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Excellent results in Copa America 2004

July 9 2004 - The first round of group matches of the 41st Copa America has produced excellent results for the regional soccer. A clear sign of this is the 18 goals scored in the six games, most of them quality ones, with the outstanding 6-1 victory of Argentina over Ecuador.

As a comparison, it is possible to point out that in the first eight matches of the Eurocup 2004 held in Portugal, only eight goals were scored.

Latin America remains a cradle of excellent players, who end up being a natural resource of the region exported mainly to Europe, but also to China, Japan and other countries like Greece - the champions of the Euro 2004, but also to Turkey and Russia.

The Latin American players have shown creativity and imagination to solve the most difficult or relatively impossible plays, with skilled dribblings and clear definitions in front of the goal.

Other outstanding aspects are the tactical discipline, the behaviour in the pitch and physical condition, although many of the players come from poor households in marginal neighbourhoods.

Prior to Copa America there was a notorious preoccupation for the absence of important players in the participating national teams.

One of this cases was Brazil, that did not bring its stars Ronaldo, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Roberto Carlos, Dida and Cafu.

On the other hand, Argentina did not bring Aymar, Lopez and Cavallero, while Paraguay arrived with a new reinforced sub-23 team, with the presence of Gamarra, Britez and Cristaldo, but without Cardozo and Santamaria.

Same thing happened with other teams that leaving important players like Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Mexico); Wanchope and Martinez (Costa Rica); Pinillas, Otea, Salas and Navia (Chile); Baldivieso, Pena, Castillo and Gatti (Bolivia); Ingel (Colombia), and Recoba (Uruguay).

All of them have been replaced by new players who are anxious to make it to the major leagues, using this continental competition as a way to become vissible to the managers and agents who could take them abroad as part of a promising future.

The coaches have shown capacity, but do not speculate with names and favor the collective game, yet giving freedom of action to the most creative ones and paying attention to the tactical discipline.Physical preparation and psychological work have been important as well.

The first six matches have produced great satisfactions, like the respect of the referee decisions, with a single red card by now, which went to Uruguay's Morales for a tough fault against Mexican midfielder Pardo.

Among the conclusions, Argentina and Brazil keep their rating as permanent favorites to be champions, although the differences have been reduced by now with the rivals, which in the past only included Uruguay and any other team with a surprising performance.

The Argentines did not only ratify their condition of favorites with the overwhelming victory over Ecuador (6-1) but also with a collective and balanced tactical system, which takes care of the timing to speed up or curb depending the conditions presented by the rival.

Five-time world champions Brazil, with a renewed team won 1-0 against Chle, given the fact that the Brazilians are used to play almost at sea level.

In a second order come Mexico with strength and cohesion in the lines and lethal mid-distance shots; Uruguay, with courage and force; Peru with a good handling of the ball, and Bolivia with a strong defense and sharp artillery.

Colombia shows homogeneity in its lines, while Paraguay, having an important back, has a facility for the counterattacks.

Then come, although not far from the aforementioned teams, Chile with tactical discipline; Costa Rica, with skillfull plays; Venezuela with an order in the movement from the back to the front, and Ecuador, with a set of players who, despite the defeat versus Argentina, could still surprise.

The fans, including 2 billion spectators worldwide, await more goals and dribblings, as well as the appearance of new figures.

Source : peoplesdailyonline.com (China)

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