By Paul Gardner The grand final of Copa America Centenario was simply a disgrace. An ugly, shameful event. It sullied what had been an enjoyable tournament, it utterly ruined whatshould have been a wonderful evening of the best the sport has to offer. Instead, Chile and Argentina combined to give us the sport at its […]
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Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Soccer America's Copa Centenario Best XI
By Mike Woitalla@MikeWoitalla They went undefeated except against each other, so it’s natural thatplayers from champion Chile and runner-up Argentina dominate our Copa Centenario Best XI. Argentina outscored its foes, 18-2, and Chile bettered its opponents 16-5 until they stalemated in the finalto force a penalty-kick shootout. The choices for Copa Centenario Best XI, as […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Crowd Count: Copa Centenario averages more than 46,000
The Argentina-Chile final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, drew 82,026 fans, pushing the average attendance for the 32 games at the Copa Centenario to 46,411 fans a game. That’shigher than the average attendance for any confederation championship played in 2015 or 2016, though there are seven games left at Euro 2016, which […]
Posted inAround The Net in Soccer World Daily, Story
Confederation leaders have 'open mind' about Centenario remake
Conmebol president Alejandro Dominguez and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani say their confederations are open to listening to ideas about holding another joint championship like theCopa Centenario, organized to celebrate 100 years of the Copa America. “We’ve always been open to listening to the ideas that there are,” said Dominguez. Added Montagliani: “From aConcacaf perspective, we […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA-Argentina Takeaways: Hapless in Houston
It is hard to remember a more one-sided loss the USA has suffered in a major tournament or a more disastrous result for the image of the national team program than its 4-0 loss to Argentina in thesemifinals of the Copa Centenario. This is a special Albicelesteand a special Lionel Messi — two goals and […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Video Pick: Messi's record-breaking free kick
After getting fouled by Chris Wondolowski, Lionel Messi curved a 26-yard free kick past keeper Brad Guzan into the upper corner of the U.S. net,giving Messi 55 career goals to break Gabriel Batistuta‘s record for most all-time Argentina goals.
Posted inOff The Post, Story
Centenario jams up an already crowded calendar
Aside from the problem of what to name a Centenario-type competition matching the nations of Conmebol and Concacaf — there can’t be another Centenario, obviously — the primary issue will bewhen to play it. This comes up because, for the first time, the beloved European Championship — which snugly fills the void between World Cups […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA-Ecuador: World-class Dempsey leads USA into semis
The USA prevailed, 2-1, over Ecuador with superb performances throughout the lineup, but 33-year-old Clint Dempsey, who debuted for the USA 12 years ago, struck the crucialblows. USA-Ecuador: U.S. Player Ratings The victory in Seattle sends the USA into a Copa America Centenario semifinal on Tuesday against the winner of Friday’s Argentina-Venezuela game. Here are […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Video Pick TBT: Last Ecuador-USA Copa clash
Brad Friedel, Alex Lalas, Fernando Clavijo, Jeff Agoos and Tab Ramos were among the U.S. players who facedhost Ecuador at the 1993 Copa America, a rematch of which takes place Thursday when the USA hosts Ecuador in the Copa America Centenario quarterfinals.
Posted inOff The Post, Story
Copa vs. Euro: The USA is hosting the better tournament
By Mike Woitalla@MikeWoitalla In the start of this soccer-crazy summer withsimultaneous continental national team tournaments, the Western Hemisphere has been delivering the most entertaining soccer, by a good stretch, compared to the European Championship. TheUSA-hosted Copa America Centenario has hands down provided more attacking, more skillful, more delightful soccer than Euro 2016. It’d be unfair […]