The most anticipating clash of the last sixteen was up first, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. […]
Both teams sealed qualification with wins in their second group game – Netherlands edging past Australia […]
Having collapsed spectacularly in their rematch of the last World Cup final, Spain needed to salvage […]
With the shock result of the earlier match in Group B still ringing in the ears, […]
Venezuela woke up in the semi-finals of the Copa America for the first time in their history this morning after a frantic second half in San Juan saw them conquer the fancied Chileans of Claudio Borghi.
One of the positives we could take from the lack of action at the start of the 43rd Copa America was that there would be less dead rubbers in the last round of group games. Not here though, with Claudio Borghi and Sergio Markarian making 15 changes to their sides knowing they had already progressed to the quarter finals.
Like yesterday's clash between Argentina and Colombia, this match up is the glamour tie of the group. Oscar Tabarez's outside favourite Uruguay against Claudio Borghi's ultra-attacking Chile side would hopefully light up the already interesting Group C.
At last, someone has delivered. It was looking like the time had come to just give up with the whole favourites tag. Argentina disappointed; Colombia disappointed; Brazil disappointed; Uruguay disappointed. But no, Chile finally gave us a very good performance; it wasn't a resounding win, but Chile were dominant, controlling possession, creating chances and (mostly) defending comfortably against a young Mexico side.
In the modern era of constant football being easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection it is difficult to be able to talk about players that you haven't already read about and even raved about yourself, so I'm going to make a point of trying to go for the more left-field choices, or the players who aren't necessarily the stand out star for their respective side.
