ENGLISHMANSGUIDETOTHE COPAAMERICA

EMELIEOKEKE>

Featuring the greatest footballer in the world, the best player from the World Cup and the most exciting young prospect in the game, Copa America 2011 promises not to disappoint. He's on his way to becoming the best player in history. Given what we already know and because he surpasses himself day by day, he's already the best in the world. Sergio Batista was one of the 80,000 awestruck spectators in the Stadio Bernabeu on 29 April who witnessed Lionel Messi's mesmerising two-goal display against Real Madrid Illustration:GANTPOWELL>

<CONTENTS

DOWNLOADLATESTISSUE>

ENGLISHMANSGUIDETOTHECOPAAMERICA

EMELIEOKEKE>

in the Champions League semi-nal rst leg. As manager of the Argentina national team, Batista is placed better than most to predict the dizzying heights that the Barcelona forward can reach. Noone will be hoping more than Batista that Messi can steer La Albiceleste to victory in their homeland and keep the under-re coach in his job in the process. The drama surrounding the 43rd edition of what, pound-for-pound, is the true heavyweight champion of international competitions began well before the nal twelve talentladen squads had even assembled on Argentine soil. There were managerial upheavals and administrative power-struggles in the aftermath of the World Cup a tournament that

Batista was appointed caretaker manager after the sacking of his more celebrated 1986 World CupArgentina departed South Africa on winning team-mate. A despondent 3 July, 2010, chastened by a crushing Maradona was less than complidisplay of German eciency and mentary towards his successor, counter-attacking guile more suited claiming that El Checho would not to the playing elds of Buenos Aires even be recognised in Uruguay. To than the training pitches of Berlin. his credit, the new man has reWith a major tournament mained reticent in the of their own to be hosted face of criticism from his GroupA less than 12 months after esteemed peer. Batistas Argentina being given the bums rush reign formally began in Bolivia from Cape Town, the powmost encouraging fashion Colombia ers that be in the Argenin Qatar, seven months tine Football Association ago, with a 1-0 friendly CostaRica broke free from their mavvictory over arch-rivals Brazil, featuring a 90th minute goal erick head coach and playing legend from Messi. of yesteryear, replacing the uninhibited Diego Maradona with a less Yet, the pressure has heightened on outspoken maverick head coach and the former River Plate midelder in playing legend of yesteryear.

was, on the whole, utterly underwhelming for Latin America.

<CONTENTS

DOWNLOADLATESTISSUE>

ENGLISHMANSGUIDETOTHECOPAAMERICA

EMELIEOKEKE>

the wake of some less than enlightening displays in the close season, including defeats to Nigeria and Poland (albeit with shadow sides elded). Despite these showings, with their Champions League-winning superstar in tow, a record 15th continental title is in high demand among the notoriously fanatical Argentine faithful.

Domestic-based starlets such as Lucas (Sao Paolo) and Ganso (Santos) have already been coveted by numerous European outfits, and the pair now have the opportunity to showcase their ability in the famous golden shirt of the Selecao during a major tournament. The crown jewel of this new litter of gifted youth is undoubtedly Ganso's club-mate, Neymar. This 19-year-old forward is top quality and plays like he knows it; employing an abundance of tricks and feints to complement his powerful bursts of pace and eet-footed nishing. He has made one appearance on English soil, running the show as Brazil easily defeated Scot-

land in a friendly at the Emirates Stadium earlier this year. Seeing as Chelsea apparently lead his long list of suitors, London may soon be seeing more of the player who could challenge Messi for player of the tournament this summer. As seeded nations, Brazil and Argentina have been kept apart in the draw for the group stage and appear to emerge as prime beneciaries of favourable pairings for the preliminaries. The Selecao will begin the defence of their trophy against Venezuela, followed by dark-horses Paraguay - arent they always? - and Antonio Valencia-driven Ecuador. The curtain-raiser for hosts Argentina also kicks o the competition: a date with Bolivia. They then face Columbia and Costa Rica, the

The Brazilians also embarked on a managerial regime change in the wake of their quarternal disappointment last summer. The phlegmatic Dunga made way for Mano Menezes and, with the 2014 Brazilian World Cup in mind, Menezes is ushering in a new era of young talent.

GroupB Brazil Ecuador Paraguay Venezuela

<CONTENTS

DOWNLOADLATESTISSUE>

ENGLISHMANSGUIDETOTHECOPAAMERICA

EMELIEOKEKE>

latter having been drafted in as late replacements for earthquake and tsunami-stricken Japan. The Japanese had been invited to compete as a guest nation but were forced to pull out in the devastating wake of the natural and nuclear disaster in their homeland, which led to the subsequently delayed JLeagues understandable reluctance to release its players. In their absence, there had been speculation that the United States or possibly Spain (!) would step in. In the end, however, neither was willing to commit after their players had endured a shortened summer in 2010, through duty in South Africa. The Americans also were committed to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which they just lost to Mexico, last week-

end, and are in the midst of the MLS club campaign. Costa Rica were involved in the God Cup, as well, but, having lost out to Uruguay for a spot in South Africa, felt fresh enough to do double duty.

landed in what will undoubtedly be dubbed the Group of Death: Group C.

There resides Atletico Madrid's striker supreme Diego Forlan, who was named the best player of the An unintended by-product of World Cup. He will again be the Japans natural disaster is a routine lynchpin for the incisive attacking passage to the knockout stages for play which made Uruguay such a joy Argentina, much to the chagrin of to watch last summer, with the obtheir rivals. Messi and co. vious exception of their were the only outfit from opener against France. GroupC Group A to qualify for Forlan looks set to reprise Chile South Africa 2010, and the the playmaker role that he gap in class should be clearly relishes for the naMexico telling. tional team, behind EdinPeru son Cavani and Luis Uruguay Suarez. Mexico, who apparently cant get enough football, Looking through the provisional are the second invitee. They happily Uruguay squad, the key element avoided Brazil and Argentina but

<CONTENTS

DOWNLOADLATESTISSUE>

ENGLISHMANSGUIDETOTHECOPAAMERICA

EMELIEOKEKE>

which emanates from their roster is stability. The majority of their squad are at the peak of their careers and have accrued a large number of caps. Unlike Brazil, Argentina and Group C rivals Chile, the Celeste retained their manager after an impressive World Cup where they outperformed all other Latin American entrants. That may be a crucial detail in this tournament. Oscar Tabarez has now been in charge for ve years, overseeing a remarkable improvement in results which resulted in an elevation to a record high of sixth in the FIFA World Rankings. They have since dropped one place, falling in behind England. It would, of course, still be a shock if Uruguay won the Copa America, or even made the nal, but

there is an abounding feeling in Montevideo that, if a tournament triumph is to befall this famous football nation during this generation, then it will happen this summer. Chile may have parted ways with their Argentine head coach, Marcelo Bielsa, but they have deservedly earned their reputation as an entertaining, refreshingly forwardminded team, buoyed by the youthful exuberance of alumni from their recently successful Under-20 and Under-17 sides. Big things were expected of La Roja at the World Cup but, despite ashes of enterprise, an unkind draw contributed to early meetings with Spain and Brazil, leading to a second round exit. Another Argentine from the class of

86 now manages the team; Claudio Borghi took the reins in February. He is being paid a salary of $1.5million and will be expected to at least lead his adopted nation to knockout football in his motherland. Fans of the richer European clubs will be especially interested in the displays of winger-cum-striker Alexis Sanchez. The Udinese player has been linked predominantly with Barcelona and Manchester City, with the Friuli side reportedly holding out for a 50 million windfall. Peru are the side most likely to miss out on the knockout stages from Group C, yet any team led by the seasoned striking talent of Claudio Pizzaro and backed up by the pace of Jeerson Farfan cannot be dis-

<CONTENTS

DOWNLOADLATESTISSUE>

ENGLISHMANSGUIDETOTHECOPAAMERICA

EMELIEOKEKE>

counted. Farfan bullied Inter Milan in the Champions League this season and Brazilian defender Maicon will not have fond memories. The Schalke forward is most denitely on the 'Bale List'. Finally, we return to Mexico. El Tri will be backed to religious extremes by their ever-fervent support, but theyve suered momentous setbacks in their preparation. Five members of their Gold Cup squad were suspended indenitely after testing positive for a banned substance in a routine doping test during this summer's CONCACAF. This will not directly aect the composition of their Copa America squad though, as they are sending a shadow roster to Argentina, comprised entirely of home-based play-

ers with the exceptions of Spurs worth noting that some of the nest forward Giovani Dos Santos and his clubs in Europe will be losing the younger brother, cream of their Latin PLAYERSTOWATCH Jonathan, who plies American talent durBravo GK Chile his trade for ing what is a key peZapata DEF Colombia riod of pre-season Barcelona B. Still, Da Silva DEF Paraguay morale among opreparation, the maCacares DEF Uruguay cials and supporters jority of July. The Zanetti DEF Argentina Madrid clubs, as well is at a low ebb and if Vargas MID Peru the uncertainty as Udinese and AC Ganso MID Brazil trickles down to the Milan, will have noBanega MID Argentina table absentees, but largely inexperiFalcao FOR Colombia it appears that enced group of Suazo FOR Chile players performMilan's neighbours Barrios FOR Paraguay ances will suer. Internazionale will Realistically theyll suer the most, with be hoping to scrape through as one Javier Zanetti, Diego Milito, Lucio, Maicon and Julio Cesar having all reof the two best third-placed teams. ported to their respective nations. So, those are the twelve particiAs well as these Nerazzuri players efpants. Before I do a Lawro and unfectively missing pre-season trainveil my expert predictions, it is

<CONTENTS

DOWNLOADLATESTISSUE>

ENGLISHMANSGUIDETOTHECOPAAMERICA

EMELIEOKEKE>

ing, factor in a recent World Cup and a long season of Champions League glory just before that, and its fair to say they will be returning to Inter for the start of the new campaign o the back of two years of non-stop competitive football. With a new manager in Gianpero Gasperini at the helm, it will be no surprise if the start of the Serie A season throws up a few surprise results. For Bara fans, prayers will be directed towards Messis unscathed return to his club come August. For Argentina's faithful, prayers will be directed towards the world's number one footballer returning the Copa America trophy to Buenos Aires for the rst time in almost two decades.

EmelieOkeke RAMBLINGWITHGAMBLING> @Emelie_Okeke> Writes readable football essays, which is a commendablefeatinitself.Willlsurelygoon togracebetterpublicationsandmaybeeven areallifenewspaperoneday.

ThisisanextractfromIssueOneofManandBall magazine:LetSleepingGodsLie. ThisissueintroducesNigelandfeaturesstories onGermanfootballsincereunification,African Arsenal fans, an unsung Dutch legend, and sevenotherintriguingarticles. ItcanbedownloadedinitsentiretyHERE>

<CONTENTS

DOWNLOADLATESTISSUE>