Copa America 2011- GROUP C

Uruguay

The 2010 World Cup semi-finalists are widely believed to be a shoe-in for at least the third-place playoff game. With an attacking triumvirate of Liverpool’s Luis Suárez, Atlético Madrid’s Diego Forlán and Napoli’s Edinson Cavani, it’s hard to argue against them upsetting the odds again.

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Luis Suárez  bagged 45 goals this season, 35 of which came in the league and he was duly named Dutch Footballer of the Year. Playing behind the centre-forward gives Suarez the freedom to find space, shoot from distance or go wide if that is where the space is.Can he lift up his country this time?

Chile

Chile have arrived at the tournament in good form, unbeaten in their last five games, including draws against the United States and Portugal.

 Chile are fancied by many to be potential semi-finalists and aside from Sanchez, Sevilla’s Gary Medel is another name making headlines.

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Alexis Sanchez Chile’s ‘Wonderboy’ & Heir to Ronaldo’s Throne at Manchester United. That's what is called. Can he prove that he is indeed Wonderboy this time?

Mexico

Mexico are arriving in Argentina for this month’s Copa America in midst of a bit of a storm. First things first, Mexico are the invitees to this grand occasion, as they aren’t actually a part of the CONMEBOL – the association of South American football. FIFA couldn’t allow the Mexican first team to participate in any competition outside of the CONCAF; ergo the members of the Mexican 2012 Olympic Football team were summoned. Consequently Mexico were to participate in the Copa America starting July 1 with an under-22 squad, as well as five replacement players. The other participants in Group C include the likes of Chile, Peru, and Uruguay.

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Giovani Dos Santos plays as an attacking midfielder for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. He can also play as a winger or second striker made his debut for the Mexico national team in a 1–0 victory over Panama on 9 September 2007.

Peru

Peru comes into the tournament having won it only a couple of times – 1939 and 1975. Their chances are not too bright this time around as well, especially with a lot of key players missing the tournament due to injury.

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Jefferson Farfan scored 14 goals, helping the club to another Peruvian championship. Will he make it again fir his country Peru this Copa America 2011?

Copa America 2011- GROUP B

Brazil

8 time winners of the tournament and winners of 4 of the last 5 editions, go into the competition as clear 2nd favourites, behind hosts Argentina.

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Lucio, 32, already has a World Cup winners' medal to his name after success in Japan and South Korea in 2002, but that feat has not hampered his drive. Will he win his team this time?

Paraguay

Winners of the tournament in 1953 and 1969, this is a country more accustomed to near misses than winning, finishing as runners-up on 5 occasions, as well as seven 3rd place finishes. Gerardo Martino has the task of guiding Paraguay through a respectable Copa América campaign

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Lucas Barrios - This young lad, the striker of the team is expecting to be a marked man on the matches of his homeland.

Ecuador

Another cweak squad in this group, with little history in the competition, the focus once again is qualification for the World Cup 

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Antonio Valencia is Manchester United player. Despite the disappointing display last Champ League final with Barcelona, Antonio is expected to shine and bring glory to his country.

Venezuela

With little history of significance in the competition, expectations aren’t high for the squad and the hope is World Cup qualification

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Yohandry Orozco , still looking for a bright future for his country.

Copa America- GROUP A

Argentina

The 14-time winners are pre-tournament favourites. The hosts’ squad is clearly one of the strongest in the region and will be expected to put on entertaining displays to glorify any results at the end of the tournament.

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Lionel Messi has become the World’s Best Player and almost give all the title that is available to Barcelona. But he still has debts to Argentina because he hasn’t given any trophy to his country.

Colombia

Winners of the tournament in 2001 and runners-up in 1975, the country which produced such majestic players as Carlos Valderrama, Faustino Asprilla, Víctor Aristizábal and René Higuita will go into this tournament as under-dogs. Mario Yepes, a member of the 2001 winning side captains this side into the tournament

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With Fredy Guarin in line, will Colombia move forward on the Copa America 2011?

Costa Rica (in replacement of Japan)

Costa Rica replaced Japan as the other invitee into the tournament, besides Mexico. Though the squad is basically an Under-21 side, the side will still be an interesting one to follow with highly controversial Argentine manager, Ricardo La Volpe, at the helm of affairs

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Joel Campbell is a talented striker of Costa Rica. The crowed of Costa Rica is surely giving their hopes on this 19 year old man.

Bolivia

Having won the Copa América in 1963, and then having lost to Mario Zagallo’s Brazil in the finals of the 1997 Copa América, Bolivia do have history in this competition. The current squad only have to look to the likes of Luis Cristaldo, Marco Etcheverry, Marco Sandy and Erwin Sánchez of the 1997 team for inspiration.

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Ronald Garcia - Played several key roles for Bolivia. Former 5- year player of Greek Football. Garcia has alot to offer for Copa America 2011!

Copa America - Who is bookie's fave?

Between the top team, we all know that Argentina and Brazil are the most favourite among all teams. Who will win the 2011 Copa America Argentina? 

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Djokovic outplayed Nadal

from youtube.com

Watch Nadal vs Djokovic last game!!!!

Djokovic added his name on title holder for the World's top tennis player. Defeating at Wimbledon final, Rafael Nadal was shattered, confirming that he was outplayed by the opponent.

Bellamy and Welshness

The Sunday Mirror is suggesting that Cardiff City are willing to pay Manchester City £3 million for Craig Bellamy and would offer the Welsh striker a two year contract at £30,000 a week.

That would make the highest paid player at the club, but it would be a massive reduction in his reported £90,000 a week he his get at Manchester City. It could be the price he will have to pay for the family he was enjoying last season. If not, he will be moving not from Manchester anyway.

A host of clubs are interested in signing him, but I will mean live away from his Cardiff based family. Everton up to Celtic and some in-between are rumoured to be interested in signing him and will probably offer move in wages.

The end is nigh, wait a minute there is no little Welsh flag on the new Cardiff City shirt is the world coming to an end. In today's Sunday Mirror, the back page headline screams out 'Dragon Slayer' over the dropping of the symbol with a nice picture of TG and a nice front shot of the new shirt with the word Malaysia blazed across it.

The Mirror is using the dropping of the flag to show the club full under the control of the Malaysian owners and have some fans up in arms over the whole issue. Do you they think the players sit in the dressing room looking at the flag shout in 'for Wales'. There is very little Welshness in the sqaud anyway. One fans said,

"I think it's sad. We're the capital city of Wales and we should have a Welsh identity. I don't mind them having Malaysia on the shirt - if it helps to bring in extra revenue, that would be great. But don't try to throw away our Welshness"

I have a problem with unnamed Cardiff City fan how will losing a tiny Welsh flag be throwing away our Welshness? The whole flag thing come in after his Welshness Sam Hammam was going through is Cardiff City = Wales which was a joke and slapped that awful St David's badge on the shirt. Most Cardiff City fans and fans from other clubs will in the most put their club before country, I do.

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Djokovic vs Nadal

A must watch finals for ATP!!!!

Watching the two best players in the world to face off in the court. Beating each other (current number 1 Djokovic with former number 1 Nadal) would be the highlight of Wimbledon.

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