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MOTIVATION | ROBERTO CARLOS WAS TOL HE WILL NEVER SUCCEED

 

Throwback to 1995 when Roy Hodgson told Roberto Carlos that he wouldn’t make it as a left back… 

Roberto Carlos: “Once upon a time at Inter Milan, Roy Hodgson told me I would never succeed as left back. He told me l wasn’t good enough. I told him that he doesn’t understand football.”

He then went onto win:

🏆 La Liga

🏆 Champions League

🏆 Supercopa

🏆 Brazil Série A

🏆 Campeonato Paulista

🏆 Turkish Cup

🏆 Copa America

🏆 Club World Cup

🏆 World Cup

And he became one of the greatest, if not the greatest, left back of all time 🐐

URUGUAY VS. BRAZIL | QUARTER-FINALS | COPA AMÉRICA

 

COLOMBIA'S CORDOBA CRUCIAL IN COSTA RICA'S CRUSHING DEFEAT

 Colombia continued their dominant run in the Copa America with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica and Jhon Cordoba putting in a strong showing to help his team extend their lead at the top of Group D and seal their place in the quarter-finals.

Nestor Lorenzo's side have now gone 25 games without defeat and remain among the title favourites.

With his searing pace and strength, Cordoba was a constant thorn in Costa Rica's side and won the penalty which lead to Luis Diaz's opener. He then scored the third goal in the 62nd minute.

"Everything that was planned during the week was done and the truth is that I'm very happy to contribute to my team-mates, not just because of the goal," Cordoba said after the match.

The 31-year-old striker, who plays for FK Krasnodar, started in place of Rafael Santos Borre, who is nursing an ankle problem.

He added that coach Lorenzo asked him to always go forward, find space in defence and make the most of his power. "This brought a lot to the team and when James sent me the ball, thank God the goal came".

"I'm very happy, not just because of the goal, but for the team, because it has evolved during the week, it's part of the confidence of the moment," Cordoba said.

Colombia conclude their group stage campaign against Brazil on Tuesday.

- Reuters 

VINICIUS STEPS UP FOR BRAZIL AFTER SLOW COPA AMÉRICA

Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring for Brazil against Paraguay at Copa America 2024. Reuters

 Tournament football can be a little like a social media voice message played three times faster than normal. Time speeds up. Teams suddenly come together, or just as quickly collapse under the intense pressure of the competition.

Brazil were subjected to the stress test on Friday night against Paraguay after an underwhelming start to their Copa América. Their opening display against Costa Rica was by no means a disaster -- but the goals did not come. At the end of the 0-0 draw, captain Danilo -- seen as a symbol of calm, rational leadership -- was arguing with supporters in the stands.

Part of the problem is a consequence of the recent failures of previous Brazil sides, leaving the current group expected to pay a bill for which they are not responsible. The pressure cranked up still further after fellow Group D opponents Colombia cruised to a 3-0 win over Costa Rica. It meant that Brazil took the field against Paraguay in the knowledge that defeat would mean almost certain elimination.

Instead, Brazil's 4-1 win on Friday means that, barring a mathematical miracle, they have booked their place in the quarterfinals. But they had to confront a few demons along the way.

The traditional resilience of the Paraguayans has broken Brazilian hearts before. They knocked Brazil out of the Copa América tournaments of 2011 and 2015, and they presented coach Dorival Junior's Brazil side with the prospect of a frustrating evening spent trying to break down their defence.

Worse still, with Brighton's Julio Enciso flitting about, and Miguel Almirón looking to have a right at Danilo, Paraguay posed an attacking threat. They came up with the first two dangerous shots of the game. And then on the half hour, when Brazil were out of the blue awarded a penalty for hand ball, Lucas Paquetá put it wide.

At this point, some serious questions were being posed and Brazil did not look up for their stress test. Was Paqueta being affected by the serious charges of spot fixing that have been levelled against him? Would Bruno Guimarães ever dominate the Brazil midfield the way that he does for Newcastle? And were Brazil making a mistake by playing without a recognised centre forward?

Within minutes, all in the same move, the team came up with some answers. It was a moment that might go down as a turning point for this Seleção. Vinícius Junior cut in from the left, exchanged passes with Rodrgyo; then Bruno Guimaraes played a nicely angled ball to Lucas Paqueta, whose sweet lay off was into the path of Vinícius, who had continued his infield run and had broken into the space created by the very absence of a centre forward. And Brazil's 1-0 lead after 34 minutes became 3-0 at halftime, with the game effectively decided.

The first goal was the key. Once Brazil were in front, Paraguay would have to commit more men forward, opening up space for the Brazil counterattack. Brazil's attacking pieces had clicked. And, probably most importantly, it was Vinícius Junior who led the pack.

This is a big tournament in the life of the Real Madrid superstar. Vinícius Junior went to the 2022 World Cup as a bolt-on. He was not originally part of the team constructed by coach Tite, and forced his way in on the run in. But it was not his team.

Times have changed. After a slow start to his international career, Vini is now viewed as the most potent attacking weapon, and this is his first tournament carrying this status.

In the back end of last year, injury restricted him to three of Brazil's six World Cup qualifiers. They were not memorable either for him or for the team -- a draw at home to Venezuela and defeats away to Uruguay and Colombia, with Vini substituted on all three occasions.

And then he was disappointing in the Copa debut against Costa Rica -- though many in the Brazilian media were critical of the decision to withdraw him in the second half. Brazil can be very cruel to its idols, and a second sub-standard Copa display would not have been greeted with such tolerance.

Instead, at the time when the team most needed it -- just after that Paqueta missed penalty -- Vinícius stepped up. This was his first two goal haul for his country, and probably the best match he has played in the yellow shirt.

He dribbled Paraguay right back Gustavo Velasquez to distraction, completing more dribbles in the first half alone than in any previous game he has played for Brazil. And, as he showed with that vital opening goal, there was an end product as well.

Brazil, then, are on their way. But they are still very much a work in progress.

As yet, this team is not remotely near the level of the side that coach Tite took to Qatar for the last World Cup. They do not press from the front with anything like the same intensity. And, despite often sitting deep and playing two tough midfielders in Bruno Guimaraes and João Gomes, they are nowhere near as defensively solid.

This last point has been a point of concern for Dorival Junior, and has been the focus of his training sessions. Even so, Paraguay had plenty of shots on goal. Alisson was beaten by a long range special from Omar Alderete -- Brazil sitting deep but unable to stop the shot -- and was also called upon to make a number of difficult saves.

But with a place in the last eight of the Copa all but guaranteed, Brazil can build for the rest of the competition under much less pressure on their backs. Dorival Junior will trust that in the rapid development made possible by tournament play, he can mould a unit which, spearheaded by Vinícius Junior, can win Brazil's first title of the decade.

- Tim Vickery, South America correspondent

BRAZIL CALM, CONFIDENT AT COPA AMÉRICA DESPITE SLOW START

Can veteran coach Dorival Junior meet the high hopes of Brazil fans? Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images

 Brazil coach Dorival Jr backed his team's tactics even though they were held to a goalless draw by Costa Rica in their opening Copa América match and he urged fans to keep faith with his players when they face Paraguay on Friday.

Brazil failed to impress after they failed to find the net against Costa Rica despite a dominant display in their opening Copa match.

However, 62-year-old coach Dorival Jr was quick to highlight the positive aspects of their performance.

"It's natural that we all expected a slightly different result in the last game, but we can't fail to appreciate how we performed. The way we put our opponents in their defence," Dorival told a news conference on Thursday.

"I am convinced of what we are doing and what we are achieving. It is work we have just started, but I think we are progressing in a balanced way.

"We have to be calm, balanced and confident. If every game we have doubts about everything we are doing, we will get nowhere."

The nine-time Copa champions will need to take all three points to boost their chances of progressing to the knockout stages, with Colombia leading in Group D after their 2-1 win over Paraguay. Despite the pressure, Dorival insists on being patient with a team "in transition".

"Every game is decisive, whether it's a friendly or not. It's always going to be like that, we'll never get rid of it," the Brazilian boss said. "We need to understand it's a time of change, of transition, you can't build a team overnight

"It's a natural process. The team has shown more positives than negatives in every match, not just the last one."

- Reuters 

COPA AMÉRICA FOOD CHAMPIONSHIP | NATIONAL DISHES OF EVERY COPA AMÉRICA NATION

 

US FEDERATION CONDEMNS RACIST ABUSE OF PLAYERS AFTER PANAMA LOSS

USA TODAY Sports 

 The U.S. soccer federation condemned the online racist abuse of their players on Thursday after their 2-1 defeat by Panama at the Copa America.

"There is absolutely no place in the game for such hateful and discriminatory behaviour," U.S. Soccer said in a statement on X.

"These actions are not only unacceptable but also contrary to the values of respect and inclusivity that we uphold as an organization."

Tim Weah, who is Black, was one of the players targeted by the abuse. The U.S. forward was shown a straight red card in the 18th minute for punching a Panama player in the back of the head in an off-the-ball incident.

The U.S. took the lead despite the red card but were pegged back four minutes later before Panama sealed the win with a goal in the 83rd minute. read more 

Weah said he had let his team and his country down.

"A moment of frustration led to an irreversible consequence, and for that, I am deeply sorry to my team mates, coaches, family and our fans," he added.

- Reuters 

PANAMA SCORE LATE GOAL TO STUN 10-MAN US AT COPA

USA TODAY Sports 

 Panama pulled off a shock 2-1 victory over the United States in a heated Group C encounter at the Copa America on Thursday after the hosts were reduced to 10 men following Tim Weah's red card in the 18th minute.

Jose Fajardo netted the winner in the 83rd minute for Panama, who had Adalberto Carrasquilla dismissed five minutes later for a crunching challenge on Christian Pulisic.

The U.S. are second in the group, level with Panama on three points but with a better goal difference. The hosts must at least match Panama's result in the final group game to advance to the knockout rounds.

The U.S. play Uruguay while Panama face Bolivia on Monday.

"Emotional rollercoaster, but that's soccer at the end of the day," U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams said.

"We know what we signed up for and playing in Copa America we knew it was going to be a fight. Credit to Panama. They did their job. They got the result."

Panama coach Thomas Christiansen said his team had executed the game plan perfectly.

"I'm very happy, in particular for the team, tactically and psychologically," he added.

"I try to make the best decisions by being calm, level-minded. And of course, everyone that went in contributed what we expected from them, and now we have a victory such as this one."

USA TODAY Sports 

It was a costly night all round for the hosts, with goalkeeper Matt Turner being substituted at halftime with a leg injury after a collision with Panama defender Cesar Blackman in the 12th minute.

Weah was sent off after a video review showed he had shoved Roderick Miller in the back of the head off the ball amid a tense and fiery start to the match.

After Weah's dismissal, Folarin Balogun delighted the crowd with a splendid strike from 17 yards to give the hosts the lead in the 22nd minute. However, the joy was shortlived as Blackman equalised from the edge of the box four minutes later.

"There were things before the red card that went against us," Balogun said. "Of course, we probably could have had a few decisions, but that's the nature of the game."

Ethan Horvath replaced the injured Turner in the U.S. goal at the break and nearly faced a penalty in the 64th minute but the decision against U.S. defender Cameron Carter-Vickers was overturned by video review.

The best opportunity for the U.S. in the second half came in the 81st minute when a header by Ricardo Pepi was saved by Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.

Panama then seized the initiative, scoring the winning goal when substitute Fajardo smashed home Abdiel Ayarza's cross.

"Moving forward, we need to control our emotions in certain situations," Adams said. "I think the team fought for everything after we got the red card. You definitely can't fault the effort.

"By winning the first game, we put still ourselves in a position that we can have everything to play for in the last game."

Weah had apologised to the team after the match, he added.

"Just respect to the rest of the team because they fought for every single ball, every single duel, every single minute, and we still created chances after going down 10 men, so it shows our quality."

- Reuters 

PERU VS. CHILE | HIGHLIGHTS | COPA AMERICA 2024

MEXICO VS. JAMAICA | HIGHLIGHTS | COPA AMERICA 2024

 

URUGUAY CLINCH 3-1 COPA AMERICA WIN OVER PANAMA

USA TODAY Sports 

 Maximilian Araujo, Darwin Nunez and Matias Vina scored as Uruguay beat Panama 3-1 in their Copa America Group C match in Florida on Sunday.

Uruguay's win saw them move level with the United States on three points. The U.S. beat Bolivia 2-0 in the day's other Group C match.

Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay, who have won the Copa America a joint record 15 times, were rewarded for their blistering early pace when Araujo fired home a sublime curling effort from the edge of the area in the 16th minute.

Panama grew into the match after the break and wasted several chances to get themselves back into the contest.

Jose Fajardo blasted an effort wide in the 52nd minute after a defensive error by Mathias Olivera, while Jose Rodriguez tested Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet with a ferocious shot from range.

Asked what he said to his team at halftime, Panama coach Thomas Christiansen told reporters: "I told them they have to be fearless.

"That they have to increase their level of confidence. That they are capable to do what they did in the second half. And after the goal, like Uruguay, we generated opportunities."

Uruguay were on the ropes for much of the second half but Nunez, who had already missed a string of chances, settled their nerves in the 85th minute with a coolly-taken volley into the bottom corner after a rebound dropped kindly for him.

In a frenetic spell during stoppage time, Vina rose highest to head home Uruguay's third from a set-piece before Michael Amir Murillo netted a consolation goal for Panama after cutting back onto his left foot and curling his shot past Rochet.

Uruguay's all-time leading scorer Luis Suarez, 37, was an unused sub.

Uruguay next face Bolivia in New Jersey on Thursday, while Panama take on the United States in Atlanta.

- Reuters 

US BUILT CONFIDENCE BEATING BOLIVIA IN COPA

USA TODAY Sports 

 The United States will take a boost of confidence from their 2-0 win over Bolivia in the Group C opener at the Copa America on Sunday, team captain Christian Pulisic said, as the tournament hosts fed off the home crowd in Arlington, Texas.

Pulisic struck first with a sublime curling shot into the top corner in the third minute and he set up Folarin Balogun for another score in the 44th minute.

They squandered some scoring opportunities in the second half but "Captain America" Pulisic, who received a hero's welcome at the home of the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium, said the team had plenty to celebrate.

"We should build some confidence from this and feel good but the games are just going to get tougher and tougher as the tournament goes on so we've got to be ready," the AC Milan midfielder said in a televised interview.

It was exactly the kind of momentum the 11th-ranked team craved as they look to make an impact in South America's most important national team tournament after reaching knockout stages at the most recent World Cup.

The United States next play the 43rd-ranked Panama on Thursday in Atlanta, before facing 14th-ranked Uruguay in their final group stage match on July 1 in Kansas City.

"Getting off to a win to start with - massive for us," said defender Antonee Robinson.

"Build the confidence, show we're here to win, here to play and it puts us in good stead for the next game."

LUIS SUAREZ PRAISES URUGUAY TEAMMATE DARWIN NÚÑEZ

The two have once again met up to prepare for the Copa America.

Photo by DANTE FERNANDEZ/AFP via Getty Images

 Copa America has kicked off in the US this weekend, with teams from North and South America competing for the title. Uruguay’s first match is on Sunday when they take on Panama.

While striker Darwin Núñez is the team’s first choice in the position, 37-year-old Luis Suarez has been recalled to the team following an impressive season in Miami. Upon returning to the fold, Núñez, who has cited Suarez as his idol, respectfully relinquished the number nine shirt to him. This is not expected to change manager Marcelo Bielsa’s set-up, and Núñez will keep his place in the team.

Before the match, Suarez, the former Liverpool player, praised current Reds’ striker Núñez for his talent and defending him against critics who have highlighted his lack of goals to end Liverpool’s season.

“Today he is one of the best centre forwards in the world,” Suarez said. “I love how he plays and I love watching him. Since Darwin was in Penarol I had been talking to him, through someone else. There was a game in which he scored three goals that caught my attention.

“At that time it was said that he missed a lot of goals, but he also generated a lot. They criticised me for the same reason, but the important thing is that he always tried to overcome, he never gave up. I always saw special conditions in him. The forward has to be like that, the ambition, the desire to improve, the desire to get ahead of him.

The respect between the two men is clearly mutual, and Suarez showed his gratitude for Núñez’s support.

“Darwin always came, approached me, trying to chat and ask me things to improve. He is a divine kid. For him to tell me that I am his idol is something spectacular,” Suarez said.

“Since he arrived at the National Team he told me that as long as I was there, the ‘nine’ was going to be mine. That is something that one values a lot because it is a very nice gesture.”

Uruguay is tied with Argentina, the current world champions, for the most Copa America wins at 15. They will be trying to make is 16 this summer.

- epicskyline

DI MARIA SCORES, MESSI COMES.OFF BENCH IN ARGENTINA'S COPA WARMUP

Lionel Messi came on for the final 40 minutes against Ecuador, subbing out Ángel Di María who delivered Argentina's winning goal in the first half. EPA/TRENT SPRAGUE

 Ángel Di María scored as Lionel Messi returned to the international stage for the first time in six months, helping Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in a Copa América warmup match on Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Messi was sidelined for the first half before replacing Di María in the 56th minute.

A right hamstring injury kept the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and Inter Miami star from participating in Argentina's previous two Copa América warmup matches against El Salvador and Costa Rica in March.

"With Leo [Messi], there is no need to risk him. Not just with him, but others like [Nicolas] Otamendi didn't play. Angel [Di María] only played some minutes, Julian [Alvarez] and Lautaro [Martinez] the same", said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.

"We want to take care of these players, and allow them to arrive in their best possible conditions to the tournament".

With Messi watching from the bench, Di María sent a reverse pass from Cristian Romero into the net to open the scoring in the 40th minute.

"We know Copa America will be complicated, you could see it today in the game. Players get into it, and there will be difficult games," Di María told TyC Sports. "I think today was a good game to demonstrate how we are. I think we're on a good path."

Di María's goal marked his second consecutive in an international match, also scoring against Costa Rica on March 26. With the 31st goal of his Argentina career, the 36-year-old midfielder is tied with Gonzalo Higuain for the fifth-most goals in the country's history and sits just four goals behind Diego Maradona at No. 4 on the leaderboard.

Scaloni's squad will wrap up its pre-Copa América slate in Washington D.C. on Friday with a warmup match against Guatemala before opening its group stage of the tournament against Canada on June 20.

"We need to get together, compete, add minutes and feel that sensation of putting on that jersey again. That's what we're after before a Copa América that will be very difficult," Scaloni added.

Ecuador will play two friendly matches, against Bolívia on Wednesday and Honduras on June 16, before its debut in Copa America against Venezuela on June 22.

ESPN's Lizzy Becherano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

- ESPN News Services

NOTHING SET IN STONE FOR COPA AMERICA ROSTER, SAYS US COACH

USA TODAY Sports 

 Veterans Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie headline the United States' 27-man training camp roster ahead of Copa America but coach Gregg Berhalter said on Monday that nothing was set in stone for the tournament.

The United States host Colombia on June 8 and five-times world champions Brazil on June 12 for a pair of friendlies, before Copa America kicks off on home soil on June 20.

"The messaging was very clear that although a large majority of this roster will make up Copa America, nothing's set in stone," said Berhalter.

"That's the important thing. We want to have a good training camp, we want to have some good performances against Colombia and Brazil and we have to monitor a couple players for their fitness standpoint and a couple others for how (they're) performing."

A number of familiar faces from Berhalter's 2022 World Cup team will return, including captain Pulisic, Juventus midfielder McKennie, goalkeeper Matt Turner and his Nottingham Forest team mate Gio Reyna.

Forward Josh Sargent returns for the first time since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after he withdrew from the Nations League Final camp with injury earlier this year, while Tyler Adams got the call after missing the final game of an injury stunted season with Bournemouth.

"Trying to get Tyler and Josh in a place where they're healthy, they feel great going into Copa America," said Berhalter.

"Josh has a little bit of foot swelling going on that we want to get control of. Tyler has been training... we want to build him up again in the right way to get them ready."

The Copa America runs from June 20 to July 14 with 16 participating teams, 10 from CONMEBOL and six from CONCACAF.

- Reuters 

ARGENTINA QUALIFY FOR THE 2020 WORLD CUP

Argentina are unbeaten in 27 matches over two years.

Copa America winners have qualified for the 2020 World Cup.

NEYMAR JR. LAUGHS WITH LIONELL MESSI | SOCCER SPIRIT OF BROTHERHOOD | LEGENDS

 

LIONEL MESSI WINS COPA AMERICA BEST PLAYER AWARD

 

ARGENTINA VS. BRASIL | EL SHOW DE LA FINAL DE LA COPA AMÉRICA 2021