Copa America 2011 shall be broadcast on HD

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• The 2011 version of the Copa America shall have a special attraction for the first time. The 43rd edition of this tournament shall be fully broadcast in high definition (HD). It is estimated that some 200 countries shall be watching the competition, and companies from throughout the world have already acquired the rights to broadcast this championships.
  SportItalia, from Italy, as also BBTV from Thailand and Sport 1 from the Netherlands are just some of the television stations that shall be showing the tournament. Below, we list some television stations that shall be showing the Copa America:
  Al Jazeera – Middle East
  BBTV – Thailand
  TyC Sports – Argentina
  Unitel - Bolivia
  Canal 13 - Chile
  América TV - Peru
  Tenfield - Uruguay
  SportItalia  - Italy (including Vatican City)
  Melita - Malta
  Sport1 - Netherlands

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Announced the official regulations of 2011 Copa América

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• Conmebol made public the official regulations (November 9th) for the 43rd Copa América to be held in Argentina in 2011. Among the main modifications, the most important is the decision criterion from quarter finals onwards. In previous editions, if the match ended tied, the situation was decided through penalty shootout. As happened in 2007, when Brazil and Uruguay remained in the contest by kicks from the penalty point and the Brazilian National Team was benefited from it ((4) 2 x 2 (5)).
  In 2011 only the round of 16 will be decided by penalty shootout (in case of a tied game). From this stage on, the match winner will only be defined after the extra time of 30 minutes. If the match is still even, then the penalty shootout will take place.
  It is good to remember that Japan and Mexico were invited to the tournament, which will comprise 12 countries competing for the title. The groups will be raffled off next Thursday (November 11th) in the impressive Teatro Argentino de La Plata in Argentina. Conmebol had already established that Brazil, Argentina and Mexico will be the heads of selection.
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Draw of Copa America Argentina 2011 on Thursday, November 11, in La Plata

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• A great expectation and illustrious presences in the country that saw the birth of the Cup
  By Eduardo Barraza
  
  The majestic palace of the Teatro Argentino in La Plata, football will become the football epicenter of the region and of much of the planet on Thursday, November 11, when takes place the draw and the presentation of Copa America 2011 to be held between 2nd and July 24th of next year. The event,which will include a concert and an artistic presentation of the host country and host cities will begin at 17 hours, Argentina time.
  The 43rd edition of the world's oldest continental tournament returns to where it was created and first played in 1916. This time will be attended by the ten South American teams and the guests Japan and Mexico. The hierarchy of teams participating in the tournament gives a very high expectation, since seven of the 12 participants were protagonists of the final stages of the World Cup in South Africa, and will participate in the draw with its top stars.
  
  The conduct of the draw will be headed jointly by Nicolás Leoz, president of the South American Football Confederation, and by Julio Grondona, president of the Argentine Football Association and senior vice president of FIFA. Also, attend the ceremony the presidents of national associations of the other nine South American countries, authorities and invited members of the Executive Committee of CONMEBOL. Representing the Government of Argentina is expected the presence of the Nation’s Office Boss, Aníbal Fernández, the Sports Secretary, Claudio Morresi and Governor of the Buenos Aires Province, Daniel Scioli.
  
  Besides these authorities, most coaches of national teams participating in the Cup should appear at the event. There are 500 accredited journalists.
  
  The general secretary of CONMEBOL, Eduardo Deluca, will be the master of ceremonies at the time of the draw itself, besides being responsible for presenting a report of the competition format and other technical issues and regulations.
  
  In other hand, the renowned former player Juan Ramon Veron, "La Bruja", champion of the Copa Libertadores (1968/69/70) and Intercontinental (1968) for Estudiantes de La Plata, will be honored by the Conmebol with the Order of Merit Honor of South American football for his extraordinary career. Juan Ramon is the father of Juan Sebastian Veron, the current player of the "pincha" club and one of the greatest exponents of South American football.
  
  Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay will be key heads
  
  Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay will be seeded in groups A, B and C, respectively, as determined by the Executive Committee of CONMEBOL, defined in its meeting on 18 October this year. Moreover, Paraguay, Chile and Colombia will be part of the second pot, while Venezuela, Bolivia and Peru will be the third pot. The invited Japan, Mexico and Ecuador, will join the fourth pot. 
  
  As had been previously informed, the Copa America will be divided geographically into four zones consisting in two cities each. The headquarters are Buenos Aires and La Plata (capital); Cordoba and Santa Fe (central); Mendoza and San Juan (Cuyo) and Jujuy and Salta (Northwest).
  
  The stadium Ciudad de La Plata, first covered stadium from South America, is the main venue of the tournament. While the stadium "Monumental" Antonio Liberti, in Buenos Aires, will stage the final match. Remember that five out of eight hosts - La Plata, Jujuy, Mendoza, Salta and Santa Fe - never before had received a round of Copa America, even though is the ninth Copa America hosted by Argentina.
  
  The organization already pre established that Chile will play their match in the Cuyan cities of Mendoza and San Juan, near to the Andes Cordillera, and that Paraguay will play in Central Region, in Cordoba and Santa Fe. The idea, expressed by José Luis Meiszner, Local Organizing Committee chairman, is to ensure that countries to play their matches as close to their borders.
  
  A regulation change: back to extra time
  
  One of the major changes in this edition of the Copa America in Argentina compared to previous editions is that, from the quarter-finals of the competition, there will be an extra time of 30 minutes in case of ties. Persisting the result, the dispute goes to the decision of penalty shootout. The last time that a confrontation was set in an extra time was in 1987, when the competition was also held in Argentina. In that occasion, Chile beat Colombia by 2-1 in the semifinal.
  
  The Copa America tournament, which began to be played in 1916, has had 42 editions, the last one being played in Venezuela in 2007. Seven teams have won the tournament: Argentina and Uruguay (14 times), Brazil (8), Paraguay and Peru (2), Bolivia and Colombia (1).
  
  This Thursday, November 11, three years and 89 days after the final whistle in Venezuela in 2007, the America's Cup to be played back to thrill millions of fans from all corners of the world.
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2011 Copa America groups defined

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• Argentina dressed for a party for the drawing of the Copa America 2011
  On Thursday, at the modern and historic Teatro Argentino de La Plata, the drawing for the Copa America Argentina 2011 was held. The ceremony was attended by the highest authorities of the South American Football Confederation, and was led by the president of the institution, Dr. Nicolas Leoz and Julio Grondona, president of the Argentine Football Association and senior vice president of FIFA.
  
  The gala
  
  In charge of conducting the event was Sergio Goicoechea, former double world champion with Argentina as goalkeeper in 1991 and 1993, who, in a brilliant way knew how to carry out the celebration. The ceremony also was attended by the likes of Lito Vitale, Jairo and Julia Zenko, the renowned Peruvian musician Lucho González and the Brandsen Ballet, comprising more than 50 dancers, under the choreographic direction of Mabel Pimentel and Oscar Murillo, including a special choreography by Carlos Veiga, to honor the host and special guest, Japan. All under the art direction of architect Daniel Brandimarte and the general direction of Héctor Berra.
  
  To decorate this event, which formally began the Forty-Third edition of the Tournament, there was a show with innovative staging and the attractive performance of musical numbers and three special audiovisual productions: North America: land of hope, Copa America: History of a continental passion and Argentina: the spectacle of nature, which honored the participating countries, their football and culture.
  
  Some illustrious presences
  
  Also attending the ceremony, were the presidents of the associations that make up CONMEBOL: Carlos Chávez (Bolivia), Harold Mayne-Nicholls (Chile), Luis Bedoya (Colombia), Luis Chiriboga (Ecuador), Juan Angel Napout (Paraguay) Manuel Burga (Peru), Sebastian Bauza (Uruguay), Rafael Esquivel (Venezuela). While the Brazilian Confederation was represented by the vice president of the entity and member of the Executive Committee of CONMEBOL, Marco Polo Del Nero Also present were Justino Campeán, head of the Mexican Federation, and Saburo Kawaguchi, honorary president of the Japanese Association invited to the continental event.
  
  Among the local officials present were the Secretary of Sports, Claudio Morresi, the Governor of the Province of Buenos Aires, Daniel Scioli, the governor of Jujuy, Walter Barrionuevo and the governor of San Juan, José Luis Gioja.
   
  In the event, which had the coverage of 500 journalists from different parts of the continent and the world, watching to see how fate designated things, were coaches from several of the participants in the Copa America: Sergio Batista (Argentina), Reinaldo Rueda ( Ecuador), César Farías (Venezuela), Sergio Markarian (Peru), Gerardo Martino (Paraguay) and Gustavo Quinteros (Bolivia).
  
  Dr. Nicolas Leoz opened the event
  
  The CONMEBOL president was responsible for opening the event with a speech in which he welcomed the delegations and all those present and recalled that Argentina was where the Copa America and the South American Football Confederation were born.
  The leader of continental football pointed out: "We are gathered here in this beautiful setting to host the Copa America, at the place where the inspiration of a Uruguayan, Héctor Rivadavia Gómez came to life, in July 9, 1916, forging the Unity of the peoples of South America, between the men from these various countries. It was this same idea that also gave birth to the Copa America. This cup, made in Argentina, is 70 cm high, 30 cm in diameter, has a wooden base with a weight of 9 kilos and was acquired for 3000 Swiss francs at the Casamia jewelry store. "
  
  Then Dr. Leoz went on to talk about the next edition, referring to the importance of the tournament: "Today we are returning to Buenos Aires, just after having crossed the geography of South America from end to end. In 1987 we established the rotation all host countries. " He added: "I also want to deeply thank on behalf of the Executive Committee of CONMEBOL, our guest participants, the Mexican Football Federation and the Japanese Football Association, who for the second time will take part in the continental competition. I wish each  of the 12 participating countries the best of luck to be crowned champions. "
  
  Finally, he predicted a good organization by Julio Grondona and wished the hosts the best of luck in order to fulfill the dream of a federal Copa America.
  
  Julio Grondona spoke and then received the Copa America from the hands of Leoz
  
  The president of the Argentine Football Association Julio Grondona said that next year’s edition of the tournament will be “the most competitive edition in the history of the competition. Argentina is a great host and we hope that our team can do well."
  
  He also referred to the great players who scored a great history in this tournament and then won in the Old Continent: "The Copa America is the genuine expression of talent. World Football is nourishment from this kind of tournament. It is a contest that has huge prestige. Huge players that leave their mark on world football come to participate. "
  
  After expressing his words Grondona received the Copa America from Dr. Leoz, and the trophy will stay in Argentina until the end of the contest.
  
  Honorable Mention to Juan Ramon Veron
  
  CONMEBOL decided to give Mr. Juan Ramon Veron's the Order of Merit for his outstanding career. The award was given by Dr. Leoz, Julio Grondona, and Buenos Aires Governor Daniel Scioli
  
  Deluca and the Drawing
  
  Responsible for directing the drawing was the Secretary General of CONMEBOL, Eduardo Deluca, who as in each drawing of the maximum continental organization explained the steps to be followed. But before the start he gave some news: first, that the tournament will begin on July 1 and not on July 2 as originally scheduled. He also declared: "Today we begin a second round of the Copa America. Mexico is a very special guest and a friendly rival of the South American teams. The first match this year will be number 700 and will be played on 1 / 7 at the stadium in La Plata "
  
  Groups
  
  Group A
  Argentina
  Colombia
  Japan
  Bolivia
  
  Group B
  Brazil
  Paraguay
  Ecuador
  Venezuela
  
  Group C
  Uruguay
  Chile
  Mexico
  Peru

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Recognition to a great one: the World Cup stadium in Córdoba will be named Mário Kempes

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• The governor of the city of Cordoba in Argentina, Juan Schiaretti, confirmed that the World Cup Stadium of that city will be renamed Mario Alberto Kempes. The provincial authority made the announcement during a visit to the renovation works in progress to prepare the stadium for the Copa America 2011, to be held in that country.
  
  The name of the former striker had been proposed to the governor by a football fan, and the idea was welcomed. "Our initiative is to recognize the greatest glory of Cordoba’s football, Mario Alberto Kempes who gave us the joy of the 78 World Cup," said the governor.
  
  In turn, on the road to the works being performed at the Estadio Córdoba, Schiaretti said: "At this early stage, we are seeing the works to expand the outdoor stalls in which we will build a platform above the current area. "
  
  "It'sa great honor that the governor has thought of me. I will have no more and no less responsibilities than I have today, but no less, it is beautiful, important and a great honor for me," said "The Matador." "They told me they were going to propose a kind of law, they would propose that the stadium have my name," said Kempes.
  
  A history review
  
  The Cordoba Stadium, located in an area called Chateau Carreras in the capital city of Cordoba, opened two months before the start of the 1978 World Cup with an Argentina team match, led by César Menotti, defeating a local combine.
  
  The first goal was scored six minutes into the match by Mario Kempes, at that time a Spanish Valencia player, a team with which he was "Pichichi" (top striker) of the League in the 1976-77 season (24 goals) and 1977 -78 (28). Kempes, 56, said he was "proud" of the possibility of the stadium having his name.
  
  "People normally put someone’s name to a street or a town square where the person was born. And that usually happens when you can not see it. When you’re gone. It would be an honor for me and more so for Cordoba, that has always had Great athletes. If it’s approved, I’m grateful,” said the former footballer a few days ago about this possibility in a statement to “Mundo D”.
  
  In addition, the initiative provides for the naming of the press sector as "Victor Brizuela", in memory of the famous 

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Copa America 2011: Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay heads of series

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• The Conmebol set that the national teams of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay will be heads of groups A, B and C, respectively, for the draw for the Copa America in 2010, scheduled for November 11 in the Argentine Theatre of La Plata , which will host the opening match at the brand new stadium Ciudad de La Plata, the first fully covered in South America. The other teams will occupy the following posts: Paraguay, Chile and Colombia are the second seeds, Venezuela, Bolivia and Peru are on the third pot, and Ecuador, Japan and Mexico make up the fourth pot.
  It was established that the Chile squad will play its commitments in San Juan and Mendoza, region near to Cuyo. The others will dispute their matches in the cities of Cordoba, Salta, Jujuy, Santa Fe and La Plata. The final of the Copa America 43rd edition will be at the Monumental stadium of River Plate, in Buenos Aires.

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Mexico and Japan are confirmed in the 43rd edition of the Copa America

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• As has been the custom since 1993, the 43rd edition of the Copa America shall have two guest teams to make the contest for the title of the competition even more significant.   In 2001, the countries chosen are well known to the South Americans: Japan and Mexico. These two national teams have already participated in other editions and are old rivals.
  Mexico, who has participated in the tournament on seven occasions, goes to Argentina seeking its first ever win in the trophy. It is worth remembering that in 1993 and 2001 the Mexican team fell at the last hurdle and were runners-up. In the latest edition of the Copa America, in 2007, the El Tri beat Uruguay in the third-place playoff and walked off with the bronze medal.
  Japan took part in the Copa America, in 1999, in Paraguay, and shall be crossing the world next year to improve their previous results - last place in Group A, with only one point in three games - and to fight for a semi-final berth in this tournament. The hope of the Land of the Rising Sun lies in the mid fielder Keisuke Honda, who plays for CSKA of Russia.

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