Is there a thread for this event yet?

It just dawned on me that this tournament is just around the corner. What do we think? Should be fun, although the matches are at an impossible hour for a poor European.

http://www.ca2011.com/index.php

Hello Linda :)

Yep you are right very soon the tournament will begin. I hopeful I will be able to contribute a bit more. I have been super busy but I am bk :)

Daryl

Forza Albiceleste xxx

Hello guys sorry I have been away for so long but was reading mundoalbiceleste to get updates about the squad .Hope Argies get the Copa it's so important the game kicks off at 8:30 pm my local time on Friday cannot wait they take on Bolivia first .

Heeeey, my sweet dear friends!
I'm also sorry for being a little bit away but still don't have enough time for everything. Always running somewhere...
Yes, Copa America 2011 in Argentina is already knocking on our doors.
I hope to be able to watch the games and i really hope that Argentina will win it!!!

Guys, i was wondering if BATI has participated Ibiza Beach Cup Polo 2011? I was trying to find some photos from the event, but didn't see BATI there...

But just found these few photos of GABRIEL, which i haven't seen before :

















FORZA GABRIEL BATISTUTA PER SEMPRE!!!

GABRIEL BATISTUTA - Winner of the Golden Ball in the hearts of his fans!!!
(still always remembering the moment when i gave him this award.... )

Hugs for all of you!
Mariela

Mariela, these are great pics I've never seen before too, do you know when these were taken?

GREAT to see so many people back on here!!!
Like the rest of you I've been mad busy recently, so I've not been posting much either.

The Copa starts tonight. Like Linda said, it's a bit sad for us in Europe, because the first 3 Argentina matches are in the middle of the night here.
Still I'm hoping to catch up with the highlights on the following days.

I SOOOOOOO hope they do well! Please... if anyone can watch the matches, let us know how they went from a fan's point of view... they are much better to read than the official match reports.

Well here goes, only a few hours to go!!!

PS.. yes, GREAT pics Mariela!!!

Copa America preview: Argentina - Bolivia

The Copa America's 2011 edition begins with an encounter in La Plata between the tournament favourites and underdogs Bolivia

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Argentina: Romero; Zanetti, Milito, Burdisso, Rojo; Cambiasso, Mascherano, Banega; Lavezzi, Tevez, Messi

After much speculation, Sergio Batista will drop Angel Di Maria to the bench in favour of Carlos Tevez, who will join up with Lionel Messi and Napoli star Ezequiel Lavezzi in attack for the opening contest.

Bolivia: Arias; Raldes, Alvarez, Rivero, Gutierrez; Vaca, Flores, Robles, Campos; Rojas, Martins


If Bolivia are to have any success in the tournament, Gustavo Quinteros' duo in attack will have to be in fine form. Marcelo Martins has scored eight times in 22 games with the national team. Edivalo Rojas, born in Brazil, received his first call-up in April after documentation issues were resolved but has not scored in the two games he has played as a member of the side.


DID YOU KNOW?

Argentina have won the Copa America 14 times, tying them with Uruguay, who both sit six titles ahead of Brazil.

Only one player in the Argentine national team plays club football in his homeland. Goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo started most of the season for giants River Plate, who were relegated to the second division for the first time in their history.

Argentina's last major trophy came at the Copa America in 1993. They have finished runners-up in the last two editions, falling to Brazil both times.

Veteran star Javier Zanetti has the most appearances for the national side with 141. The closest team-mate to the Inter defender in the country's Copa America squad is Javier Mascherano with 69.

Two goals by Lionel Messi in the tournament would tie him for 10th place among the top goalscorers in the history of the Argentina national team.

Bolivia won their only Copa America in 1963 when they hosted the tournament, winning five games and drawing one.

Nearly two years and three months have passed since Bolivia shocked the football world, thrashing Argentina 6-1 in a Conmebol 2010 World Cup Qualifier.

Bolivia have not advanced past the group stage since they hosted the tournament in 1997, where they lost in the final to Brazil.

Bolivia's coach, Gustavo Quinteros, was born in Argentina. He is one of five coaches in the tournament who were born in Argentina alongside Sergio Batista, Chile's Claudio Borghi, Paraguay's Gerardo Martino and Costa Rica's Ricardo La Volpe.
Bolivia do not have one player in their squad who has scored over 10 goals for the national team. Marcelo Martins has eight. Argentina have three players, with Messi scoring 17, Tevez scoring 13 and Sergio Aguero 10.
Goal.com

Opening 1-1 against Bolivia. First games are always a bit tricky, but I would been more reassured with a win. Did anyone get a chance to see it? Thoughts?

Sergio Batista, Agüero and Messi spoke about the tie of Argentina
Saturday, 02 July 2011

By Felipe Atra

"Everyone is nervous in the opening game, things will gradually improve, the game was disputed, but did not play as we should", was the reading of the Argentina’s coach Sergio Batista, on Argentina's opening game against Bolivia, which ended tied by 1-1.

The striker Aguero, author of the Argentine goal, did not see the tie as a bad result: "Every match will be difficult, Bolivia closed well, the important thing is not the loss”. Batista also stressed the strong marking of Bolivia and the difficulty faced by his men to get a better score. "Bolivia had many players in the midfield, we got stuck in their marker zone" added the coach.

The three respondents agreed that the night could have been a better presentation of this debut and Argentina will have to improve for the next confrontation. "We have to see what we have not done well, calmly and work to improve because we have to win the next game" said the man of the match, Lionel Messi.

"We will take our findings, we have to have more possession and get stronger up front", agreed the Batista, who continued "but I will not change for the next game against Colombia, we need to solve other things and I am confident with this team."

To sum up the feeling of host team, Argentina, after the unexpected tie, Aguero blurted: "We have the obligation to win Colombia."


Source: www.ca2011.com

So disappointing I thought he would start would Kun .I was screaming at the TV to bring in Pastore no he brought in Di Maria for Cambiasso .Batista needs to throw away the blasted 4-3-3 and play the 4-4-2 and stop trying to be like Barcelona when we will get a good coach when ??

Not the best start unfortunately!
Let's hope tommorrow night's match v Colombia is more successful!

Here are the group standings after the first round...

Group A
Colombia 3
Argentina 1
Bolivia 1
Costa Rica 0


Group B
Brazil 1
Ecuador 1
Paraguay 1
Venezuela 1


Group C
Chile 3
Peru 1
Uruguay 1
Mexico 0

WHAT ARE WASTE OF TALENT BY BATISTA TO HAVE PASTORE ON THE BENCH AND TO PLAY THAT BARCELONA FORMATION PLEASE GO BACK TO ARGENTINE FOOTBALL THANK YOU ! NOW WE HAVE TO BEAT COSTA RICA GOOD HELP US PLEASE .I REALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE BOOING MESSI BECAUSE HE LOST HIS MARKER AND WAS OPEN AND TEVEZ DECIDED TO BE SELFISH .I AM SOO FED UP WITH THIS WHEN WILL THIS MADNESS END WHEN!FIRST MARADONA NOW THIS WILL WE EVER GET BACK PEKERMAN OR BIELSA AS COACH ?

I'm really scared of tonight's match....they HAVE to win!!
Messi seems to think they will, let's hope hey???

Messi confident Argentina will bounce back
Monday, 11 July 2011

Argentina have made a poor start to their Copa America campaign with two draws and do not look like a team ready to end a two-decade trophy drought, but they will recover and reach the quarter-finals, insists star Lionel Messi.

World player of the year Messi proved unstoppable all season with a Barcelona shirt on his back but with Argentina he has become a metaphor for the team's stuttering form which saw the albiceleste drop points to Bolivia and then just scrape another draw with Colombia.

Successive final defeats against rivals Brazil, adding to their lack of success going back to the 1993 Copa, plus the fact this year's competition is at home, has ratcheted up the pressure on the Argentinians, but Messi says they will get it together against Costa Rica on Monday in Cordoba.

By then, Colombia will have won the group if they can Sunday get past the Bolivians and even a draw will be enough, meaning Argentina are condemned to secure all three points against the Ticos.

Messi is caught in the headlights as the debate rages nationwide about why he cannot seemingly turn on the style in the country of his birth.

But he insists everything will come together.

"I feel fine and I am really up for it. I am confident the team will qualify. We'll pull it out," the 24-year-old told sports daily Ole.

The Costa Ricans managed a goal-less draw in a March friendly but Argentina simply cannot afford a repeat.

Former Argentina coach Alfio Basile, who masterminded the side's run to the 1993 title, told Radio Concepto on Saturday that "if we don't go through it will be a disaster.

"But we should win it," he added, calling on coach Sergio Batista to make changes if he felt deep down that he must.

"I'm thinking about changing the system," Batista had revealed in his Clarin column on Friday, hinting that Messi would play just off Gonzalo Higuain, with Sergio Aguero and Angelo di Maria also brought in, meaning Carlos Tevez and Ezequiel Lavezzi may drop to the bench.

Basile said Messi needs the ball.

"I know him," he said. "If he doesn't have the ball he goes crazy and drifts out of the game."

Former Brazil star Bebeto said earlier that if Messi aspires to be a true great, talked of in the same breath as Diego Maradona, he has to win international honours.

The irony is those honours could have come at last year's World Cup, for Spain.

Messi turned down the chance to play for Spain as early as 2004 so, whatever his detractors say at home, there is no doubt where his loyalties lie, even if in 2005 he did take Spanish nationality and has a Spanish passport issued to circumvent regulations limiting non-EU foreigners in La Liga sides.

Had he elected to play for the Spanish, alongside clubmates Xavi and Andres Iniesta -- seen as the key elements he is missing in the Argentine side -- he would now likely have a World Cup winners medal, removing a key arguement holding some observers back from granting him the title of "best ever."

Costa Rica, meanwhile, have found self-belief after beating Bolivia.

They have also found a young star in teen striker Joel Campbell, who noted that the Ticos have nothing to fear.

"The pressure is on Argentina. They have to win," said the man from Deportivo Saprissa, who have reportedly slapped a five-million dollars price tag on the head of a youngster who is already being compared to Samuel Eto'o.

With wisdom beyond his years, Campbell also notes that "we're not just playing against Messi."

They're playing a team which has to find its form -- and quickly.

Possible lineups of the teams:

Argentina: 23-Sergio Romero, 3-Pablo Zabaleta, 4-Nicolás Burdisso, 6-Gabriel Milito, 8-Javier Zanetti; 19-Éver Banega, 14-Javier Mascherano, 7-Angel Di María; 10-Lionel Messi, 16-Sergio Agüero and 9-Gonzalo Higuaín. Coach: Sergio Batista.

Costa Rica: 18-Leonel Moreira, 4-José Salvatierra, 2-Francisco Calvo, 3- Johnny Acosta, 19-Oscar Duarte, 20-Pedro Leal, 6-Heiner Mora, 8-David Guzmán, 11-Diego Madrigal e 12-Joel Campbell, and 17-Josué Martínez. Coach: Ricardo La Volpe.


The stars of the game:

Argentina: The home team has the greatest hope of winning in the best player in the world twice in a row, Lionel Messi. The team and star of the Barcelona-SPA is unanimity among Argentine fans. Another bet is hosted at the feet of Carlos Tevez, who has also has the full force of the Argentine fans even after his call to see threatened. Lavezzi, Zanetti and Mascherano are also other highlights of the strong Argentine team, and also Gago, Di María, Aguero and Higuain, who will start the match against Costa Rica.

Costa Rica: The Costa Rican side of the team has great stars as the offensive trio formed by Diego Madrigal, Joel Campbell and Randall Brenes. Diego Madrigal plays football in Paraguay, Cerro Porteño, and played the last Copa Libertadores, when he was eliminated in the semifinals by the champion Santos. Joel Campbell is the great revelation of the last year in Costa Rica. With 19-year-old, he comes to the Copa America as the "goal man" of the team.


Curiosities of the Confrontation:

- In six matches, four victories have been to Argentina and 2 draws. Argentina scored 11 times and Costa Rica has 5 goals.

- For the Copa America, these teams have never met.

- Costa Rica has never won Argentina.

- Costa Rica is the only team that went to the Copa America with only 22 players, other teams came with 23.

- Argentina is the biggest winner of the competition, along with Uruguay, with 14 titles.

- Javier Zanetti is the player in the squad of Argentina with more participation in Copa America (this is his fifth).


The last duel:

In the last duel, Argentina and Costa Rica tied in a friendly. The draw by 1-1, held in San Jose, Costa Rica, was in 2011.
Official CA website

And bounce back they did

I wasn't able to see it. None of my cable channels are showing the CA....so frustrating.

No, I couldn't see it either Linda!

Still, at least they are through to the quarter finals! YIPEEE!!!

Copa America - Play-Off
July 16

16:00 Colombia V Peru
19:15 Argentina V Uruguay

July 17

16:00 Brazil V Paraguay
19:15 Chile V Venezuela


Tabarez waiting game 'very hard' against Argentina
LA PLATA, July 13, 2011 (AFP) -
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said on Tuesday he expects a "very hard” match against Argentina in the quarterfinals of the Copa America.

"Nothing is written before the matches, but it is a very difficult opponent, we could face now or later", Tabarez said after the victory over Mexico, in La Plata.

Next Saturday, in the stadium Brigadier Lopez of Santa Fe, Uruguay will decide against Argentina a place in the semifinals.

"We want to forget the (World Cup) team. What for? This is another time. One World Cup is more motivating than a Copa America, with all due respect, but we want results", said Tabarez.
The coach estimated that if wins Argentina the "journalists will say that reappeared the Uruguay of South Africa, but this is not it."

"Despite the fact that we still have not developed a full game that we like, this is the same group as South Africa and we are used to get up in difficult times, and this is a very difficult time, but also very motivating."
-----------------------------------
Oh... and here's a report on the 3-0 win, for those who couldn't watch it!...

Argentina 3-0 Costa Rica: Kun Aguero double provides Copa America salvation for much-improved hosts

The Atletico Madrid star scored either side of half time to fire a dominant Albiceleste to victory, in turn assuring their place in the Copa America knock-out stages
By Daniel Edwards in the Estadio Mario Kempes
Sergio Aguero was the Argentina hero on Monday evening, as his double helped dismiss the threat of Costa Rica and secure a 3-0 victory for Sergio Batista's under-pressure outfit, and in the process confirm their place in the quarter-finals of the 2011 Copa America as Group A runners-up.

The Atletico Madrid forward turned in a rebound on the stroke of half-time, before adding to his tally in the second period as the hosts started to run rampant. Angel Di Maria put the result beyond doubt, while the Argentines were aided by two assists by Lionel Messi - looking infinitely more comfortable directing the side from a No. 10 position.

Playing for their Copa America lives in front of a capacity crowd in Cordoba, it was no surprise to see Argentina go straight for the throat against Ricardo La Volpe's men. Just seconds in, Gonzalo Higuain had a half-chance on the edge of the area, but could not convert.

That was to set the tone for a frustrating first 45 minutes, as the home team streamed forward in numbers without finding the target; Higuain and Sergio Aguero the worst culprits for squandering chances in front of goal. The Real Madrid man was played through perfectly by team mate Fernando Gago one-on-one with Leonel Moreira, but could only find the goalkeeper's legs after 20 minutes. Seconds later, a rejuvenated Messi missed by inches from a free-kick, before 'El Kun' whistled a long-shot just wide.

The Albiceleste dominance was almost total, and Costa Rica retracted into their own half; Joel Campbell the only man at times advanced as far as the centre-circle. Higuain however could not find the net for love nor money, his best chance blazed over the bar after a delightful through-ball from Messi, and after Aguero missed a couple of his own a draw at half-time looked inevitable.
In the last play before the break, however, Argentina finally found the net. Fernando Gago hit hard from distance, and when Moreira let the ball slip from his grasp Aguero was on hand to turn it in. The relief of the hosts as they found themselves in the lead for the first time in the tournament was palpable, matched by an explosion of noise from the stands after tension had been slowly building.

Argentina again started on the front-foot after the break, and Costa Rica started to show their physical side. Messi for one felt the full force of the Central Americans, staying down after being clattered by Oscar Duarte; the defender deservedly receiving a yellow card. Sergio Batista's side would not let the hits get to them, however, and just minutes in doubled the advantage.

Aguero hit home for his third of the competition after being fed through perfectly by 'La Pulga', and in doing so became the top scorer of the tournament so far. Argentina were now playing with verve and confidence, and the nerves of the first half appeared long gone. Higuain thought that he had finally found his scoring boots with a close-range volley, but the offside flag was already up to the disappointment of the No. 9.

The chances kept flowing, and it was Di Maria who put the game beyond doubt. The lanky wide-man had been quiet in the first half, but with 63 minutes he was the latest recipient of Messi's inch-perfect passing and smashed home past Moreira for the third.

The rest of the encounter was a stroll for Argentina, and the biggest ovation of the night was reserved for local boy-made-good Javier Pastore when he entered with 10 minutes left on the clock for Higuain. Di Maria was also withdrawn, Lucas Biglia entering in the middle to leave Messi further up the field.

'El Flaco' could not add a fourth to the tally though, and a 3-0 victory in Cordoba secures Argentina's passage into the last eight as runners-up in Group A to Colombia.
Goal.com

Ai ai...I've been on holiday this past weekend so I've just seen that Argentina was eliminated. That's really too bad. Only comfort is that Brazil won't be champions either.

Sorry for the delay in my reply Linda, but I've been away too.
What an absolute DISASTER that turned out to be... I hope the new coach can make a difference. I lost all interest after Argentina got knocked out and didn't watch it anymore!

Still, it was all put into perspective after hearing of the awful tragedy that happened in Norway shortly after. Can I just take this opporunity, Linda, to say how desperately sorry I am for the whole of your country to have suffered such a horrendous experience. Words cannot describe how you must have felt. The press and TV coverage over here,however, showed what incredible dignity and respect your nation had in dealing with it all, showing such immense courage and composure.
I'm sure everybody here will want to offer our sincerest condolences to your nation and all the families who suffered on that horrific day. I'm sure the whole world came together with their prayers for the people of Norway. May they all rest in peace.

Thank you so very much. Sorry for my delay in responding.

I was at home in downtown Oslo when I heard the explosion. No one could have imagined the horror that would continue to spread throughout that evening. We literally got the first news of the island massacre on facebook and twitter accounts of friends or friends of friends being on the island. It was like having the worst kind of nightmare but without being able to wake up. The first hours and days were dreadful. I guess we'll never fully understand or get passed it, but hour by hour and day by day life has turned into a new kind of normal. Norway is a small country and it seems like everyone know somebody that's been affected by this tragedy. I am very thankful not to be closely affected, but I know several who are - so it's been a very difficult summer. That being said, I was also very thankful that the nation rose to the occasion and refused to give in to the hatred and fear that insane man tried to spread - gave us all hope and healing when we thought nothing could.

We also certainly felt the incredible warmth flowing to us from our allies and friends throughout Europe and the world, and it truly helped us get through that first unimaginable time. Again, thank you for your concern and love