Topic: Copa America 2021 : 13 June - 11 July in Brazil : Argentina win it @ Maracana

[Fromola]

Globo reporting the Brazilian players are now questioning whether to participate in Copa America. Other outlets are more firmly claiming that is European-based players that do not want to play
https://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/selecao-brasileira/noticia/noticias-selecao-brasileira-copa-america-jogadores.ghtml

Said on the thread the other day the players should refuse to play. There's a Copa America every year there isn't a World Cup, it's just a pure cash grab and the players are treated like dogs. With a pandemic raging over there just refuse to take part in it.

[oojason]

Said on the thread the other day the players should refuse to play. There's a Copa America every year there isn't a World Cup, it's just a pure cash grab and the players are treated like dogs. With a pandemic raging over there just refuse to take part in it.

No, there isn't mate - the years there has been a Copa America for the past 20 years... 2001, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016 (the Centenario - fair enough), 2019, & 2021 (delayed from 2020 due to the Coronavirus).

The reason there were 'back to back' Copa Americas in 2019 & 2020 was to try 'harmonise' the international football calendar (play in the same year and summer as UEFA's Euro Championships etc).


Though you're spot on that they should refuse to play in this Copa America given the current situation with the Coronavirus - plus the shite organisation of the tournament & other events in South America this year. Player & staff safety is somewhere way down the list of priorities on this. £$£$ is seemingly more important - and also political capital / opportunity to be made by a flagging Bolsonaro.

[TepidT2O]

I just can’t see Brazil pulling out myself…

Wait and see I guess though

[Fromola]

No, there isn't mate - the years there has been a Copa America for the past 20 years... 2001, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016 (the Centenario - fair enough), 2019, & 2021 (delayed from 2020 due to the Coronavirus).

The reason there were 'back to back' Copa Americas in 2019 & 2020 was to try 'harmonise' the international football calendar (play in the same year and summer as UEFA's Euro Championships etc).


Though you're spot on that they should refuse to play in this Copa America given the current situation with the Coronavirus - plus the shite organisation of the tournament & other events in South America this year. Player & staff safety is somewhere way down the list of priorities on this. £$£$ is seemingly more important - and also political capital / opportunity to be made by a flagging Bolsonaro.

I mean more recently. 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020 (now 2021) all scheduled. The only non-World Cup year there wasn't one scheduled was 2017 and there was  Confederations Cup.

I could understand UEFA wanting to make sure their once every 4 years Euros was rearranted. The Copa America wasn't essential when they'd already had 3 in the previous 5 years.

[jillcwhomever]

I just can’t see Brazil pulling out myself…

Wait and see I guess though

Can they force the players to play if they really don't want to and feel that strongly about it? About to see, I reckon.

[Keith Lard]

Amazing what Carlos Tevez has done with his face. He looks like Diego Simeone these days: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57368155

[Crosby Nick]

I just can’t see Brazil pulling out myself…

Wait and see I guess though

[rafathegaffa83]

I just can’t see Brazil pulling out myself…

Wait and see I guess though

I think they'll either pull out or release a statement saying they are playing under protest. It's clear Bolsonaro wants this as his '78 World Cup propaganda piece. I've recently been reading Jonathan Wilson's book on the history of Argentinian football and many of the Argentinian players believe the 1978 tournament should not have gone ahead (FIFA at one point talked about relocating it to Belgium and the Netherlands)

A couple of things to note

- The Brazilian domestic league is still ongoing, which complicates recruiting players from that league at short notice

- Casemiro has suggested it is not only the European players that hold these views, but the Brazil based players and staff too

- There are suggestions Tite will quit post-Paraguay match

- The head of the CFB (Brazilian version of the FA), who is responsible for Brazil hosting Copa America, is currently involved in a sexual harrassment lawsuit and is being pressured to quit

- There's also been a report (I think it was ESPN Brazil) noting CFB officials met with the squad the day before the announcement that Brazil would take over hosting duties. They were not given any heads-up concerning the matter

[rafathegaffa83]

Brazilian paper Globo is reporting that the Brazilian players are crafting a press release likely to be released after they play Paraguay. The emphasis of the text is going to be about the tournament being hosted in Brazil during the pandemic. Because of the way Bolsonaro government officials and supporters have begun to characterize the team's position as an anti-Bolsonaro stance, the players are removing political references from the document.

There is less solidarity when it comes to players from other teams. Although players (Cavani and Suarez) and managers (Lasarte, Scaloni) have been critical of Brazil being the host, Globo states that Brazilian players led by Neymar (of all people) has been trying to get consensus on whether players from other countries would be willing to boycott the tournament. The consensus is there are splits mainly between European and South American based players. There are worries that players could suffer financial losses and other consequences by refusing to play.

Also the Tite being forced out or quitting issue seems to be increasingly likely. Brazil has some history there. In 1970, the CFB fired manager Joao Saldanha before the 1970 World Cup for reasons including comments critical of the military dictatorship, Saldanha holding membership in the then illegal communist party and Saldanha refusing to pick players that were favourites of the military dictatorship and President of Brazil

[rafathegaffa83]

Reports from Argentina suggesting CONMEBOL held a Zoom meeting with federation presidents and Bolsonaro calling for teams to give written guarantees that they will play at the Copa America. They also want to exert more pressure on Casemiro and Tite. Brazilian outlet Globo is reporting that the national team captains refused to participate in this meeting

The Argentine reports claim Bolsonaro plans to call the Brazilian technical staff and players to demand to know whether they are participating. Sounds like the CONMEBOL executives want confirmation before Brazil play Paraguay. In the meantime, the national team captains are continuing to discuss what they plan to do.

[rafathegaffa83]

Argentinean FA says they are participating in Copa America
https://mobile.twitter.com/afa/status/1401582952295849985

Meanwhile Brazilian press saying the  embattled CFB president has promised the federal government he'll fire Tite and replace him with Bolsonaro supporter Renato Gaucho.

Additionally as it was clearly obvious from the get go, Globo note the entire reason Brazil has taken on the tournament is for political reasons. To show they could organize a tournament in a matter of weeks that Argentina abandoned and if Brazil win Bolsonaro officials plan to milk the political capital out of it. Apparently, the players not wanting to participate was a complete surprise to them
https://globoesporte.globo.com/google/amp/futebol/selecao-brasileira/noticia/rizek-caboclo-promete-ao-governo-federal-a-troca-de-tite-por-renato-gaucho-na-terca-feira.ghtml?

[rafathegaffa83]

Globo stating Brazilian players will play in the Copa America. The players shall still produce a press release criticizing the decision to have Brazil host the tournament because of the pandemic.

It sounds like there were severe problems trying to gain consensus with other squads. Bolivia and Ecuador for instance had been insistent on playing. Argentina will refuse to stay in Brazil and will instead train at a facility adjacent to Buenos Aires airport and fly in for matches.

The CFB president has been suspended for thirty days due to a sexual harrassment lawsuit. Major sponsors such as Nike want him permanently sacked. The players were unhappy with his conduct in relocating the tournament. Players who haven't already been vaccinated will be offered a vaccine on Wednesday

https://globoesporte.globo.com/google/amp/futebol/copa-america/noticia/noticias-selecao-brasileira-vai-jogar-copa-america.ghtml?

[oojason]

'Brazilian footballers criticise Copa America switch as supreme court schedules hearing':-

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/brazil-bra/story/4404045/brazilian-footballers-criticise-copa-america-switch-as-supreme-court-schedules-hearing


'Members of the Brazil soccer team have criticised CONMEBOL's last-minute decision to host the Copa America amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic, but said they would play in the 10-nation tournament that kicks off in Brasilia on Sunday.'

'Brazil's top court has scheduled an emergency session for Thursday to decide whether the Copa America should be allowed to kick off on Sunday.'

(more info in the linked article)

[oojason]

.
Playing Squads for the 2021 Copa America... (up to 28-man squads can be used in this Copa America - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_squads)



Argentina - https://twitter.com/Argentina/status/1403374804632326150 (No Foyth, Ocampos, Palomino, or Buendia in the Argentina squad)





Bolivia - https://twitter.com/laverde_fbf/status/1403141969010888704








Brazil - https://twitter.com/CBF_Futebol/status/1402710788993961984





Chile - https://twitter.com/LaRoja/status/1403035453373173760





Colombia - https://twitter.com/FCFSeleccionCol/status/1403044791441510401





Ecuador - https://twitter.com/LaTri/status/1402825519754797058





Paraguay - https://twitter.com/Albirroja/status/1403114550313033730





Peru - https://twitter.com/SeleccionPeru/status/1403025413362814976






Uruguay - https://twitter.com/Uruguay/status/1403020664597008397





Venezuela - https://twitter.com/SeleVinotinto/status/1403097835126489091 (Darwin Machís and Salomón Rondón are not in the Venezuela Copa America squad)







Stadiums / Venues - https://twitter.com/CopaAmerica/status/1403117268884676610




Wikipedia Page for the 2021 Copa America Venues - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Copa_Am%C3%A9rica#Venues

Maracana - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maracan%C3%A3_Stadium (the Maracana is only hosting the Final - no other Copa America matches will be played there)
Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos (Botafogo) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Est%C3%A1dio_Ol%C3%ADmpico_Nilton_Santos
Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha (Brasilia) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Est%C3%A1dio_Nacional_Man%C3%A9_Garrincha
Arena Pantanal (Cuiabá) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_Pantanal
Estádio Olímpico Pedro Ludovico (Goiânia) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Est%C3%A1dio_Ol%C3%ADmpico_Pedro_Ludovico

[rafathegaffa83]

Ben Brereton selected for Chile. FM stuff.

[oojason]

A decent summarisation of recent events around the Copa America over the last couple of weeks...


'Brazil is reluctantly hosting the Copa América that no one wanted':-

The Copa América begins on Sunday night with a match between Brazil and Venezuela but that is not even half the story

www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/12/brazil-hosting-copa-america-venezuela



It was only on Thursday that Brazil's highest court ruled that the Copa America could actually take place in Brazil - the tournament starts on Sunday...

'Copa America: Brazilian Supreme Court rules tournament can go ahead':-

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57438780 & www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/11/top-court-allows-brazil-to-host-copa-america-despite-coronavirus

[rafathegaffa83]

12 Venezuelan players and staff test positive for COVID. Twelve.

[TipTopKop]

Really weird having this tournament crowbar-ed in like this. Just hope everyone makes it safely until the end.

[rafathegaffa83]

Bolivia have confirmed 3 players and 1 staff member have COVID

[oojason]

12 Venezuelan players and staff test positive for COVID. Twelve.

Crazy mate - they flew in 15 more players earlier today - some of whom are expected to play in the match tonight vs Brazil.

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2021/06/12/12-venezuelans-infected-by-virus-before-copa-america-match/45731359



https://twitter.com/SeleVinotinto/status/1403936822275805187

[ScouserAtHeart]

What will it take for them to suspend the whole thing

[rafathegaffa83]

What will it take for them to suspend the whole thing

Nothing. Brazilian Supreme Court says its can go on and some nations refused to boycott due to fear of economic or personal consequences. Bolsonaro wants it to be his World Cup '78 propaganda showcase.

[JerseyKloppite]

Just looked at the format, it's even more stupid than the Euros. Full group stage where everyone plays everyone and only one team in each group of five is knocked out?

What a joke. Just have the top two in each group play semi finals.

Or better still don't place this farce at all.

[oojason]

.
'Copa America: Lionel Messi, Argentina join Brazil as favourites at controversial event':-

www.espn.com/soccer/copa-america/story/4406286/copa-america-lionel-messiargentina-join-brazil-as-favourites-at-controversial-event

^ a decent piece & preview on this Copa America by Tim Vickery (https://twitter.com/Tim_Vickery)...



a few other previews for the Copa America...

'Copa America 2021 Preview: Group A' - https://sbisoccer.com/2021/06/copa-america-2021-preview-group-a

'Copa America 2021 Preview: Group B' - https://sbisoccer.com/2021/06/copa-america-2021-preview-group-b

Copa America at Sports Mole (with some quality articles on teams other than Brazil & Argentina!) - www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/copa-america

Copa America 2021: Everything you need to know - www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56967299

Copa America 2021: What you need to know - www.aljazeera.com/sports/2021/6/13/copa-america-2021-what-you-need-to-know

'Seven young stars to watch at the 2021 Copa America' - www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/seven-young-stars-to-watch-at-the-2021-copa-america-araujo-caicedo



A few decent journalists /writers on twitter that'll have some decent reads, insights, info and links to articles on the Copa America (and South American footy in general):-

https://twitter.com/FT_Total : https://twitter.com/adowniebrazil : https://twitter.com/SimonEdwardsSAF : https://twitter.com/AdamBrandon84 : https://twitter.com/tomrobbo89

[killer-heels]

Is this supposed to be every 2, 3 or 4 years? From 2015 there has been 4 of these.

[rafathegaffa83]

Is this supposed to be every 2, 3 or 4 years? From 2015 there has been 4 of these.

2016 was centenary edition. 2015 and 2019 were the usual format. This year's was supposed to take place last year, as the tournament will now align with the Euros.

[killer-heels]

2016 was centenary edition. 2015 and 2019 were the usual format. This year's was supposed to take place last year, as the tournament will now align with the Euros.

So they would have had another tournament just a year after the 19 one?

[rafathegaffa83]

So they would have had another tournament just a year after the 19 one?

Yes. Supposedly there are two main reasons for this: improving the chances of the South American sides of doing well in the 2022 WC and boosting South America's (Argentina) attempt to (co-)host a WC in 2030. But let's face it money like also had a massive role. Hence, why this circus will be allowed to continue.

[oojason]

.
Brazil XI: Alisson; Danilo, Militao, Marquinhos, Renan Lodi; Fred, Casemiro, Paquetá; Richarlison, Gabriel Jesús, Neymar. (Fabinho & Firmino on the bench)

Venezuela XI: Graterol; Hernández, Adrián Martínez, La Mantia, Mago, Alexander González; Junior Moreno, Cásseres, Brujo Martínez; Manzano, Aristeguieta. (only named 7 subs)

a 10pm kick off (UK time). https://twitter.com/CBF_Futebol : https://twitter.com/SeleVinotinto



All the 2021 Copa America matches are being shown live in the UK on... BBC Red Button / BBC iPlayer / BBC Website - www.live-footballontv.com/copa-america-on-tv.html

TV stations around the world showing the Copa America matches live (+ great for IPTV etc) - www.livesoccertv.com/competitions/international/copa-america

60+ Stream sites - www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=345769.0


https://twitter.com/CopaAmerica : https://copaamerica.com/en : www.flashscore.co.uk/football/south-america/copa-america : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica

[jillcwhomever]

What time does this kick off?

[rafathegaffa83]

Seeing up to 15 COVID cases for Venezuela being reported. Colombia have announced two staff members have tested positive.

[Crosby Nick]

Fred and Richarlison ahead of Fab and Bobby. How are those picks received in Brazil or are they happy with them?

[Dim Glas]

it’s genuinley hilarious how Fab doesn’t start for Brazil, but Fred does 

But I’m all for it.

[rafathegaffa83]

Fred and Richarlison ahead of Fab and Bobby. How are those picks received in Brazil or are they happy with them?

Genuinely don't think Tite rates Fabinho that highly as a DM. Only 13 caps.

[jillcwhomever]

Genuinely don't think Tite rates Fabinho that highly as a DM. Only 13 caps.

He is a strange coach Tite all round. But Fab needs some rest.

[Dr. Beaker]

What time does this kick off?

10 o'clock on iplayer.

[jillcwhomever]

10 o'clock on iplayer.

Thanks.

[Samie]

Fab could do with a rest but how the fuck in all things holy is Fred starting a game for Brazil?

[Dr. Beaker]

Go ed Gini lad.

Wrong thread oops.

[rafathegaffa83]

Fab could do with a rest but how the fuck in all things holy is Fred starting a game for Brazil?

Third straight game he's started for them, so it's not like he's being rotated in for an upcoming thrashing of Venezuela