Football United

The 2004 edition of the Copa America is set to begin on Tuesday when Venezuela and Colombia kick-off the opening game in the Estadio Nacional of Lima, Perù. Once again this magical tournament will show case affirmed world class players and some of the most interesting rising stars.

Copa America Group A Preview

Despite having defending champions Colombia and host nation Peru, Group A is shaping up as the weakest group of them all. All four sides are in the bottom half of the South American World Cup qualification table, including last place Bolivia.
The surprise of the group may be Venezuela. Traditionally minnows in South America, the Venezuelans have made great leaps and bounds in recent years. Currently they are ahead of the other three teams in the qualification table.

BOLIVIA
New coach Ramiro Blacutt enters the competition essentially against all odds. Ever since Bolivia was runner-up in the 1997 edition, the Andean nation has become a mere after-thought on the international stage. Blacutt will rely on Juan Manuel Pena and Oscar Sanchez to anchor a five-man back line. Joaquin Botero of Mexico’s UNAM Pumas and Bolivian top-scorer Miguel Mercado will be charged with looking for goals on the counter attack. But arguably the country’s best young player, midfielder Joselito Vaca, and the country’s best old player, Marco Etcheverry, are not a part of the squad.

COLOMBIA

The defending champions enter the competition in a bit of disarray. The Cafeteros have earned only seven points in seven qualifiers, and now face the difficult task of defending their 2001 Copa America title. Manager Reinaldo Rueda only called in one field player from Copa Libertadores champions Once Caldas, but midfielder Arnulfo Valentierra is a special player and certainly one to watch. Many of the players from the 2001 title are taking part in 2004, but Rueda will be just as keen to see how some of Colombia’s rising young stars do in the Copa as much as the old.

PERU

The tournament hosts have won the competition twice before, most recently in 1975 with the talented Cubillas in the side. The 2004 version has the potential to win it a third time, with foreign-based stars like Claudio Pizarro and Nolberto Solano, and new PSV signing Jefferson Farfan. The host country is busting at the seams with budding international stars, but is Paulo Autuori the coach that can polish the Peruvian jewels?

VENEZUELA
Manager Richard Paez faces an uphill battle simply because the country he is leading has only ever won one match in the Copa America—and that came in their first appearance 37 years ago. However, if ever South America’s doormat is to pick itself up from off the floor now is the time, as a part of wide-open Group A. With no superstars in the side, expect the Venezuelans to play as a team, and to play with pride.

Copa America Group B Preview

If there has to be a group of death, then Group B probably is it. Argentina, Mexico and Uruguay all are capable of making the finals, and between them Argentina and Uruguay have claimed 28 of the 40 previous competitions.
But Ecuador is not to be looked upon lightly, either, which makes Group B the strongest from top to bottom.

ARGENTINA

Argentina have not won a Copa America since 1993 when they defeated Mexico. In 2001 Argentina did not send a squad. In 2004 the Albiceleste enter Peru as the pre-tournament favorites. Manager Marcelo Bielsa has brought an extremely strong side capable of exorcizing some of the demons from World Cup 2002. Bielsa was at the helm in 1999 when Argentina were knocked out in the quarterfinals. But only five domestic-based players were named to the 2004 squad, among them the highly capable Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. Still, the domestic stars will have a difficult time seeing the pitch over established stars like Javier Saviola, Roberto Ayala, and Javier Zanetti to name just a few.

ECUADOR
Ecuador enter Peru a shadow of the side that went to Colombia three years ago for the same event. They sit a pathetic eighth in the World Cup qualification standings, and bring a fairly veteran squad to the table in an effort to make it out of the group of death. Old stars like Aston Villa’s Ulises de la Cruz, Agustin Delgado and the ageless Alex Aguinaga will carry the load for manager Hernan Dario Gomez.

MEXICO
The Tricolores always have been a difficult guest in the Copa America. They were runners-up to Colombia in 2001, including a 1-0 victory over Brazil. CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers will be on manager Ricardo Lavolpe’s mind in Peru, but don’t expect Mexico to show up expecting only three matches. Sevilla’s Gerardo Torrado is more than capable of pulling strings in midfield against the other Group B contenders, and Santos Laguna’s Jared Borgetti will command respect in the attack. Barcelona’s stud Rafael Marquez will marshal an experienced defense. The prospects of Mexico making it far in 2004 are good.

URUGUAY
Like Argentina, Uruguay have won 14 continental championships that we now call the Copa America. But unlike Argentina, Uruguay enter the competition with an untested coach in Jorge Fossati and with a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Venezuela in World Cup qualifying fresh on everyone’s mind. It will be anybody’s guess what the team does with Fossati at the helm, but with an attack that boasts Manchester United’s Diego Forlan Uruguay could go far and nobody would be surprised.

Copa America Group C Preview

Group C is neither the weakest nor the strongest group. Brazil is Brazil, and will be favorites to take top honors. Guest nation Costa Rica is in a confused state, having sacked American head coach Steve Sampson after narrowly getting past Cuba in World Cup qualifying.
Chile are looking to be an improved side once qualifying resumes, whilst Paraguay are searching for a new identity.

BRAZIL

Brazil needs no introduction usually, but this version of the Auriverde differs greatly from the one most people know. The three R’s of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos are conspicuously absent from Carlos Alberto Parreira’s squad, as well as Cafu, Emerson and Milan’s starlet Kaka. But fans of the famous yellow should delight in the inclusion of Santos’ boy wonder Diego, teammate Renato and domestic top-scorer Luis Fabiano. The defense is more than capable of standing up to Group C’s challenges, with Juan, Cris and the exciting Maicon all there for Parreira’s picking.

CHILE

So many times Chile has come close to continental victory, bowing out in the semifinals in 1999 and in 1991. Before that four times the Chileans have been runners-up. But 2004 appears too difficult a task for manager Juvenal Olmos and young squad. To gain experience is key, and certainly will be the response if the Red team bows out early. Midfielder Clarence Acuna is one of the true veterans of the side, but will not strike the type of fear into opponents usually associated with top-class veterans.

COSTA RICA
Paulo Wanchope helped the Ticos surprise in the 2001 Copa America, but the highly skilled striker will not be on hand to lead new coach Jose Luis Pinto’s squad. That task will fall to skipper Luis Marin and the country’s other veterans, Walter Centeno and Ronald Gomez. Winning the Copa America will not be Pinto’s goal, rather melding the players into the form necessary to navigate CONCACAF’s World Cup qualifying with a bit more ease than his predecessor will be the end goal.

PARAGUAY

Paraguay is at a crossroads on the senior level. Manager Anibal Ruiz is charged with helping shape Paraguay’s future on the international scene. Several Paraguayan stars are reaching maturation, so now Ruiz must find some younger blood to fill the gaps. Inter Milan’s Carlos Gamarra will still lead the defense, but Bundesliga winner Nelson Haedo Valdez will spearhead the Paraguayan goal search. The 20-year old attacker is primed to become one of the country’s greatest players ever.

Source: goal.com