The biggest football event in South America takes place in Venezuela from June 26 to July 15.
The Copa America 2007 is the 42nd time that the legendary tournament is being held. It is organised by Conmebol, South America’s football governing body. For the first time in its history, Copa America will be hosted by Venezuela.
Twelve nations will compete for the trophy this year. Among the participants are two teams that have been specially invited to take part in the Copa: those of Mexico and the US. The US, in spite of a series of invitations, previously has taken part only twice, in 1993 and 1995.
The case of the US is interesting for two reasons. First, it is an obvious attempt by Conmebol to attract the attention of US-based sponsors to the tournament, and the second is how the US accepted the invitation. At first the US federation rejected the offer, and Costa Rica was to be the replacement. However, the Costa Ricans had to unpack their suitcases at the last moment after the US national football team suddenly decided that it was worth taking part in the Copa. The US accepted the invitation and the Costa Rica team was left out of the competition.
As hosts, Venezuela has good chances of a successful showing, but it is more likely that the trophy will be decided among the three traditionally strong South American sides: the cup holder from Brazil, and Argentina and Mexico. The US team is also a potential contender for the title, but since this will be the team’s third participation in the event,cit is unlikely to cause a surprise.
The first game is between Venezuela and Bolivia in Merida on June 26.
The quarterfinals will take place on July 7 and July 8, the semifinals on July 10 and July 11 and the final is scheduled for July 15 in Maracaibo at 9pm GMT.
The third place game will take place a day earlier in the capital Caracas.
Bulgarian National Television will show all games live.
Group A
Venezuela, Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia
Venezuela has been listed by betting giant Bodog.com at 25 to 1 odds to win the tournament. There is a reason why the home side has received this unfavourable ranking. Venezuela has played a total of 45 Copa America games, wining only one and conceiving 149 goals, scoring only 29. This despite the home advantage makes Venezuela the worst team participating in this Copa. Venezuela has never qualified for a world cup tournament.
Uruguay has won the title 14 times so far, most recently in 1995. In 2004, Uruguay was third, which gives the team reason to hope for a good performance this time, especially with the pair of strikers Diego Forlan and Alvaro Recoba who play for Villareal (Spain) and Inter Milan, respectively. Bodog.com lists Uruguay at 10 to 1 odds for final victory. The last of Uruguay’s record 14 titles came in 1995.
Peru hosted the previous tournament in 2004. Despite the home advantage, the team won only one of its games and did not progress much. The situation is likely to be different this time. Despite the team’s two Copa America titles (1939, 1975) Peru won just two of its last nine games, which is not a good indicator. Bodog.com has listed the side at 50 to 1 odds to win the trophy.
Bolivia is among the countries that have won the Copa. Surprisingly, Bolivians won the tournament in distant 1963. Since then, however, Bolivia has not managed to achieve anything more than being the runners-up in 1997. This goes to show that Bolivia should not be underestimated, but the reality is that they are unlikely to win the tournament. Bodog.com lists them at 150 to 1 odds.
Almost a month ago, Bolivian president Evo Morales made the news by demanding that FIFA increase to 3600m the altitude at which official international soccer games may be played. In May, FIFA decided to bar international tournaments and World Cup qualifying matches at more than 2500m above sea level. This provoked reactions from Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador.
Group B
Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador
Brazil will defend its title from the previous tournament. Little new can be said about one of the strongest, if not the strongest sides in the world. The only news in the Brazilian camp is that coach Dunga has left the two phenomenal strikers Ronaldinho and Kaka out of the squad. Both of them cited exhaustion after the season with their clubs, Barcelona and Milan. Brazil is very unlikely to face stiff resistance from the other teams in the group, although the Mexicans should not be underestimated. Bodog.com listed Brazil at 7 to 4 to win the title again. Brazil has won seven Copa America titles.
Chile has reached four finals of Copa America but has lost in each appearance. Along with Ecuador and Venezuela, they are one of three South American nations that have never won the competition.
Chile has won a place in world football. The country was among participants in the first World Cup tournament in 1930. The country’s best World Cup result was a third place finish in 1962, when Chile was the host nation. What Chile can hope for is a win against Mexico that will give them reason to fight for the precious second place. Bodog.com has listed the team at 20 to 1 odds.
Mexico was first invited to play at the Copa in 1993. In the six tournaments, the Mexicans managed to finish twice as runners-up, twice third, and twice were eliminated at the quarter-finals. This year the Mexicans will start their campaign against the mighty cup-holders Brazil. Not the easiest way to start the tournament, but Mexicans are always ready for surprises. Second place in the group seems reserved for the Mexicans. Bodog.com has listed the Mexicans at 8 to 1 to win the title.
Ecuador has never been short of football talent, but have notched up no major tournament achievements until the current millennium. Its famous names include Augustin Delgado and Ulises de la Cruz. The Copa America 2004 was a disappointment to the Ecuadorians and there is no doubt that they will try to erase the memory and try to go beyond the group stage. However with Brazil and Mexico against them and Chile behind them, Ecuadorians are facing another fourth place in the group, and a ticket home before the quarter final games.
Group C
Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia, The United States
Argentina has plenty of reasons to seek revenge for the lost title in 2004, which they ceded to their rivals from Brazil. The desire is stronger because the Argentinians lost after penalties. Traditionally ranked among the world’s best teams, Argentina is always considered a strong contender for the title and certain participant in the final. Bodog.com has listed Argentina at 7 to 4 to win the title, the same odds as Brazil. Together with Uruguay, Argentina holds the title record. The team has won the tournament 14 times, most recently in 1993.
Paraguay is among the teams with good traditions in the Copa. The team is an example how a squad can have two completely different faces when it comes to World Cup performances and participations in the Copa America. Paraguay has reached the second round of the World Cup on three occasions (in 1986, 1998 and 2002) but has never advanced beyond that stage. The team’s only major tournament victories however have come in the Copa America, in which they triumphed in 1953 and 1979. This makes them a strong opponent since the team obviously feels more comfortable to play in the Copa. The weak points in the team’s camp is the undergoing transition of generations. Some key players have retired such as Carlos Gamarra, Francisco Arce , Celso Ayala, and that of world-famous goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert.
With Argentina as the favourites, Paraguay has to deal with Colombia and the US for the second place. Bodog.com has listed Paraguay at 20 to 1 odds to win the title. Chile has the same odds.
Colombia has won the Copa America title only once in 2001 as the host nation. However, this win was marked by several scandals, which almost led to led Venezuela hosting the event. Eventually Argentinian players withdrew citing security reasons. They were followed by Canada. The home win made it all worth it for Colombia. The tournament is remembered for the surprising defeat (0:2) that Brazil had against Honduras at the quarterfinals. Bodog.com has listed Colombians at 16 to 1 to win the title, the same ranking as Venezuela. In the previous Copa America in 2004, Colombians reached the semi finals proving that their win in 2001 was well deserved.
The US team is currently ranked 16th in the FIFA World Rankings which is enough reason for everyone at the Copa America to take the US seriously. In April 2006, the team reached its record high level occupying the fourth place in the rankings. The team’s best performance so far is a place at the quarterfinals at the 2002 World Cup. The best performance at the Copa America the US achieved was in 1995 when the team reached the semi finals and won fourth place. Bodog.com lists the team at 25 to 1 to win the title this year. The team will have to fight Paraguay and Colombia for second place in the group.
