Copa America 2007 Quarterfinals Today 08.07.07

Copa America 2007 Quarterfinals 08.07.07

Today:
08.07.07 - Mexico v Paraguay - 4:00PM E US - 9:00PM UK
08.07.07 - Argentina v Peru - 6:45PM E US - 11:45 UK


Yesterday:
07.07.07 - Venezuela 1-4 Uruguay - 5:55PM Eastern US - 11:00PM UK
07.07.07 - Chile 1-6 Brazil - 8:30PM E US - 1:20AM UK


Copa America 2007 Schedule, Video, and Results.


Copa America Ball

Copa America 2007 Quarterfinals Today 07.07.07

Copa America 2007 Quarterfinals 07.07.07

Today:
07.07.07 - Venezuela v Uruguay - 5:55PM Eastern US - 11:00PM UK
07.07.07 - Chile v Brazil - 8:30PM E US - 1:20AM UK

Tomorrow:
08.07.07 - Mexico v Paraguay - 4:00PM E US - 9:00PM UK
08.07.07 - Argentina v Peru - 6:45PM E US - 11:45 UK

Copa America 2007 Schedule, Video, and Results.

Beckham Real Madrid Era Nets £300m

David Beckham's time at Real Madrid raised merchandising profits for the club by 137%.

Madrid reveal Beckham cash boost - BBC


Beckham Merchandise

Bellamy to West Ham, Cisse to Marseille

Craig Bellamy leaves Liverpool for £7.5m. Djibril Cisse goes to Marseille for £6m.

Bellamy joins Hammers - SkySports

Cisse seals switch to Marseille - BBC


Liverpool Merchandise

Tevez Manchester United Agree to Terms

BBC is reporting Carlos Tevez and Manchester United have agreed to terms, although it seems unclear as to whether West Ham are satisfied.

Tevez 'agrees terms' with Man Utd - BBC


Manchester United T-Shirts

Copa America 2007 Quarterfinals

Copa America 2007 Quarterfinals

Quarterfinals:
07.07.07 - Venezuela v Uruguay
07.07.07 - Chile v Brazil
08.07.07 - Mexico v Paraguay
08.07.07 - Argentina v Peru


Copa America 2007 Schedule and Results

Copa America 2007 Nike T-Shirt

Copa America 2007 Group C Thursday 05.07.07

Copa America 2007 Group C Matches for Thursday 05.07.07

It could be considered a day off in the Copa America.

The winner of Argentina v Paraguay gets Peru. The loser gets Mexico. A draw means Paraguay win Group A.

The U.S. can considered their match with Colombia even more of an exhibition than their previous two matches.

Group C
05.07.07 - 18:30 - United States v Colombia 6:30PM Eastern US - 11:30PM UK
05.07.07 - 20:45 - Argentina v Paraguay 8:45PM Eastern US - 1:45AM UK


Group C

	P	M	W	D	L	F	A	D
*Paraguay	6	2	2	0	0	8	1	+7
*Argentina	6	2	2	0	0	8	3	+5
United States	0	2	0	0	2	2	7	-5
Colombia	0	2	0	0	2	2	9	-7

Copa America 2007 Schedule and Results

Copa America 2007 Nike T-Shirt

Chelsea Make Offer for Brazilian Striker Pato

Chelsea have made an offer for Brazilian Alexandre Pato.

The 17 year-old striker scored for Internacional as they won the FIFA Club World Cup last year.

Chelsea bid for Pato confirmed - SkySports.com


Chelsea Away Jerseys

Crespo Likely Out for Remainder of Copa America

Hernan Crespo will likely miss the rest of the Copa America after pulling a muscle while scoring a penalty in Argentina's 4-2 win over Colombia.

Copa America: Leg injury likely to sideline Argentina's Crespo for rest of tournament - AP - IHT.com


Argentina Copa America T-Shirts

Tevez to Manchester United

It is being widely reported that Carlos Tevez will sign for Manchester United.

United close in on Tevez as Ferguson leaves rivals in the shade - TimesOnline.co.uk

Tevez set for United - Telegraph.co.uk

Man Utd close in on striker Tevez - BBC


Manchester United T-Shirts

U.S. Shows Copa America No Respect

Although it was well into the second half against Argentina, U.S. Soccer was finally shown what fielding a weakened team against arguably the world's best team will get you. A 4-1 drubbing, that should have been worse.

Quite frankly, when the final whistle sounded, it was actually a relief, as one couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the overwhelmed young Americans. Another ten minutes and Argentina would have probably put up three or four more goals.

So the question is: why did the Americans field such a weak team?

It seems that the reasons run from "domestic leagues start soon or are already going" to "this is a good chance for the young guys to get ready for World Cup 2010."

The latter of those evokes the most laughter from anyone outside of the U.S. Soccer family. Imagine the English F.A. telling supporters that Euro 2008 is a good opportunity to try out the young lads.

The English F.A. and manager Steve McClaren aren't even allowed to field a weakened team for a friendly.

And they shouldn't be.

It's wrong that the U.S. should give a run-out to players that are not ready for international football. You don't get ready for international football during top level tournaments. You are supposed to show that you have arrived at those tournaments.

U.S. manager Bob Bradley recently stated, "when our focus turns to our ultimate goal of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa."

Forgetting for a moment the disrespect this shows to the Copa America, it seems strange to call "qualifying" for the World Cup the ultimate goal.

For starters, qualifying for the World Cup has not been a problem for the U.S.

They play in the weakest confederation other than Oceania. Their only real rival Mexico, is vexed when playing the Americans anywhere other than Mexico. And mysteriously, FIFA would rather pull World Cup spots from Europe or South America than to dare upset the delicate balance in North America.

Besides all of that, the U.S., with all its weaknesses, are still probably in the top two in the region.

The shock would be if they didn't qualify for the World Cup.

None of this is to say anything about the fact that sending your young players out to be humiliated doesn't prepare them for future tournaments. What World Cup champion was prepared by sending out their "B" squad to get pounded in the previous tournament?

This kind of rhetoric is reminiscent of talk prior to France '98, when many American players were cocky and dismissive about the difficult task at hand, right before scoring one goal and finishing 32nd. While those sentiments were at the complete other end of the spectrum, they are similar in showing that soccer is still very immature in the United States.

It would behoove the U.S. Soccer brain-trust, as well as many U.S. players, to watch interviews with the English national team players. Mostly what they would see is humility mixed with pride.

Respect for who they are playing, no matter how big or small, and every match matters.

Earlier this year, when dropped from the national squad, David Beckham stated he would walk back to England from the United States to play again for his country. And he will fly some 100,000 later this year to prove his loyalty and passion.

Sadly, U.S. Soccer doesn't seem to have any of this kind of passion, nor do they seem to have any respect for one of the world's premier football competitions.

You have to wonder if CONMEBOL will even bother extending invitations to the U.S. for future tournaments.

It must be disappointing to the U.S. national team fans that were excited to find out their team would make their first Copa America appearance in 12 years.

However, for true football fans of any nation, it would have been rather disconcerting if a hodgepodge, four-days-in-the-making, U.S. side had been able to hang on against eleven of the most talented footballers in the world.

U.S. Soccer will surely argue that Copa America conflicts with MLS and too closely followed the Gold Cup. But in the end, this just serves to highlight their unwillingness to play to the rest of the world's schedule.

And of course, MLS conflicts with the World Cup as well, but the U.S. position about how the Copa America and the World Cup stack-up in priority has now been well established.

Maybe the U.S. should have simply declined the invitation.

-Chris


Related on other sites:
CONMEBOL not pleased with U.S. - AP - FoxSoccer.com
CONMEBOL

Sheffield United Appeal Yet Again

Following the second dismissal of their argument that the Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano signings should have cost West Ham points, Sheffield United will now appeal their relegation to the High Court.

Sheffield United were relegated on the pitch the last day of the Premier League season, losing at home to ten-man Wigan 2-1.

Sheffield United go to High Court - Telegraph.co.uk


West Ham Jerseys

Reo-Coker to Aston Villa

Aston Villa sign midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker from West Ham for £8.5m.

Villa agree £8.5m Reo-Coker fee - BBC


Aston Villa Jerseys

Torres Finally at Liverpool

Fernando Torres is unveiled at Liverpool.

His transfer from Atletico Madrid is for a reported £20m.

Torres passes Liverpool medical - BBC


Liverpool Merchandise

Copa America 2007 Qualifying Scenarios 04.07.07

Scenarios for qualifying for the Quarterfinals of Copa America 2007 prior to Group B matches 04.07.07

Mexico are through to the Quarterfinals and now, there is only one third-place spot left.

Points for Chile and Brazil would put them both through and wrap up qualifying for the next round.

However, a loss for Chile would mean they'd need help.

A loss by Brazil would complicate matters as well, while Ecuador must win by two goals or win by one and have help from Mexico.

This scenario for Ecuador assumes U.S. v Colombia doesn't result in a five goal U.S. win, or a seven goal Colombia victory.

The United States' most realistic hope lies in a Brazil win and a big Mexico win over Chile, coupled with their own big win.

Colombia could use the same scenario as the U.S., but would like that big Mexico win to be very big.

An exciting finish to the Group stages of Copa America 2007.


Copa America 2007 Schedule, Tables, and Results

Copa America 2007 Nike T-Shirt