Copa America 2016

mentalvortex

The centennial Copa America will be hosted this summer by the United States.

For the first time history, Copa America will be held outside of South America.

16 teams will be participating in the tournament.

The groups are as follows. -

Group A - USA, Colombia, Costa rica, Paraguay

Group B - Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru

Group C - Mexico, Uruguay, Jamaica, Venezuela

Group D - Argentina, Chile, Panama, Bolivia

For us, this means that no summer break for Alexis, (and Joel /Ospina). 🙁

mentalvortex

Brazil declared their final squad for the Copa. Biggest exclusions for them are Neymar, Thiago Silva, Lucas Moura & David Luiz.

Goalkeepers - Alisson(Internacional), D Alves(Valencia), Ederson(Benfica)
Defenders - D Alves(Barcelona), R Caio (Sao Paulo), Douglas(Atletico Mineiro), Fabinho(Monaco), Gil(Shandong Luneng), Marquinhos(PSG), Miranda(Inter), F Luis(Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders - R Augusto(Beijing Guoan), Casemiro(Real Madrid), D Costa(Bayern), P Coutinho(Liverpool), Elias(Corinthians), L Gustavo(Wolfsburg), Lima(Santos), Rafinha(Barcelona), Willian(Chelsea)
Forwards - Gabrial(Santos), Hulk(Zenit), Jonas(Benfica)

Gabriel aka Gabigol should be the one to watch for as he comes with a lot of fanfare.

Clrnc

Will be keeping a close eye on this since the matches come straight after the Euros ones.

Interested to see how USA, Costa Rica and Mexico's A team fare against the South Americans.

Savz

Brazil for me.

mentalvortex

Argentina also declared their final squad. No major surprises there.

Goalkeepers - Andujar(Estudiates), Guzman (UNAL), Romero(Manchester United)
Defenders - Cuesta(Independiente), Funes Mori(Everton), Maidana(River Plate), Mercado(River Plate), Otamendi(Manchester City), Roncaglia(Fiorentina), Rojo(Manchester United)
Midfielders - Banega(Sevilla), Biglia(Lazio), Di Maria(PSG), A Fernandez(Atletico Madrid), Gaitan(Benfica), Kranevitter(Atletico Madrid), Lamela(Tottenham), Lavezzi(Hebei China), Mascherano(Barcelona), Pastore(PSG)
Forwards - Aguero(Manchester City), Higuain(Napoli), Messi(Barcelona)

Bold Tone

Clrnc wrote:
Will be keeping a close eye on this since the matches come straight after the Euros ones.

Interested to see how USA, Costa Rica and Mexico's A team fare against the South Americans.

They've been taking part in these tournaments for years now so i think they are one and the same.
Only difference being the tournament being held in a neutral country with great empty stadia as i don't think most Americans will bother supporting their own team during the baseball season and no way are they going to let in masses of "riff-raff" supporters from South America.

Clrnc

They have been fielding u23 teams though to prioritise the Gold Cup. This is the first time they are treating the Copas in proper.

Jed

Argentina to win it.

invisibleman18

Why have Brazil left out those players? Are they injured? And how do they still not have a centre forward better than Hulk?

Bold Tone

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12087/10252111/decision-for-neymar-to-play-in-olympics-and-not-copa-america-sets-bad-precedent-says-guillem-balague

invisibleman18

Ah right, forgot about the Olympics.

Klaus

I find it pretty incredible that Argentina didn't pick Dybala.

Clrnc

Olympics as well isn't it?

Klaus

I'm not sure, but that would explain it I guess. Why would anyone give a crap about the olympics when they have a shot at winning Copa America, though?

Clrnc

It's harder to win the Olympics though given it's limited to u23 only. Neymar and Messi prioritised it as well.

Klaus

Right, but there's zero prestige in winning the olympics (and the U23 limit is part of the reason).

flobaba

Zero prestige in winning the Olympics?? C'mon man, it's an international competition

I'd prioritize it over a Copa America anyday.

invisibleman18

Disagree that there's no prestige in an Olympic Gold medal. Probably a once in a lifetime chance to play at the Olympics too.

Clrnc

Yeah. As a footballer, you have plenty of chance to win the Copas which happens every bloody 2 years, and other major tournament every 4 years as long as you are with a good nation.

Olympic gold medal is a once in a lifetime achievement.

Claudius

Copa is bigger than Olympics
Only reason Neymar is prioritized for Olympics is because they are in Brazil. If Olympics were happening in England, Neymar would be going to Copa.