i call Riquelme the Argentine tendulkar, always freezes in the final. but its a team game and most of the Argentines didn't turn up. Riquelme got countless corners and free-kicks but couldn't put a half-decent ball in dangerous areas. Brazil knows how to win tournaments plus football is in their blood and they have that extra passion when playing for their nation.
In less than a year Senhor Dunga has brought Brazil back in focus. Without experienced Kaka, Ronaldinho, Ze Roberto, Lucio, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Dida, Adriano and Cafu, Brazil could still emerge champions with an emphatic win over inform Argentina. The champions looked compact in defence and midfield. There is no dearth of talent in that country. All three goals were the result of fast paced counter attacking football. Viva Brazil.
RE:Congratulations to Dunga and Brazil.
by BR on Jul 17, 2007 12:57 PM
Watch a single Brazilian, they display talent and neauty in their movements. Watch them as a team, and their motion is unhurried and precise with a clear pattern. Score the first goal in the beginning minutes, then watch what the opposition can do.
RE:What is Copa America
by Wolverine Logan on Jul 16, 2007 08:40 PM
When top class players play, they maintain their name and play. If they dont score, than they are the main who try to pass the ball. But when India plays cricket, the top class players go out on ZERO when their best skills are necessary.
RE:What is Copa America
by Web Monkey on Jul 16, 2007 04:42 PM
"no team had any top class players in the side"! Are you joking? Know what is football??
Such a comment is not a surprise coming from someone who ask "What is Copa America"! Dude, watch your cricket match and fight over tendulkars and other non-sprotsmen, who spend a day in field without any kind of excitement!
Little unexpectedly and after starting with a 0-2 defeat against Mexico, ultimately Brazil became champion; mainly because they played like a team. And this was possible due to the absence of their super-stars, specially Ronaldinho. With all due respect to his talent, as a national team player, he is an eternal failure. In last world cup (2006) he is one of the main reason behind brazil's poor show. Coach was not dared to drop him, though he had done particularly nothing notable in the whole world cup. He was flashy, show-offing, do not want to take any load, only trying to do something fancy without being effective. Dunga was not one of those skillful typcial Brazilian star, but he is a no-nonsense task-master and Brazil need one such person. But still a 3-0 win against Argentina was not really expected. Real heart-break for the Argentina and their supporters.
RE:RE:Team Brazil won
by gugi varma on Jul 16, 2007 11:06 PM
The loss to Mexico was a blessing in disguise as the teams thought that they are never going to win without their star players.
Poor Indian players. PLaying a sport needs abundant practice, abundant nutritious food. Where do Indian players (don;t count cricketers here) have such liberties? Work 8 hours in a bank or in the railways, practice 2 hours a day, and eat some dal, rice, vegetables. Pooh! How can we expect to have a stature to even stand up to fowls, leave aloen running around for 90 loing minutes?
I remember watching India's best playing against invited Uruguyans and Brazilians. Such difference in physique, a small push, and the then stars like poor Mr.Tarun another Mr. B something howl in pain.
Drinking loads of tea and loads of rice is not enough nutrition.Football is not like Cricket. A 90 minutes session is equal to Cricket's 8 hours. This is the same fate of hockey. It is not that Indians don't know how to play the sport , porr guys are much frailer than the world players, at even Asian level.
RE:India and football
by shiv kumar on Jul 16, 2007 09:31 PM
Indian football
What is that? FOOT - BALL! Each country in the woold speciliazes in one or two games. You cannot expect a world beating cricket team from Brazil oor Argentina or Mexico. It is the same case with respect to CHESS, HOCKEY OR TENNIS. History, cultural/genetic roots and the physical stamina are some of the operands to be taken into consideration. Hockey and cricket are Indian outdoor forte while chess is our indoor strength. No nation can be good at all the sports. Exceptions do occur, but, once in a decade - may be.
RE:India and football
by BR on Jul 17, 2007 12:54 PM
This is not good enough excuse. India's football was great during 50s and 60s. They were Asian Champions. P.K. Banerjee was a star. Chuni Goswami was said to be a player who played like a dream, plain footwork.
These guys are so much older now, but are still taller and bigger than the Vijayan's and what-not "strikers" of India. Its a pathetic sight to see Vijayan sprint to score a goal.
Football requires rigorous regime, and enough strength to withstand 90 minutes of lung shattering runs, footwork, kicks and also the muscle to withstand kicks on bare legs. Money is not the issue. Giving fruit to passion to the scores of Football fans and football players is the issue.
RE:India and football
by Gilchrist on Jul 16, 2007 12:18 PM
avg player in EPL gets around 50 lac rupees a week. In India football player doesnt even earn 50 lac rupees in his Entire career...yes its a fact. I will tell u...Tottenham Hotspurs paid 70 lacs rupees to Edgar Davids a week. Where r we? baichung bhutia was earning 20 lacs per year some 4 years back. Yes its a fact. OUR PEOPLE ONLY WANT CRICKET AND KNOW TO CRY AND CRITICISE AFTER WE LOSE EVERYTIME. SHAME ON THEIR MENTALITY.
RE:India and football
by Web Monkey on Jul 16, 2007 04:47 PM
Money is not the thing. The poor african countries like Mali , Camaroon , Ivorycost produce world class players, better than the europians.
Even we have africans and brazilians coming here, playing for indian clubs. Money is never an issue. if you have the talent, you can go to any country and play.
Indians are never going to play any serious sports well. We dont have the fitness, the physique. It is a genitic, and social issue. The guys who work for banks etc. wont even get selected by a d divion euroipian club.
RE:India and football
by shibi ravi on Jul 16, 2007 01:04 PM
it is not only money matters...even players from argentina,brazil,mexico earn this much amount of money after proving the world that they are quality players.lots of players are coming from poor countries like ivory coast,nigeria, and other african countries which doent have a proper football league and infrastructure. still these players are playing in various european clubs.
RE:India and football
by Abed Jani on Jul 16, 2007 12:47 PM
Just because Indian footballer are not earning like their counterparts in UK, Spain, Italy etc. is the reason for India's poor standard in football. Football is gradually becoming a neglected sports. India's ranking is going downwards only. And why not? We want India do well in sports, but do not want our children take sports as a career. Because we are well aware of the fact that unless they are extremely talented and lucky, they may end up as a complete failure in life. Whereas if they study, even becoming a little above average may help them to live a decent life. There is no support from Govt., no encouragement from the family, a prestigeless profession to the eyes of the society - unless they really become famous. Then everybody try to get close with them. We are bascially sports watcher; expert commentator without ever playing it. If we look at ourselves we can realize how we are so pathetic in almost every sports.
RE:India and football
by Tirthankar Kundu on Jul 16, 2007 01:34 PM
ha ha ha... good joke... what about the countries like ghana, senegal, cameroon. etc. Do u feel that the players of these poor countries also earn like Edgar Davids? Not only money mate, but quality and skill also matters.
So near, yet so far. That sums up Argentina's efforts at the Copa America Cup. They were the favourites to win the 2006 WC but lost to host Germany in the QF, after their goalie got injured and had to be substituted. This time despite being the best performing team, they choked when it mattered the most. If Brazil didn't have Kaka and and Ronaldinho, Argentina was also playing without Crespo, their main striker. This apart, Cambiasso was not in his flow and whatever little Messi, Riquelme and Tavez tried, systematic fouling by the Brazilian defence made sure it was not time to Tango, but to dance to the beats of the Samba. Better luck next time.
Viva Brazil for winning the COPA AMERICA for second consecutive time. Argentina kept their hopes alive till they conceded a "self goal" which proved to be the turning point of the game. Their defence panicked many times sending the ball out for corners instead of dealing calmly with the situation. On the contrary Brazil was cool although a bit rough many times.
Viva Brazil....brazil has showed the world that it is the team to beat......even without the stars like kaka and ronaldinhno they played the best football of the tournament...hats off to Dunga for getting the new talented players well organised...now kaka and ronaldinhno has to fight for their places...on the other hand argentina where with so many star players who play their football in europe but still it is the pressure that matters in the final matches... 3 - 0 was a big scoreline for a star studded team like argentina.......any ways cheers to BRAZIL for wining the copa america for the 8th time.
RE:Bazil the No. 1 team in the world
by Gilchrist on Jul 16, 2007 10:29 AM
In WC they promiseda lot but lost to Germany. Here they were beaten by Brazil...THATS why Zinedine Zidane is the Best player ever and not the so called stars from argentina. They fail to produce magic when needed. Zizou is the finest example of performing under pressure...
RE:RE:Bazil the No. 1 team in the world
by Sagar Roy on Jul 16, 2007 12:43 PM
Do you hear the name of Pele ,Maradona,Krueff,Puskas,Platini,Garincha,Bekenbour,Rivaldo,Ronaldo etc. etc.
Zidane is one of the best but don't say best ever.
RE:Bazil the No. 1 team in the world
by Ameen on Jul 16, 2007 10:39 AM
I agree Zizu is the best, but I feel sad about Argentina's defaet. They deserved the cup.
RE:RE:Bazil the No. 1 team in the world
by armando on Jul 16, 2007 12:56 PM
i have always been a great supporter of Brazilian football. They are simply superb.
Certainly, they are the ones who deserved the cup.
Brazil has proved their superiority in tournament as they have improved with each match. Not to take away from Argentinian team I think peaked little too early. What happened most likely in minds of Argentinan players is that since Brazil lost to Mexico easily and Argentinian team beating Mexico very eaasily, they got litlle overconfidente and most likely underestimated Brazilian strength. I think Argentinian conceding a goal early were shocked and never recovered from shock. Remember World Cup 1998 when France shocked Brazil. Any way some guys have written about India. It has happened before with hard work and proper guidance India can be at least a qualifier but our petty politics and low self esteem of players has never allowed them to do well. Biggest difference is long time back yugoslavian coach of Indian team Cyric Milovan once demanded equal status for Indian footballers just before Nehru tournament which was won by Uruguay long time back. I remember when coach Milovan met Indian team they were staying in school rooms in New Delhi whereas other particpating teams were staying in five star hotels. What I mean is look how Indian footballers are treated and give them equal status if not equal money then they will do wonders. I still recall India lost Uruguay in finals by 2-0 despite having strong field. Another question is if India can even be in Copa America. Answer is that yes but they have to imrove to be amongst top Asian Nations. There are two invitees as thi
RE:brazil world champs
by Gilchrist on Jul 16, 2007 10:24 AM
where does kiss come into picture here??? she was kissed by Portugese star Cristiano Ronaldo and not Brazil's Ronaldo...
