Copa America Update

The group stage and quarterfinals are over and only four teams remain in the Copa America: Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, and Uruguay.

Brazil should win handily against the Uruguayans tomorrow night, but the Wednesday nigth match up between Argentina and Mexico should be a memorable encounter. Argentina has steamrolled all oponents in their path, scoring a remarkable 13 goals in just four games. However, Mexico, under the tutelage of Hugo Sanchez, has made magnificent strides this month. Besides Brazil Mexico appears to be the only team capable of taking on the Argentines. Mexico's fate rests on the shoulders of Nery Castillo, Mexico's new young talent (the man is one hell of a dribbler).

I think Argentina will win the encounter. There's just so much to be said about the Argentine team. Alfio 'the Coconut' Basile has assembled a breathtaking, attacking lineup; man for man they are undoubtedly th best team in the world. They don't just win and score goals, they do so with a style that makes even Brazilians' mouths salivate. The past for games they have consistently strung upwards of 15 passes together. The game is played on the field, one only needs to look at the 2002 World Cup to recognize that, but I hope Argentina wins, they deserve it.

Copa America 2007 Preview

Ever since I can remember I’ve been infatuated with soccer. I still recall the summer the United States hosted the World Cup. It was 1994 and I was eleven years old. Every morning I woke up early to dig through the newspaper to find the Sports Section. Soccer in the US was even less popular than it is today, but the World Cup coverage in New Jersey was intense. I read every article at least twice, trying to absorb every bit of information I could. I still remember being heart broken when Maradona was found to be taking performance enhancers, the antics of Mexican goalie Jorge Campos, and all of Roberto Baggio’s clutch goals for Italy.

Most people abroad don’t believe an American could ever truly follow the sport. Yet it’s true, I did and I still do (I will post my thoughts on the USA-Mexico Gold Cup final in a few days). This summer my love affair with the beautiful game continues with the Copa América, kicking off tonight. The Copa América is the South American nations’ soccer championship- think of it as a regional World Cup- and Venezuela is hosting the three week tournament for the first time. Brazil and Argentina- the two countries to historically dominate South American soccer- are this year’s favorites. Argentina probably has a slight advantage.

Currently Argentina has, in my estimation, the best side in the world. For the first time since my unforgettable summer as an eleven year old, Alfio ‘el Coco’ Basile is back coaching the national side, known as the albicelestes,. The Argentine senior side hasn’t won a competition in fourteen years (the 1993 Copa América during el Coco’s first stint in charge), and will be out for blood. The albicelestes have brought in a full strength side featuring a good mix of veterans and youth. Look for them to play attractive attacking soccer. Success will hinge on how well playmakers Juan Roman Riquelme and Sebastián Verón combine in the middle of the park. Also, Lionel Messi is ready to lead; he’s 20 and is the newest ‘new Maradona.’ If the team clicks they could steam roll the opposition.

Probable Lineup: (4-4-2)
Abbondanzieri

Zanetti Ayala G Milito Heinze

Mascherano

Verón Cambiasso

Riquelme
Messi
Crespo

Juan Pablo Aimar and Carlitos Tevez will make key contributions off the bench.

Brazil, while still a favorite, is not coming with its full strength squad. No Ronaldinho, no Kaká, no Ronaldo, no Adriano. All the same, Brazil is Brazil. The seleção has heaps of talent and will rely on young players eager to make an impression on new coach Dunga (Brazil’s number five from the 1994 World Cup winning team).

The two standouts players of the group, Robinho and Diego, know each other well from their years together in the youth ranks and senior side of Santos (Pelé’s former club). Their success will depend on how quickly they come together as a team and the productivity of Robinho, who’s coming off a mediocre season with Real Madrid. Striker Vagner Love could be the tournament’s break out star.

Probable Lineup: (4-4-2)
Hélton

Maicon Alex Juan Gilberto

Mineiro G. Silva

Elano Diego

Robinho Vagner Love

EXPLAINER What the hell is the OAS?!?

Last post covered the new US/Venezuela brouhaha, with the OAS as sparring ground, but it occurred to me, what is exactly is the OAS? I try to answer this question below.

What is the OAS?
The OAS is the abbreviation of the Organization of American States. It is an international regional organization comprised of 35 countries from the western hemisphere (the Americas).

When was the OAS founded?
It was founded in 1890 as the International Union of American Republics, and then became the Pan American Union in 1910. The organization adopted its current name in 1948 under the OAS charter in Bogotá, Colombia.

Why does it exist?
The OAS is essentially a forum for dialogue. It exists to advance regional harmony. It’s stated goals are to:
1. Strengthen peace and security;
2. Promote representative democracy, while respecting the principle of non-intervention;
3. Ensure peaceful settlement of inter-state disputes;
4. Provide unified action in confronting aggression;
5. Seek solution to political, juridical, and economic problems that may arise;
6. Promote economic social and cultural development;
7. Eradicate extreme poverty;
8. Limit conventional weapons.

How does it work?
Each member state has an ambassador to the organization’s General Assembly. Foreign Ministers from the member states also meet once a year, the US government sends its Secretary of State, currently Condoleeza Rice.

The current Secretary General of the OAS is Chilean José Miguel Insulza

Although the organization consists of 35 countries, only 34 take part. Cuba, while still a member, is excluded due to its non-democratic government.

What Powers does the OAS have?
Really, not much. From my digging it looks to be a pretty weak institution. The OAS passes resolutions, but does not have any real authority.

Rice, Venezuelan Diplomat in Fiery Exchange

Verbal jousting between Condoleeza Rice and the Venezuelan foreign Minister ended in the Secretary of State walking out of the Organization of American States (OAS) meeting two days in Panama City, Panama.

Rice began the meeting by saying the decision by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez not to renew RCTV’s broadcasting rights was his “sharpest and most acute” action yet taken against democracy. She went on to call for a formal OAS investigation into matter as free speech violation. RCTV had previously been critical of the Chávez government and its editorial page had supported the 2003 coup that briefly toppled Chávez.

The Venezuelan diplomat, Nicolás Maduro, fired right back. He accused Rice of hypocrisy and said that Rice’s words constituted an unacceptable meddling n Venezuela’s internal affairs. He also condemned the US government’s human rights abuses it Guantánamo Bay and the US attempt to build a wall along its southern frontier with Mexico.

Rice replied by defending the US’s freedom of expression, and then walked out of the meeting. Even though Rice was no longer there to hear the rebuke, Maduro took the floor again to compare the US’s human rights violations to Adolph Hitler’s.