Oh What a Great Soccer Weekend!!!

What a great Copa America this has been. I honestly have to say that this Copa America has been more interesting to watch than the 2006 World Cup.

It seems like all the teams wanted to win this title so bad and the ones with more passion and more desire are the ones going to the semi-finals.

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Game 1 - Mexico 6  x 0  Paraguay

Yesterday I was already surprise with the 4 x 1 win by Uruguay, and 6 x 1 win by Brazil. Not for the fact that those teams won their games but for the large goal difference.

Then today I wanted to see Mexico play a good game, and honestly I thought they would have a difficult time facing such a strong Paraguayan defense.

FORGET EVERYTHING I SAID!!!!

I WAS SOOOOOO NAIVE!!!!

I simply forgot that even though Paragauay's defense is pretty solid they are also slow. And playing against the speed and talent of Nery Castillo, Andres Guardado, Cacho & cia. they had no chace.

Yes, I know, Paraguay had to play with 10 players and their second goalkeeper since the 3rd minute of the game when their number 1, Bombadilla, got a red card. But that CANNOT be used as an excuse. We've all seen good teams playing with 10 players and still win, or at least lose by 1 or 2 goals, BUT 6???

Mexico simply played their best. They dominated the game, they controled, they suffocated Paraguay and when "los guaranis" tried to find some space to create with Cardozo or Roque Santa Cruz, "los aztecas" built a wall of good defenders to contain any attempt to jeopardize their clean sheet.

Paraguay didn't even disappoint me, they couldn't play. It's not their fault. It's all about Mexico's good qualities. And just a warning for Argentina.

GOALS:

FIRST HALF -> Castillo (4min) / Torrado (26min) / Castillo (38min)

SECOND HALF -> Arce (33min)  /  Blanco (41min)  /  Bravo (45min)      

Man of the match: will any defense be able to stop Nery Castillo???

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Game 2: Argentina  4  x  0  Peru

Great game for Peru, oh wait... there is a second half... so forget it...

But seriously, the first 45 minutes showed a perfect defensive strategy for Peru. So good that Argentina's players started to pass the ball as fast as possible to Riquelme and to Messi as if they wanted to say "here, you're the talented ones, so please do something now".  But Peru forgot that just defending is not enough to win games.

That's what Alfio Basile thought too. During the half time break I don't know what he told his players but it worked. Also he found out that Tevez and Messi NEED to play together. They understand each other, they know each other's style.

And what else could we explect of a team like Argentina when they finally find out their way to the goal: "KILLER BEE ATTACK"!!!  And it really stings bad, just ask a Peruvian player.

GOALS

SECOND HALF -> Riquelme (1min) / Messi (15min) / Mascherano (29min) / Riquelme (40min)

 Man of the match: Alfio "coco" Basile - for realizing Tevez should play with Messi and whatever he said to motivate his players in the locker room

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TOMORROW:  A DEEP ANALYSIS ON THE 4 SEMIFINALISTS

URUGUAY  x  BRAZIL

MEXICO  x  ARGENTINA

IN TIME: Thanks for all  constant visits and comments. Special thanks to Mijito and ANTIMADRISTA

I knew that all the frustration from watching such boring games yesterday would be erased with this decision of the first place in Group C between Argentina e paraguay.

 Both team came to the field with drastic changes in the rosters but with a lot of desire to win the game. It was a pretty even game in the first half. At no moment Paraguay acted as if afraid of the powerful Argentina. And the captain of the guaranis, Cacéres, commanded the destruction of Argentina’s attempts to score. 

The 0 x 0 score in the first half didn’t reflect the very good quality of soccer shown by both teams.  

A very exciting game to watch in the first 45 minutes. And I already feel sorry for Mexico and Peru because playing Argentina or playing Paraguay is not gonna be an easy task.  

In the second half Argentina and Paraguay continued pursuing the first goal.

At the 22^nd minute “los hinchas argentinos” went crazy when Messy took Cambiasso’s place.They’ve been calling for Messi’s name for most part of the game. 

And Messy was the man who basically decided the game. Influenced by the crazyness of the fans, the wonder boy creates a great play on the left side and passes the ball to Mascherano at the top of the box.

Mascherano stops, looks, and chooses to place the ball at the right bottom side of Bobadilla’s goal.  Great goal for Argentina.  Final Score: Argentina  1  x  0  Paraguay 

Man of the Match:  the wonder boy Messi for changing the story of game

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Mascherano celebrates his goal with Veron and Riquelme 

IN TIME:

I don’t want to spoil my excitement with Paraguay and Argentina soccer so I’m not gonna spend many lines to describe the USA vs. Colombia game: 

*USA -> The team didn’t pass well, didn’t shoot well  (when they do, the ref call it off-side) and so they lost once again. 

*Colombia -> Passed well, controlled the game but missed ssssoooooo many opportunities that in the end I wished USA had tied the game.

Well, what is there to say about Paraguay vs. USA?

The old saying once again stands: if you don't transform your oppotunities in goals sooner or later your opponent will...

The young american team definetely put up a fight and play as hard as they could BUT THEY SIMPLY CAN'T SCORE... The last pass, the last shot, the decisive moment... that's when we see the USA fall before more efficient teams.

Not much to say after all...

Paraguay played the ball very well, made the ball run and was awarded for being more efficient...

Soccer is quality, not quantity...

And the decision of the group C tends to be between Paraguay and Argentina after all...

GAME PROFILE:

 See ya soon ...