Argentina vs Costa Rica
12 July Group C - Chile vs Peru / Uruguay vs Mexico
13 July Group B - Paraguay vs Venezuela / Brazil vs Ecuador

Group A
Colombia Played1 Win1 Draw0 Lose0 GS1 GA0 GD+1 Pts3
Argentina Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS1 GA1 GD0 Pts1
Bolivia Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS1 GA1 GD0 Pts1
Costa Rica Played1 Win0 Draw0 Lose1 GS0 GA1 GD-1 Pts0

Group B
Brazil Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Paraguay Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Ecuador Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Venezuela Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0

Group C
Uruguay Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Chile Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Peru Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Mexico Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0

Quarter Finals
16 July - Group A Winner vs Best 3rd Place 1 (Q1) / Group A Runner Up vs Group C Runner Up (Q2)
17 July - Group B Winner vs Best 3rd Plac 2 (Q3) / Group C Winner vs Group B Runner Up (Q4)

Semi Finals
19 July - Q1 Winner vs Q2 Winner
20 July - Q3 Winner vs Q4 Winner

3rd Place Place Off
23 July -

Final
24 July -


Goal Scorers
1 goal -
Argentina(Sergio Agüero)
Bolivia(Edivaldo Rojas Hermoza)
Colobia(Gustavo Adrián Ramos Vásquez)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Copa_Am%C3%A9rica

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=314578&cc=4716

Ramos goal sees off ten-man Costa Rica

Colombia laboured 2 a narrow win over the 10 men of Costa Rica in their opening Copa America match.

The youthful Costa Ricans played a man down 4 over an hour aft the 28th-minute dismissal of Randall Brenes, but a goal fr Adrian Ramos seconds b4 half-time was all tat separated the sides.

Colombia @ least showed flashes of the talent tat has them well fancied in tis competition, @ times stringing 2gether some wonderful moves, only 2 fail 2 deliver a shot tat could truly test Leonel Moreira in the Costa Rica goal.

They struggled in the early stages, with the best chance coming fr a surging run down the left fr Ramos only 4 the Hertha Berlin man 2 send a tame shot goalwards.

The game changed when Brenes crudely slid thru the back of Luis Perea 2 earn a straight red - Costa Rica's 1st @ a Copa America.

The next chance fell 2 Costa Rica, with Francisco Calvo close 2 heading in Joel Campbell's corner, but opportunities 4 the team in red were a rarity thereafter.

Instead, Colombia attacked @ will as Hugo Rodallega was brought on 4 Abel Aguilar 2 make the most of the extra space.

A long chip in2 the Costa Rica box caused a mix-up which Falcao almost capitalised on, b4 Ramos' header @ the far post was gathered by the goalkeeper.

The breakthru came in the 45th minute when a long ball Fredy Guarin found a superb run fr Ramos who rounded the goalkeeper 2 finish.

The 2nd half was a more subdued affair as Costa Rica sought 2 contain the game & snatch something on the break.

Dayro Moreno flashed a low shot across goal 4 Colombia b4 Falcao was unlucky 2 see a header come back off the crossbar.

Just b4 the hour mark, David Guzman curled a low free-kick in2 the side-netting 4 Costa Rica, while @ the other end, Guarin's disappointing free-kick was dragged wide.

Costa Rica began 2 show dangerous signs thanks 2 the running of Diego Madrigal, & Colombia took the hint as they shut up shop in the closing stages.

The win moved Colombia 2 the top of the Group A standings aft Argentina's opening draw with Bolivia.

[joew2005]

2011 Copa América

Group Phase
Group A : Argentina 1-1 Bolivia / Colombia 1-0 Costa Rica
3 July Group B - Brazil 0-0 Venezuela / Paraguay vs Ecuador
4 July Group C - Uruguay vs Peru / Chile vs Mexico
6 July Group A - Argentina vs Colombia
7 July Group A - Bolivia vs Costa Rica
8 July Group C - Peru vs Mexico / Uruguay vs Chile
9 july Group B - Brazil vs Paraguay / Venezuela vs Ecuador
10 July Group A - Colombia vs Bolivia
11 July Group A - Argentina vs Costa Rica
12 July Group C - Chile vs Peru / Uruguay vs Mexico
13 July Group B - Paraguay vs Venezuela / Brazil vs Ecuador

Group A
Colombia Played1 Win1 Draw0 Lose0 GS1 GA0 GD+1 Pts3
Argentina Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS1 GA1 GD0 Pts1
Bolivia Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS1 GA1 GD0 Pts1
Costa Rica Played1 Win0 Draw0 Lose1 GS0 GA1 GD-1 Pts0

Group B
Brazil Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts1
Venezuela Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts1
Paraguay Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Ecuador Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0

Group C
Uruguay Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Chile Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Peru Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Mexico Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0

Quarter Finals
16 July - Group A Winner vs Best 3rd Place 1 (Q1) / Group A Runner Up vs Group C Runner Up (Q2)
17 July - Group B Winner vs Best 3rd Plac 2 (Q3) / Group C Winner vs Group B Runner Up (Q4)

Semi Finals
19 July - Q1 Winner vs Q2 Winner
20 July - Q3 Winner vs Q4 Winner

3rd Place Place Off
23 July -

Final
24 July -


Goal Scorers
1 goal -
Argentina(Sergio Agüero)
Bolivia(Edivaldo Rojas Hermoza)
Colobia(Gustavo Adrián Ramos Vásquez)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Copa_Am%C3%A9rica

[machoman]

Originally Posted by joew2005

2011 Copa América

Goal Scorers
1 goal -
Argentina(Sergio Agüero)
Bolivia(Edivaldo Rojas Hermoza)
Colobia(Gustavo Adrián Ramos Vásquez)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Copa_Am%C3%A9rica

So far, there are 4 matches played- 2 in Group A & 2 in Group B & only 3 goals scored with 3 draws & only Columbia winning a 1-goal victory over Costa Rica.

Seems that the opening blues got to the teams who are more concerned about not losing & securing 1 point rather than going all out to attack & get 3 points.

Hoping that we will see more goals in the 2 matches in Group C tomorrow morning.

What do you think, bro?

[joew2005]

Originally Posted by machoman

So far, there are 4 matches played- 2 in Group A & 2 in Group B & only 3 goals scored with 3 draws & only Columbia winning a 1-goal victory over Costa Rica.

Seems that the opening blues got to the teams who are more concerned about not losing & securing 1 point rather than going all out to attack & get 3 points.

Hoping that we will see more goals in the 2 matches in Group C tomorrow morning.

What do you think, bro?

ya bro ..... opening game BLUES 4 the top teams in big tournaments r veri common.
@ least they didn't lose the 1st group game.
a win follow by a draw by both Argentina & Brazil could even see them top their respective groups.
i would think that bothe Argentina & Brazil would score a couple of goals 2 win their 2nd group games.

[joew2005]

2011 Copa América

Group Phase
Group A : Argentina 1-1 Bolivia / Colombia 1-0 Costa Rica
Group B - Brazil 0-0 Venezuela / Paraguay 0-0 Ecuador
4 July Group C - Uruguay vs Peru / Chile vs Mexico
6 July Group A - Argentina vs Colombia
7 July Group A - Bolivia vs Costa Rica
8 July Group C - Peru vs Mexico / Uruguay vs Chile
9 july Group B - Brazil vs Paraguay / Venezuela vs Ecuador
10 July Group A - Colombia vs Bolivia
11 July Group A - Argentina vs Costa Rica
12 July Group C - Chile vs Peru / Uruguay vs Mexico
13 July Group B - Paraguay vs Venezuela / Brazil vs Ecuador

Group A
Colombia Played1 Win1 Draw0 Lose0 GS1 GA0 GD+1 Pts3
Argentina Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS1 GA1 GD0 Pts1
Bolivia Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS1 GA1 GD0 Pts1
Costa Rica Played1 Win0 Draw0 Lose1 GS0 GA1 GD-1 Pts0

Group B
Brazil Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts1
Venezuela Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts1
Paraguay Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts1
Ecuador Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts1

Group C
Uruguay Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Chile Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Peru Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0
Mexico Played0 Win0 Draw0 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts0

Quarter Finals
16 July - Group A Winner vs Best 3rd Place 1 (Q1) / Group A Runner Up vs Group C Runner Up (Q2)
17 July - Group B Winner vs Best 3rd Plac 2 (Q3) / Group C Winner vs Group B Runner Up (Q4)

Semi Finals
19 July - Q1 Winner vs Q2 Winner
20 July - Q3 Winner vs Q4 Winner

3rd Place Place Off
23 July -

Final
24 July -


Goal Scorers
1 goal -
Argentina(Sergio Agüero)
Bolivia(Edivaldo Rojas Hermoza)
Colobia(Gustavo Adrián Ramos Vásquez)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Copa_Am%C3%A9rica

[machoman]

At long last, we got to see some goals in the 2 matches in Group C- 2 in the Uruguay-Peru 1-1 draw & 3 goals in the 2-1 win of Chile against Mexico.....5 in all after 3 goalless draws in Groups A & B.

Should see some more goals in the tournament in the 2nd Group games onwards.

[HokkienPeng]

Who you think will go to the final? I hope to see Argentina as host and maybe Uruguay as best place SA team from the world cup.

[machoman]

Originally Posted by HokkienPeng

Who you think will go to the final? I hope to see Argentina as host and maybe Uruguay as best place SA team from the world cup.

My dream final will be Brazil vs Argentina, the top 2 teams in South America with their stars of Messi, Neymar, etc.

[joew2005]

2011 Copa América

Group Phase
Group A : Argentina 1-1 Bolivia / Colombia 1-0 Costa Rica
Group B - Brazil 0-0 Venezuela / Paraguay 0-0 Ecuador
Group C - Uruguay 1-1 Peru / Chile 2-1 Mexico
6 July Group A - Argentina vs Colombia
7 July Group A - Bolivia vs Costa Rica
8 July Group C - Peru vs Mexico / Uruguay vs Chile
9 july Group B - Brazil vs Paraguay / Venezuela vs Ecuador
10 July Group A - Colombia vs Bolivia
11 July Group A - Argentina vs Costa Rica
12 July Group C - Chile vs Peru / Uruguay vs Mexico
13 July Group B - Paraguay vs Venezuela / Brazil vs Ecuador

Group A
Colombia Played1 Win1 Draw0 Lose0 GS1 GA0 GD+1 Pts3
Argentina Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS1 GA1 GD0 Pts1
Bolivia Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS1 GA1 GD0 Pts1
Costa Rica Played1 Win0 Draw0 Lose1 GS0 GA1 GD-1 Pts0

Group B
Brazil Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts1
Venezuela Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts1
Paraguay Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts1
Ecuador Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS0 GA0 GD0 Pts1

Group C
Chile Played1 Win1 Draw0 Lose0 GS2 GA1 GD+1 Pts3
Peru Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS1 GA1 GD0 Pts1
Uruguay Played1 Win0 Draw1 Lose0 GS1 GA1 GD0 Pts1
Mexico Played1 Win0 Draw0 Lose1 GS1 GA2 GD-1 Pts0

Quarter Finals
16 July - Group A Winner vs Best 3rd Place 1 (Q1) / Group A Runner Up vs Group C Runner Up (Q2)
17 July - Group B Winner vs Best 3rd Plac 2 (Q3) / Group C Winner vs Group B Runner Up (Q4)

Semi Finals
19 July - Q1 Winner vs Q2 Winner
20 July - Q3 Winner vs Q4 Winner

3rd Place Place Off
23 July -

Final
24 July -


Goal Scorers
1 goal -
Argentina(Sergio Agüero)
Bolivia(Edivaldo Rojas Hermoza)
Chile(Esteban Paredes & Arturo Vidal)
Colombia(Adrián Ramos)
Mexico(Néstor Araujo)
Peru(José Guerrero)
Uruguay(Luis Suárez)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Copa_Am%C3%A9rica

[machoman]

Highlights of the opening match between Argentina & Bolivia:

[joew2005]

bro machoman, Sergio Aguero's volley in the 75 mins of the opening match was a beauty. Bolívia's Edivaldo Rojas was also veri trickery with that back-heeled goal.

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns...derway?cc=4716

Minnows impress as Copa begins
July 5, 2011

As predicted in the pre-tournament preview tis was going 2 be the most even tournament 4 a while. We've now seen all the sides in action in the 2011 Copa America, & it has, if nothing else, been an incredibly closely-matched event thus far. Argentina failed 2 get revenge on Bolivia 4 the 6-1 defeat in La Paz last time the sides met; Group B didn't see a single goal in 2 matches on Sunday, & most people's 3rd favs Uruguay couldn't beat Peru on Monday night.

It's the 1st time in 43 editions tat both Argentina & Brazil hv failed 2 win their opening games. Needless 2 say, very little credit has gone 2 their opponents. It's also a mark of the media obsession with the giants tat performances elsewhere - Colombia's loose but eventually good-enough 1-0 win over Costa Rica in Argentina's Group A; Chile's 2nd half comeback in their 2-1 win over Mexico on Monday night - haven't had anywhere near as much attention in the host country's press as the big boys' slip-ups.

Credit aft tis opening to the tournament should go 2 the less heralded opponents, though. Bolivia on the opening night could hv been forgiven 4 freezing initially against the hosts & favs (although it's the 3rd tournament in a row in which they've been charged with playing the hosts on the opening day), or, aft realising most of their opponents were playing without much heed 4 their team-mates, 4 getting a bit cocky. But they kept their focus & discipline throughout, capitalised fr poor marking 2 score wat Lionel Messi afterwards (frustratedly) called 'a sloppy goal', & held out in the face of the late onslaught 2 restrict them 2 just Sergio Agüero's equaliser.

On Sunday, @ the Estadio Unico de La Plata saw the holders' debut in tis year's tournament against Venezuela, & found the performance of the 2007 hosts perhaps even more impressive than Bolivia's had been 2 days previously. I'd go so far, with an honourable nod 2 Nicolas Lodeiro's 1st half performance 4 Uruguay on Monday evening, as 2 say Tomas Rincon, Venezuela's deep-lying midfielder, has been my player of the opening matches. 1 eminent journalistic colleague commented b4 the game tat, 'he plays 4 Hamburg, so he can't be crap,' & indeed he wasn't.

Much has been written (some of it by me) pre-tournament abt Neymar & Ganso, Brazil's Copa Libertadores-winning Santos duo, but the latter was comprehensively strangled out of the game by Rincon & his partner Franklin Lucena, who anticipated the tactic I suggested in my preview might be Argentina's best bet against Brazil; cut off supply 2 the 4wards. By so doing, Brazil were forced 2 bypass Ganso constantly (though he was in the game more @ the start of the 2nd half, b4 fading again), & apart fr Alexandre Pato's shot crashing back off the crossbar, it wasn't a strategy tat looked like making a breakthrough.

Argentina simply looked 2 individualistic, with Lionel Messi the only 4ward player looking 4 team-mates, & other than Ever Banega & Javier Zanetti, he wasn't really able 2 link with any other Argentine players 2 any great degree; Ezequiel Lavezzi, on receiving 1 pass fr Messi which would hv seen a Barcelona player in a similar position lay it back & look 2 support the attack, hared off 2wards the Bolivian goal line with the ball instead, b4 wasting the chance 2 cross (not tat there was any1 there 2 cross 2; he'd outrun them all). Messi has 1s again been jumped on 4 not playing 4 Argentina the way he does 4 Barcelona, but for tat 2 happen Argentina hv 2 play 4 him the way Barcelona do as well.

The only victors so far, then, r Colombia - who got a 1-0 win over Costa Rica in a frustrating game on Saturday - & Chile. Colombia looked like they should hv scored more than they managed, but were ineffective up front, which considering some of the 4wards they've got 2 call on was surprising. Tat said, they showed some of their quality with Adrian Ramos' goal, set up with a sublimely weighted thru ball fr Fredy Guarín (whose name, b4 any1 writes in, seems 2 be spelt with either 1 or 2 'd's depending wat side of the bed he's woken up on).

It was Monday tat finally saw the tournament liven up a bit though, aft the weekend had largely been interesting rather than enthralling. Uruguay were expected 2 comfortably beat Peru, but fell behind in the 1st half b4 another brilliant thru ball - tis one fr Nicolas Lodeiro, who's been out injured 4 virtually the whole of 2010-11 for Ajax - allowed Luis Suarez 2 equalise.

Chile were also favs against Mexico (who like Costa Rica field an almost entirely under-23 side in tis competition, 8 of whom only joined the squad late last week aft a scandal involving prostitutes @ the team hotel in Ecuador), but also fell behind, b4 rallying 2 give us the competition's 1st turnaround with a 2-1 win.

Both those matches were played back-2-back in the same stadium, in San Juan. Uruguay versus Peru was therefore played 2 a backing of around 10,000 Chilean fans, who had travelled over the border tat same day. It's said 2 be the highest number of people ever 2 cross the border @ 1s, & it's a record tat will surely be beaten when Chile play Uruguay in Mendoza, in a larger stadium even closer 2 the border crossing, on Friday.

4 now though, the Copa's main record is tat stat I mentioned abt Argentina & Brazil both failing 2 win. There's a distance 2 go yet, but the 1st games hv @ least lived up the billing as the most even Copa in a long time. As the Argentine journalist behind me on Sunday remarked approvingly during 1 maroon-shirted attack, 'Venezuela aren't showing [Brazil] any respect!' Long may tat continue.