24.07. (Sun) 21:00 Uruguay - Paraguay

DID YOU KNOW?

Uruguay, 14-time winners of the Copa America/South American Championship along with Argentina, are seeking to win the tournament for a record 15th time on Sunday.

The 2011 final is La Celeste's 21st final appearance, the last time they negotiated their way to this stage was in 1999 when they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brazil.

Oscar Tabarez's men secured their passage to Monumental by overcoming surprise packages Peru 2-0 in their semi-final. They had dumped out hosts Argentina on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the quarter-final.

Luis Suarez is currently the tournament's joint-top scorer with three goals, along with Argentina's Sergio Aguero. The Liverpool striker could become the first Uruguayan, joint or outright, to become top scorer of the Copa since Carlos Aguilera was named joint-top scorer of the 1983 edition.

Uruguay, now the overwhelming favourites, prevailed the last time the two nations met. Diego Forlan and Diego Lugano's goals secured a 2-0 win back in 2009 in a World Cup qualifier.

Paraguay are yet to win a game in the 2011 Copa America after recording five successive draws, two of which have been settled on penalties.

Nevertheless, the Guarani have secured a passage to the final, something they haven't achieved for 32 years.

Gerardo Martino's men have astonishingly only led for a grand total of 52 minutes in the tournament, out of the 510 minutes of football they have endured.

'La Albirroja' are bidding for their third Copa America, having won the 1953 and 1979 editions.

Despite their pragmatic defensive approach to the game, this has been Paraguay's best performance at the Copa America since their previous win, bettering their fourth place finish in 1989.

Captain Justo Villar and defender Paulo Da Silva will win their 95th cap for their nation in the final.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Uruguay:
Muslera; M. Pereira, Lugano, Victorino, Caceres, A. Pereira; Gonzalez, Perez, Rios; Forlan, Suarez.

La Celeste are set to welcome back Diego Perez into the line-up for the final in Buenos Aires on Sunday evening. The Bologna midfielder, who scored against Argentina in the quarter-final, missed the win over Peru due to suspension. Oscar Tabarez will also call upon Mauricio Victorino from injury after he sat out the semi-final. Controversy has surrounded the potential recall of Edinson Cavani for the showpiece, with the Napoli hitman struggling to recover from a knee injury suffered in the group stage. This has not gone down well with his club president Aurelio De Laurentiis who stated that he is prepared to take serious action if Uruguay play the unfit striker.

Paraguay:
Villar; Da Silva, Veron, Torres, Vera; Barreto, Caceres, Riveros, Estigarribia; Barrios, Valdez

Paraguay have been hit with disciplinary issues ahead of the showdown with Uruguay. Coach Gerardo Martino and assistant Jorge Pautasso have both been given touchline bans and will watch from the stands in Buenos Aires. No player has been individually punished following the mass brawl that ensued after the penalty shootout win over Venezuela in the semi-final. However, Jonathan Santana will miss the final after his red card during the game. Another worry for the Guarani surrounds Roque Santa Cruz who came on, and then went off within minutes, clutching his right hamstring. Otherwise, Paraguay will revert to their strongest possible line-up having introduced four changes in their last game.

Prediction

La Celeste have found their feet as the tournament progressed, with Liverpool sharpshooter Luis Suarez bagging a clinical brace in the semi-final. With Paraguay looking uncertain apart front with Roque Santa Cruz's injury problems, the defensive Guarani may find it hard to pick apart the attack-minded opposition. After enduring two straight penalty shootouts, it's likely that Martino's men will overcome Uruguay. 

Uruguay 2-0 Paraguay

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24.07. (Sun) 03:00 Philadelphia Union - Real

DID YOU KNOW?

Real Madrid beat Chivas de Guadalajara 3-0 on Saturday. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a second-half hat-trick to upend the Mexican outfit.

The Union have already taken one European scalp, beating Everton 1-0 on Wednesday. Christian Hernandez, an unsigned 17-year-old academy player, scored the winner.

This is Madrid's third game of their tour of the United States. Prior to the Chivas friendly, the Copa del Rey champions beat the LA Galaxy 4-1.

Philly attacking midfielder Veljko Paunovic formerly suited up for Atletico Madrid, Real's cross-town neighbour. However, a hip strain might prevent the 33-year-old from taking part.

Faryd Mondragon will line up for the MLS All-Stars against Manchester United on Wednesday. He is the only Union representative.

PROBABLE LINEUPS

Philadelphia Union (4-4-2): 
MacMath; Williams, Valdes, Miglioranzi, Farfan; Mapp, Okugo, Torres, Daniel; Mclnerney, Mwanga.

INJURY REPORT

OUT: FW Levi Houapeu (ankle strain)

QUESTIONABLE: FW Veljko Paunovic (hip strain); MF Kyle Nakazawa (lower back strain)

Real Madrid (4-3-1-2):
Adan; Arbeloa, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Ozil, Granero, Coentrao; Kaka, Ronaldo, Benzema.

INJURY REPORT : None

Prediction
Philadelphia Union 1-3 Real Madrid

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17.07. (Sun) 21:00 Brazil - Paraguay

DID YOU KNOW?

Brazil are the defending champions of the Copa America, having won in Venezuela in 2007.

The Selecao qualified for the quarter finals in unconvincing fashion, having been held to draws against the Guarani and Venezuela, before coming out on top in a thrilling 4-2 win against Ecuador.

Neymar and Pato both chipped in with a brace of goals as Brazil qualified as Group B winners.

The winner of this tie faces a semi-final showdown against Chile or Venezuela in Mendoza on July 20.

Mano Menezes' men are unbeaten in six games, since a 1-0 reverse to France in Paris in February.

Paraguay qualified by virtue of being one of two best third-placed sides.

The Guarani are yet to taste victory in the 2011 Copa America, having been held to a draw in all three of their group games.

However, Gerardo Martino's men - who came close to defeating Brazil in this year's tournament before being pegged back by a 90th-minute equaliser, have history in winning against the Selecao in the Copa, doing so en route to topping their group in 2004.

Roque Santa Cruz has become the joint all-time leading scorer of his nation, having grabbed a record-equalling 25th strike against Brazil in the 2-2 draw earlier in the group stages. The record, taken from Jose Cardozo, had stood for six years.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Brazil:
Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, David Luiz, Andre Santos; Lucas Leiva, Ramires; Robinho, Ganso, Neymar; Alexandre Pato

Mano Menezes looks set to to be without Thiago Silva for the clash against Paraguay. The AC Milan defender is struggling with a right thigh muscle injury and missed out on Friday training with the team, instead going through a session with the physio. David Luiz is expected to replace Thiago Silva in the heart of a somewhat leaky defence, whilst Mano also has the luxury of Luisao - a member of the past two Copa America-winning sides - in the squad to partner Lucio. Maicon, who caught the eye with an assured performance in the 4-2 win over Ecuador, will also be likely to be given the nod ahead of the unimpressive Daniel Alves as the Selecao look to seal a semi-final spot.

Paraguay:
Villar; Piris, Da Silva, Veron, Torres; Barreto, Ortigoza, Riveros, Estigarribia; Santa Cruz, Barrios

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino is sweating on the fitness of key striker Roque Santa Cruz. The Blackburn forward was forced off during the thrilling 3-3 draw with Venezuela and was replaced by Nelson Haedo Valdez. The tactician, who is due to leave his post following the Copa America, added: "We will give it another day and wait on the results of tests."


Prediction

Despite a rather indifferent start to the tournament, the Selecao have sprung into life with an assured display against Ecuador. Neymar and Pato finally look to have found the goals having struck four between them. A slender win for Mano's men looks to be the most likely outcome, with Paraguay looking set to be without Roque Santa Cruz to trouble a dodgy Brazilian backline.

Brazil 2-1 Paraguay

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16.-18. 07. 2011. Copa America, Quarter Finals

Colombia - Peru

Looking good for the favourites in the quarter finals, but maybe one or two of them are a bit underpriced. Colombia are not one of them. I have backed Colombia to win the tournament and they have so far lived up to my expectations but Peru will be no pushovers. Their qualifying campaign for the World Cup 2010 was a complete disaster and I expected Peru, without their aces Farfan and Pizarro, to struggle big time in this Copa America competition. I was 100% wrong. OK,it could be that they will have more problems playing open football, the kind of football that I should think that we will see in the quarter finals. Well, we already saw this brand of football the other day. Peru fielded a reserve side against Chile, but for this match their big guns, including Guerrero and Vargas, will all be back. Defender Carmona will be suspended.

Open football should favour the Colombia giants Falcao and Guarin. Not that there is anything wrong with the Colombian defence. They have yet to concede a single goal. Colombia have the better team and they also have these outstanding individuals and they should win this quarter final.

Argentina - Uruguay

Beating the young Costa Rican talents comfortably was nothing to write home about - but you sense that it was a major confidence booster for the Argentine side. Messi needed to play a strong game, their forwards needed to score a couple of goals and I do think that Argentina will only get better after their 3-0 win vs. C Rica.

A cynic would say: They have only defeated the Costa Rican second choices. Maybe they are right, but a strong home team, in this case Argentina, will always be the team to beat in the tournament.

Surely coach Batista will continue with Messi in a free, offensive midfield role and with Aguero, Higuain and Di Maria from the start. Confirmed! Argentina will be unchanged. Lavezzi will sit out his suspension .

Cavani, the Uruguay forward, is still training individually and hopefully he will be fit for this quarter final. It is a knee injury and I have serious doubts. Caceres will be back to play, but his defensive colleague S Coates will be suspended. Forlan did everything but score for Uruguay in their last game, vs. Mexico and he is bound to find the target pretty soon. Why not in this match? Time for Uruguay to play a strong game after some rather mediocre displays, but at the same time I expect more from Argentina as well. Both sides on the score sheet will be my suggestion and Argentina the winners after the 90 minutes.

Brazil - Paraguay

Maybe they were not brilliant, but at last I enjoyed watching Brazil playing their football again. I am of course referring to their 4-2 win against Ecuador. Their much over rated keeper J Cesar played with his Vaseline gloves again, but offensively Brazil looked strong, with both Pato and Neymar scoring their goals. And what a difference Maicon made, replacing D Alves as wing back. I still hold Cesar responsible for the Brazil loss against Holland in the World Cup in South Africa.

Paraguay have yet to win a game in this Copa America, but they were only minutes from defeating Brazil in the group stage. Santa Cruz was involved in both their goals, but I cannot imagine that he will be fit for this quarter final. He suffered an injury against Ecuador. I am no doctor, but it did not look good. A better Brazil for this match and they will reach the semi final.

Chile - Venezuela

Venezulua have been constantly underestimated. I am a sucker for speed. Not that kind of speed. I mean fast footballers. I like the way that Venezuela keep changing the pace, when they are going forward. Rondon, Oroszo, players with great future. Arango, Cesar Gonzalez, Miku and Maldonaldo, all started on the bench, when Venezuela played their last group game (3-3 vs. Paraguay).

They will be back in contention for this match and once again Venezuela have a squad free from injuries.

Also Chile rested players in their last group game, in fact six of their regulars. All will be back, apart from the suspended Beausejour for this quarter final. Vidal will replace Beausejour on their midfield. Carmona and Medel will also start, maybe fit again M Fernandez as well. Valdivia will be used as a substitute. Chile play some very nice football, no doubt about that, but they are not the most effective side around. Quite an open game in my opinion. I expect goals from both parties. Over game in other words. The winners? I have to include one outsider in my bets. OK, Venezuela then.

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17.07. (Sun) 00:15 Argentina - Uruguay

DID YOU KNOW?

Argentina escaped Group A with five points, finishing in second place.

The host nation could only manage one goal from their first two games in the competition, but they came alive in the last game against Costa Rica, winning 3-0.

Striker Sergio Aguero is the leading scorer in the tournament with three goals, including a brace against Costa Rica.

This will be Argentina's second game in Santa Fe in the Copa America. They drew 0-0 against Colombia in their first appearance in the province.

The winner of the contest will face the victor of Colombia and Peru in the semi-finals in La Plata on Tuesday.

Uruguay finished second in Group C with five points, two behind winners Chile.

The leading scorer on the team in the tournament is not Forlan, Suarez or Cavani; it is defender Alvaro Pereira, who has two goals.

A win would clinch Uruguay's fifth straight appearance in the semi-finals.

The last meeting that took place between the two sides was in October 2009 when a Mario Bolatti goal six minutes from time clinched Argentina's qualification to the World Cup in South Africa.

Cavani will not play as he is still recuperating from a knee injury suffered against Chile in their second game. The striker did not play in the 1-0 victory over Mexico.


PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Argentina:
Romero; Zabaleta, Burdisso, G. Milito, Zanetti; Gago, Mascherano; Aguero, Messi, Di Maria; Higuain.

No changes for Argentina as Sergio Batista calls the same line-up that earned a 3-0 victory against Costa Rica last time out.

Uruguay:
Muslera; M. Pereira, Lugano, Victorino, Caceres, A. Pereira; Gonzalez, Perez, Rios; Forlan, Suarez.

Oscar Tabarez will look to Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez to find the net against their neighbors as they are shorthanded with the absence of Edinson Cavani, who is still recovering from injury.

Prediction

Anything less than winning the tournament would be a failure for Sergio Batista's men. Now in the quarter-finals, Argentina should get a step closer to their dream with the potent attack of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria. If they can create chances at the same pace they did against Costa Rica, the host nation should be able to put a few away and advance past Uruguay. 

Editor's Prediction

Argentina 2-1 Uruguay

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