Copa America draw’s repercussion

Spoke coaches and presidents of the Associations  By Eduardo Barraza  No sooner were defined groups of 12 candidates for the crown currently owned by Brazil and began to play the 2011 edition of the Copa America. From presidents to coaches associations, all spoke about the great ceremony of the draw and the chances of their teams in the tournament. Mano Menezes (Brazil’s Coach) It will be the first opportunity after the World Cup, that gives South America teams the chance to confirm that they are in ascension. So very difficult matches are predicted in this Copa America This distance decreased markedly. The South American teams got a better level of preparation, are composed by players with international experience and there are...

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Argentina face Portugal in London

BUENOS AIRES, December 9, 2010 (AFP) - Argentina will take on Portugal in a friendly at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in London on February 9, the Argentine football federation has announced. Argentina have also lined up friendlies against the United States on March 26 in Seattle, and Costa Rica in San Jose on March 2...

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Julio H. Grondona said that the renovation work and implementation

CONMEBOL , December, 9, 2010 - The president of the Argentine Football Association, Julio H. Grondona said that the renovation work and implementation of the venues in the 8 host cities are ongoing in a positive maner, and stated that there is certainty of success in the competition, considering the remarkable support of national and provincial authorities to the Copa America.He also confirmed that on the occasion of the traditional competition there will be a FIFA-CONMEBOL medical conference to be held on June 30 at the Hilton Buenos Aires Hotel. A coaches’ conference was also confirmed. The same is scheduled for June 28 and 29.In another order, the president of the Football Federation of Chile, Harold Mayne-Nicholls, was emphatic in...

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Chilean Federation prepares a plan to keep Bielsa in the command of the team

(AFP) – Chilean Football’s leaders study to put in practice the plan to keep the post of the national team’s coach, the Argentinean Marcelo Bielsa. The coach agreed to continue in the command of Chile, as the president of the Chilean Football Federation, the Spanish Jorge Segovia, will not take the post. According to the local media, the plan includes a “consensus list”; besides appoint a person responsible for various functions, aiming ANFP elections, which should happen before January 15. The names being considered are Felipe Lamarca, businessman, and the ex-president of ANFP, Ricardo Albumohor, according to the statement of the journal El Comércio. The plan the keep with Bielsa in the command of the Chilean national team started when the...

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Brazil announce Netherlands friendly

RIO DE JANEIRO, December 8, 2010 (AFP) - Brazil will tackle their World Cup conquerors the Netherlands in a friendly match next June, Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) president Ricardo Teixeira announced on Wednesday. The game on June 4 will take place in one of the 12 stadiums that will be used to host matches at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The CBF also confirmed friendly matches against France in Paris on February 9 and against Germany in Stuttgart on August 10. In July, Brazil will compete in the Copa America in Argentina, where they will be bidding to win their third consecutive continental crown.    Brazil and the Netherlands met in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup in Port Elizabeth, South Africa last July,...

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Friendly advice

Elias says to Forlán to accept Corinthians' proposal (AFP) Brazilian midfielder Elias, who will move from Corinthians to Atletico Madrid, advised the scorer of the Spanish club, Diego Forlán, to prioritize his former club rather than rival team São Paulo – to avoid being “a loser”. “If Forlán wants to be a loser, he can go to São Paulo. However, if he wants to be a winner, I will advise him to play for Corinthians”, said Elias, who was voted best defensive midfielder of the Brazilian League receiving  the Silver Ball award, given by Placar Magazine and the ESPN Brasil TV channel. On Sunday (5), Elias had already confirmed his transfer for the amount of 7 million Euros to Atletico Madrid, Forlán’s club.  The Uruguayan’s representative,...

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Messi competing for the FIFA Golden Ball award

PARIS, December 6, 2010 (AFP) - Three Barcelona players -- Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Lionel Messi -- have been shortlisted for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for 2010.Iniesta and Xavi played for Spain's victorious World Cup team, while Messi played for Argentina in South Africa. The winner will be announced in Zurich on January 10. Last year the trophy went to Messi for his outstanding play at Barcelona. World governing body FIFA released a first shortlist of 23 players in October 26 with seven members of Spain's World Cup winning squad in the running for the prestigious Player of the Year award. The revamped award is a combination of the FIFA World Player of the Year award and the France Football Ballon d'Or trophy, which have been run separately...

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