Copa América Venezuela 2007.

[El Diablo Rojo]

Only 2 keepers? What's the current position of Hanehmann and the national team, is he even considered?

 

[MaestroZidane]

Don't know what the deal is with him and the NT, maybe someone else could answer that question. Anyhow, the squad is full of young players so it will be a miracle if we even make it out of the group stage. I would have expected to at least see donovan, but I guess that's expecting too much of him..

 

[Bobby]

Only 2 keepers? What's the current position of Hanehmann and the national team, is he even considered?

He's there, 3rd choice pretty much. But he's 34, Guzan is basically as good and he's 25 so he's the future, Marcus' best days are pretty much beyond him. I was expecting three keepers, with Quentin Westberg as the third.

 

[Ruben Sosa]

I'll be able to watch the full tournament too

Brazil, Argentina or Uruguay should win it all since they feature Porto players on their teams

Heh. Did you hear Porto signed Luis Aguiar? He played with Fucile at Liverpool and spent a season in Chile at Universidad de Concepción.

 

[Spider-Man84]

Yeah USA's team isn't looking so well. Nguyen and Gaven are guys to keep an eye on. Ngueyn plays for PSV and has the fancy footwork you'd expect out of a South American player.

I expect and predict them to get out of the group stage...but from then....well =/

US should've sent a better team like Mexico is doing. More experience against tougher opponents would help challenge us.

 

[Mauricio]

I miss Campos.

Yeah he is a character!!, but have u seen Ochoa play?, he has a similiar style, he doesnt have the same charm of course, but belive me he is gonig to be the best keeper in the continent soon.

Man, i hate when this cup is not taken seriously, i cant imagine this sort of thing happening at Euro ( players quitting, managers sending alternative squads).

 

[El Diablo Rojo]

What a pity that Donovan guy isn't coming to the Copa América, for what i've heard he's an ass and i wanted what he would do against us.

The other day on an interview Schellotto said that Gaven was a very interesting player.

So basically which important players are missing from Mexico and United States?

 

[Mauricio]

Mexico is missing, Pavel Pardo, Ricardo Osorio and Carlos Salcido , which are the ones tha makes Mexico a strong team they are like "la columna vertebral", lets see how the Pachuca players fill those spots.

Kikin is not going, but he was excluded from Hugo, an thats ok he is not even a starter

 

[Dante_1901]

Man, i hate when this cup is not taken seriously, i cant imagine this sort of thing happening at Euro ( players quitting, managers sending alternative squads).

Actually there are some teams taking seriously this one... Argentina is sending its main team (my favourite to win this cup) , Uruguay and Paraguay as well, and of course Peru (go figure, if we go through ... maybe as the 2nd. best third)

 

[KingPaulV]

Actually this cup is being taken VERY VERY seriously, if you dont believe me talk to anybody in Venezuela, they built 9!!! (pretty much every staidum was either new or entirely remodelled) stadiums for this tournament, that is unprecedented by Copa America standards....Also the following nations are fielding their full strenght teams save injuries.


Venezuela (of course)
Colombia
Bolivia
Peru
Paraguay
Uruguay
Argentina
Ecuador

Let's see that is 8 out of the 12 nations in the tournament,

Brazil, can win the cup with the squad of youngster its got, they are probably one of the two nations in the world that can field two entirely competitive national teams, able to win the world cup on their good day, the other being probably argentina. Chile in undergoing a re-structuring process so that their team is their best at the time, thought the could probably field much better players

The other understrenght sides are USA and Mexico...but they just finished playing a tournament of their own. Mexico, cause some players quit and Hugo Sanchez is a little hard headed, so he excluded some of their better players. The USA just won the Gold cup so its mission accomplished for them and in all truth they need to star looking to a new generation of young players to hold the flag for the years to come; so I do undestand the move from the coaches and the USA football federation point of view



so to say that this cup is not being taken seriously is a little.....premature and undestated dont you think?.....

 

[Dante_1901]

Well I guess now Mexico is taking real interest in this cup, since they lost the Gold Cup against the US and probably this is Hugo Sanchez last chance to keep the charge ... however their group is really hard, but Mexico has always done well in Copa America.

 

[MaSsiVe]

Heh. Did you hear Porto signed Luis Aguiar? He played with Fucile at Liverpool and spent a season in Chile at Universidad de Concepción.

yeah he's coming on loan with buying option at the end of the season, but I'm not sure if it's official already...
how do you rate him, is he any good?
as good as Fucile would be fine by me

 

[KAKA 500]

yo i can't wait 2 c Veron bak in action wit Argentina...they're my favorites 2 win this Copa America...& also Uruguay...there the only countries that are bringing they strong squads!!! Argentina vs Uruguay in the final

 

[$teauA]

So basically which important players are missing from Mexico and United States?

GK
Tim Howard (Everton FC)

D
Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC)
Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege)
Frankie Hedjuk (Columbus Crew)

M
DaMarcus Beasley (PSV)
Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)
Clint Depsey (Fulham)
Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

F
Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)


Almost a whole starting 11. We have a very young squad but I'm glad that we'll have that experience in goal with Keller and then a very good attack with Twellman and Johnson who will most likely be starting every game. Should be interesting to see how this team will perform.

 

[El Diablo Rojo]

Well I guess now Mexico is taking real interest in this cup, since they lost the Gold Cup against the US and probably this is Hugo Sanchez last chance to keep the charge ... however their group is really hard, but Mexico has always done well in Copa America.

I guess you are being a bit harsh about your own country, i see Bolivia out of the talk in that group but i think Peru will have a fierce fight with Uruguay and Venezuela for the 2nd position at least.

Mexico is always interesting but seeing the current situation i wouldn't be surprised if they finish third in the group after Brazil and Ecuador. Too bad Pardo isn't playing he's a good player.

 

[WilliamFAlmeida]

I cant believe the US is not giving this tournament precedence. Compared to the Gold Cup, I would think the Copa is more Important
I expect US to go home after the group stage. theres no way they'll make it imo. Argentina will murder them in the first game, and all their confidence will be lost. Thats just my prediction. Lets see...

 

[KingPaulV]

Well the US already earned their spot into the Confederations cup that was teh goal and they did it with mostly good football, on top of that. If the US won copa america, while they would be able to hold the cup there in the stadium they cannot keep it nor can they be counted as official winners, because they where invited, whoever the closest SA nation is would be considered champion..

 

[Ruben Sosa]

Well the US already earned their spot into the Confederations cup that was teh goal and they did it with mostly good football, on top of that. If the US won copa america, while they would be able to hold the cup there in the stadium they cannot keep it nor can they be counted as official winners, because they where invited, whoever the closest SA nation is would be considered champion..

As far as I know, if Mexico or US win it they'd be champions, no buts or ifs about it, they just wouldn't represent CONMEBOL at the Confederations Cup.

 

[El Diablo Rojo]

The runner-up is the one that goes to the Confederations Cup, it happened the last time, Brazil winner of the Copa América already had the spot of the World Cup, so Argentina for being the other finalist took the spot.

Finally here's the list of the host, Venezuela.

Keepers
1- Renny Vega (Carabobo FC, Venezuela)
12- Javier Toyo (Caracas FC, Venezuela)

Defenders
2- Luis Vallenilla (UA Maracaibo, Venezuela)
3- José Manuel Rey (AEK Larnaka, Cyprus)
4- Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (Caracas FC, Venezuela)
6- Alejandro Cichero (Litex Lovech, Bulgaria)
13- Leonel Vielma (Caracas FC, Venezuela)
17- Jorge Rojas (América de Cali, Colombia)
20- Héctor González (AEK Larnaka, Cyprus)
21- Andrés Rouga (Caracas FC, Venezuela)

Midfielders
5- Miguel Mea Vitali (UA Maracaibo, Venezuela)
8- Luis Vera (Caracas FC, Venezuela)
10- César González (Caracas FC, Venezuela)
11- Ricardo Páez (Mineros de Guyana, Venezuela)
14- Alejandro Guerra (Caracas FC, Venezuela)
16- Edgar Pérez (CS Maritimo, Portugal)
18- Juan Arango (RCD Mallorca, Spain)
22- Pedro Fernández (UA Maracaibo, Venezuela)

Forwards
7- José Torrealba (Mamelodi Sundowns FC, South Africa)
9- Giancarlo Maldonado (O'Higgins, Chile)
15- Fernando De Ornelas (Odd Grenland, Norway)
19- Daniel Arismendi (UA Maracaibo, Venezuela)

 

[MaestroZidane]

Well the US already earned their spot into the Confederations cup that was teh goal and they did it with mostly good football, on top of that. If the US won copa america, while they would be able to hold the cup there in the stadium they cannot keep it nor can they be counted as official winners, because they where invited, whoever the closest SA nation is would be considered champion..

In the end though, all that would matter is that we one a big tournament and would be a big boost for our players. Of course, that is a big "IF". But one can always dream