The first day of the quarter-finals of the 2007 Copa America filled all my predictions.

As I wrote on my previous post this year's competition will put in the semifinals the traditional teams of South America.

These saturday's games started to prove me right.

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Game 1:  Venezuela  1  x  4  Uruguay

I'm sincerely very happy for Venezuela playing in the quarter finals. For a team that was always consired the (biggest) underdog in South America - a certain win for all other countries - "Los Viños Tintos" showed a lot of improvement in the competition and I just hope soccer becomes more and more popular in that country.

And I have to say that Venezuela didn't play a bad game against Uruguay. The first half was pretty balanced with both teams being cautious and creating few chances. Uruguay scored first with Forlan at the 37th minute and Arango tied 3 minutes later in a free kick.

And "La Celeste"  kept on pushing the team up against a Venezulelan defense that started to shown signs of exhaustion in the second half.

After Pablo Garcia, in a perfect shot from outside the box, scored the second goal for Uruguay that was it for Venezuela. The defense was tired, the midfield couldn't produce and the offense tried desesperately to move up and tie the game again. "La Celeste" kept control of the ball and waited...

Waited until the right moment to bury Venezuela's hopes. That moment came late in game but it came twice. Cristian Rodiguez scored Uruguay's 3rd goal at the minute 41 and Diego Forlan "closed the coffin" at the minute 45.

Uruguay whooped Venezuela but the large goal difference does not really indicate that Uruguay played that well, or that Venezuela played that bad.

 Man of the Match:  Diego Forlan

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Game 2: Brasil  6  x  1  Chile

One sentence to summarize the game: Robinho & cia. are back and ready to play hard and fight for the Championship!!!

Chile didn't even see the color of the ball in this game. Not because they didn't have space to create, not because Brasil defense suddenly corrected all its deficiencies. No. It was simply because Brasil DOMINATED them.

And I would be very unffair I didn't mention the WONDERFUL goal by Alberto Suazo... An disturbing drible in between Gilberto's legs and a classy lobby shot over Doni, the brazilian goalkeeper.

If Brasil is not a very consistent team at least we can say that when they show at least some of their individual talent, this team can face any opponent ... even Argentina (???)

GOALS:

FIRST HALF --> Juan (15min)  /  Julio Baptista (22min)   /   Robinho (27min)

SECOND HALF-> Robinho (6min)  /  Josué (23min) / Suazo (30min) / Vagner Love (39min)

Men of the match: Robinho, Juan and Julio Baptista - they started the whopping

IN TIME:

 One of my favorite members here on OLEOLE left this comment on my last post where I predicted the teams that would move to the Semi-Finals:

 Manogil, manogil, you are really off this time. I like Venezuela over Uruguay. Specially since Uruguay cannot play as a team, add to that tha Venezuela is playing at home, and the result is a 2-1 Venezuela. Brasil will advance but they're gona get the scare of their lives...Chile will score and make things tight I think 3-2 Brasil. You are way off with Mexico. I think they have a good chance if they can capitalize. Mexico 2-1 or 3-2. And finally, Argentina will smack the hell out of Peru 3-0.

Well, my friends,  I AM NOT THE TRUTH HOLDER but I've been following this game for 25 years now and I take my games analysis very seriously. I want you guys to question me but also to know that I say what I say based on impartial observations.

I actually LIKE when I get it wrong because that's what makes this game and my profession so interesting: you never know what the outcome is gonna be for sure.

But for this QUARTER FINALS the only game that I would not bet for sure is Mexico and Paraguay. I WANT MEXICO TO WIN BUT I BELIEVE PARAGUAY'S DEFENSE WILL GIVE CASTILLO AND BRAVO A HARD TIME TOMORROW.

But please... keep sending your comments!!!! I really love a good, healthy discussion

 We are almost there folks!!!

Tonight we start the last round of the groups stage of the 2007 Copa America.

Things seem to be pretty much defined but I'd like to point out some predictions and the games that will form the QUARTER FINALS

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Group A:

Venezuela now with 4 points won't be able to stop the young Uruguay that needs to win to move forward.

Peru will garantee the first place in the group by beating Bolivia.

Standings (prediction)

1st. Peru - 6pts   .:.  2nd. Uruguay - 6pts  .:.  3rd Venezuela - 4pts 

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Group B

Brazil will beat Ecuador and will jump to 6 points

But Mexico and Chile will settle with a tie which will allow Mexico to be the first in the group with 7pts and will give Chile its 4th point to move to the quarter finals.

Standings (prediction)

1st. Mexico - 7pts  .:.  2nd. Brazil - 6pts  .:. 3rd. Chile - 4pts.

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Group C

No surprises here. I don't think Paraguay is gonna beat Argentina but I wouldn't be surprised if they tied their game. It won't really make a lot of difference at this point for the group. I'm gonna say Argentina is gonna win just because maybe Basille will use some bench players that will be determined to show their qulities, and brother, what a bench!!!

Standings (prediction)

1st. Argentina - 9pts.  .:.  2nd. Paraguay - 6pts.

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So, to me, that's how the QUARTER FINALS will look like:

        X       

     Peru                                            Chile

            X  

Venezuela                              Brazil

          X   

  Mexico                                 Paraguay

          X  

 Argentina                            Uruguay

****** Let's just see with my crystal ball is really working now ******

LATER TONIGHT:  THE POST GAME ANALISYS OF VENEZUELA vs. URUGUAY

See you later!!!