Copa America 2004....is it really necesary? (if Hispanic, read)

Now, I love the Copa America. It used to be one of the most wonderful tournaments up until 2001 in Colombia (when all the teams sent their subs). It wasnt Colombia's fault though as many countries were freaked out by the fighting that was going on (ie: Canada, Argentina).

But the thing is that they put the tournament RIGHT in the middle of a World Cup qualifyer. Whats the point?
I mean, in Euro , you can say "Wow, its the first time in awhile that they've faced each other".

But When your coming out of a World Cup qualifyer that pits EVERY team toghether (in very serious competition).
So whats the difference if Argentina beats Colombia in the qualifyers and Colombia beats Argentina a week later in the Copa America, is Colombia the best in the continent? (sorry...using colombia/argentina as examples).

So then (just like last time), Colombia gets knocked out of WC BUT they are champions of america.

Also, theres no real asurance that all the teams will send the starting lineups. If you are Uruguay, would you risk having Alvaro Recoba getting injured? What if he does and then they get eliminated. It would be a waste. (even IF they won the whole thing it would be a waste)

I think that the Copa America should be awarded to the First place team of the qualifications (would put even more importance to it). Or atleast have the top 4 teams face off in a tournament 6 months before world cup and invite Mexico, USA and 2 more teams.
I dont know.

But it seems pointless to me. I am looking forward to it though. And if the real teams are sent, im looking for either Brazil, Uruguay or Paraguay to take it.
I wish it could go back to the old ways. Paraguay 99, Uruguay 95, Ecuador 93 were all amazing tournaments.

what do you guys think of the whole situation?

Are you saying I shouldn't read your post because I'm not Hispanic? That's discrimination.



j/k

i couldn't agree with you more

why in the middle of WC Qualifications

Originally posted by Run DMB
Are you saying I shouldn't read your post because I'm not Hispanic? That's discrimination.



j/k

Click to expand...

I think you took it all wrong. He said If hispanic, read what he meant is if you're hispanic you must read it because its copa america. Everyone is welcome. Now if he said only hispanic read now i can see what you're talking about(discrimination).

Not bad Run DMB i didn't see the j/k.

Originally posted by Allen
Not bad Run DMB i didn't see the j/k.

Click to expand...

Heh, yeah I was kidding. He does make a good point though... and that's part of the reason why the US pulled out of the tournament as well. Cause if we participated, between World Cup qualifiers and Copa America our best players wouldn't even get to play a single game for their club teams in MLS because they would always be away with the national team.

one thing I agree with you on is having the champion of Copa America get the first WC spot, so that would mean that the rest of the teams would have to still go thru the whole qualifying, it would make Copa America much more competative....we'll just have to wait and see, but I do think that having it in the middle of qualifying is bad.

what??? are you serious Copa America is going to rock this year

just cuz the last one suck doesnt mean that this one is gonna be awfull
Anyway opinons are opinions so if it bothers you dont see copa america

And is Copa AMERICA not Copa SOUTHAMERICAN

We dont need a Copa America in the middle of the qualifiers. Although i like Copa America, but its just useless. It could be made on another date.

If they put the Copa America in the middle of qualifiers like last time we will never see a great Copa America again. All the big players will not came because their clubs need them.

Originally posted by Allen
If they put the Copa America in the middle of qualifiers like last time we will never see a great Copa America again. All the big players will not came because their clubs need them.

Click to expand...

well I think the reasoning this year was that in the offseason most players would be available to come and play, but you have a point, like I said on the other post, Copa America should be held before qualifying and the champ gets an automatic spot to the WC, and the rest still have to battle it out during qualifying....that would make Copa America much more exciting...

great idea on having the champ get the first spot in.
I liked it when they had it the year after the world cup (ie: 95,99)
They should have had it in 2003.

but im sure that all the real players will be available (only fair since EURO will be a month before....they are both FIFA dates). But I wouldnt risk them anyways.
Also, not only is the EURO a month before, We have copa America in july and the olympics (which will have big players) right in august.
this is really inexusable by conmebol. just bad organization.

yeah but i still think is going to be a great one because there are excelent local(not playing in europe) players in al the continent

Man the WC qualifiers suck. You have to wait so long for match days.

Brazil-Argentina: June of 2004
Argentina-Brazil: June of 2005

(btw I don't know who is going to play at home first even though I put Brazil in front for 2004)

I think one of the reasons they pushed it back from 2003 was so both Euro and Latin American regional tournaments were on the same year.

Another reason why the Copa America is in the middle of the Qualifiers is because of FIFA's bloody pressure to reduce the games played for Qualifying (they wanted Quals to be like they were back in 1994). Since we refused, we had to lengthen the time between games. So even if the cup had been held in 2003, we would have had the same problem in 2005 (or if it's in 2007, not sure weather CONMEBOL has decided to do the cup every 4 years).

Also, I believe the last time all nations used their first teams in Copa America was back in Bolivia 97.

Originally posted by LOCOlombia
one thing I agree with you on is having the champion of Copa America get the first WC spot, so that would mean that the rest of the teams would have to still go thru the whole qualifying, it would make Copa America much more competative...

Click to expand...

Um... No.

i think that the cup wont suck.....it will just lose prestige. Alot of prestige. No one will ever claim to be the real america champion since any other country can just debate that they had their "B" team on.

last time real teams were used was in 99. or atleast almost every team was real exept for such teams like Uruguay (who beat Chile and Paraguay's real teams with a "B" team.).

In 2001, the only real teams were Colombia (which played an exelent tournament) and Mexico.
Naturally, both were in the final and the champ was the better team.

2004 will be good though.

Originally posted by Ruben Sosa

Um... No.

Click to expand...

well the only reason I said they should give the spot to the champ was because of all this "B" team crap, its just sad to see Copa America with all its tradion and history become what it has, maybe that would give teams a new reason to actually send their starting team....

Originally posted by pasion1
In 2001, the only real teams were Colombia (which played an exelent tournament) and Mexico.
Naturally, both were in the final and the champ was the better team.

Click to expand...

Mexico didnt have their best team...though it was a majority of our best players called up.

The champ was the local team...or else their would have been a lot of unrest among the Colombians. The cup was made for them to win...why do you think that in the semi-final between Uruguay and Mexico, both teams had lots of players sent off. So no matter who was in the final they wouldnt have their best team.

Originally posted by #1 Stunna
Mexico didnt have their best team...though it was a majority of our best players called up.

The champ was the local team...or else their would have been a lot of unrest among the Colombians. The cup was made for them to win...why do you think that in the semi-final between Uruguay and Mexico, both teams had lots of players sent off. So no matter who was in the final they wouldnt have their best team.

Click to expand...

anyway, so is Perú gonna win the next one?

lol.
I dont know....but im sure Peru will put full team (they are hosting it for god sakes)

I remember that game though (Mexico/Uruguay)....Uruguay didnt even send their sub team....and almost won (2-1 game from a PK win).
its true though...many players were sent off (Morales elbowed a Mexican player at end of game which was bad)


Colombia 2001 was a joke....nuff said.
Hmm?
Maybe returning to the old style of qualifications would be good for south america. But that would cause small teams to not have a chance to qualify.

actually, since all the countries are doing amazing in catching up, having the old small group style would literally cause me to have 3 consecutive heart attacks during the whole thing.
seriously.
the 2 year (although rediculous....should be far less) is good in the way that you can play comfortably and we can really see who deserves to qualify.

my opinion thats all.