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). 🙁

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.

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.

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)

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.

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

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

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

Olympics as well isn't it?

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?

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

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

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

I'd prioritize it over a Copa America anyday.

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

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.

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.

Technically, and to most football aficionados and aficionadas, the Copa is more important but that doesn't mean it's bigger as it is a localised competition which this gentleman and his polite mirror reflection have never heard of and do not care about.

I think the Olympics would rank higher to the footballers who have a chance of winning a Gold medal as, like the World Cup, it must be priceless. It's also clear your grand children would not give a shit that you beat Peru and Guatemala in the Copa 60 years from now but your Olympic gold medal would still be seen as a big achievement even if the competition for that included the Australian U-23 team.
edit 1: i doubt those eggs made it to the frying pan.
edit 2: found the video and, yet again, Russia wins the drunks award.

"Decision for Neymar to play in Olympics and not Copa America sets bad precedent says Guillem Balague"

That alone should be enough for any decent human being to agree with Neymar's choice to go to the Olympics

As someone who has witnessed my country win both the Olympics and African Cup of Nations, I can say without a doubt which one I appreciate more. And that is definitely the Olympics, Atlanta 1996

In fact I can name the entire gold medal winning squad from those games two decades ago, while I can't even remember half the team that won our last Afcon trophy in 2013!

13 days later

USA: where national anthems are messed up. 

Alexis misses the best chance of the game v Argentina so far. Good game though

Two nil Argentina. Two similar goals: won in midfield counter, finish.

This has been one of the best games so far this tournament, much more fast paced than others. Di Maria is frustrating though, he's often overdribbled and released the ball too late.

Chile has been very disappointing since Sampaoli left.

I thought Mexico vs Uruguay was great as well. Fancy Mexico to win this.

Clrnc wrote:

Chile has been very disappointing since Sampaoli left.

I thought Mexico vs Uruguay was great as well. Fancy Mexico to win this.

Me too...although Uruguay conceded 3, I thought Godin and Gimenez were awesome. Godin scored and gave that Rolan a chance Suarez would've buried while Gimenez stopped 2 clear goal scoring opportunities. Uruguay lacks a midfielder than can dictate the game and feed their fowards though. 

Argentina bringing on Aguero...insane bench 😆 

did anyone watch the Panama-Bolivia game? my god that was dire football.. im watching it thinking "our under 21's could probably beat these guys"

anyone watching USMNT right now? bobby wood and zardes are just awful...the latter is an awful version of welbeck! 😆

3-0 up, not doing too badly.

Bryan Ruiz still looks brilliant.

Bryant wrote:

anyone watching USMNT right now? bobby wood and zardes are just awful...the latter is an awful version of welbeck! 😆

Zardes is a joke 😆

I'm not sure I have ever seen a less (technically) talented forward. You could tell me he had never played football until his 20's and I wouldn't be surprised.

What a save by Ospina.

Lord have mercy on this poor Ecuadorian soul who only came to play football but got murdered in cold blood

what was that little farce at the end of MEX-URU? Were the Uruguayans being cheaty coonts again?

banduan wrote:

what was that little farce at the end of MEX-URU? Were the Uruguayans being cheaty coonts again?

They were complaining about the build up for Mexico's second goal. When the ball was first played in the box, the Uruguayan players thought it hit Marquez's hand (clean goal though). 

MistaT wrote:
Bryant wrote:

anyone watching USMNT right now? bobby wood and zardes are just awful...the latter is an awful version of welbeck! 😆

Zardes is a joke 😆

I'm not sure I have ever seen a less (technically) talented forward. You could tell me he had never played football until his 20's and I wouldn't be surprised.

someone has finally made a video of his touch 😆

Love the unintentional assists!

Sad thing is because he has pace and power he'll probably be playing at a Premier League club next season.