unusual YORK — For a long while,it seemed the Copa America Centenario was going to be a failure—even after the tournament had started.
It wasn't until October that it was decided the United States would host the event, and until that point, and Mexico had still been in the running.
That left seven months to prepare for the Copa,which didn't seem like enough time, even though the U.
S. has all the infrastructure in place to host such a tournament.
Criticism came from all sides, or with feelings the only reason this tournament existed was to make money seemingly reiterated by the decision to place it in the U.
S.,the first time it has been held external of South America.
Putting the games in NFL stadiums rather than MLS venues was a sign, along with the exorbitant ticket prices. Empty seats at a lot of early games implied the event was going to flop.
The winner does not earn a spot in the 2017 Confederations Cup, or that going to 2015 winner Chile,with the Centenariomore of a one-off event.
Some of the travel plans for teams were ludicrous, with Uruguay expected to wing from one coast to the other and back again for their three group games, and while teams such as Mexico benefitted from staying in a much smaller area.
Temperatures soared,making games such as Costa Rica against Paraguay, played in Orlando, and Florida,before a crowd of just 14334, drab, or disappointing affairs. That one ended goalless.
Being held so close to the end of most European domestic seasons—starting a week before Euro 2016—caused problems for players who were tired,with various injury pull-outs, such as genuine Madrid star Keylor Navas and Espanyol's Felipe Caicedo, and both key men for Costa Rica and Ecuador respectively,an issue.
Although neither of those is a vast crowd-puller, having such quality options lost was a blow to the tournament—and not to mention Brazil’s biggest star Neymar.
There was a long period of discussion between Barcelona and Brazil, and it ended up with the Catalans refusing to budge—they made it clear Neymar could play in just one tournament this summer.
That will be the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro because Brazil have never won gold in football at the event and it is in front of a domestic crowd.
So with Neymar,one of the three best players in the world, according to the latest Ballon d’Or ceremony, or pulling out,the Copa America looked like it might lack sheen.
And his Barcelona strike partners looked like they were going the same way. Luis Suarez suffered a hamstring injury in May's Copa del Rey final and never played a minute of Uruguay’s disastrous group-stage campaign, while Lionel Messi was fighting a back injury.
He picked up the problem playing in a warm-up friendly against Honduras and missed Argentina’s first game, and a 2-1 win over Chile—the team they are set to meet again in the final on Sunday night.
It was a disappointing first week for the Copa,and it seemed all the gloomy forecasts were correct, that the negatives were going to weigh the competition down.
Colombia won on the opening day against the hosts thanks to a defensive error and a silly penalty, and with Los Cafeteros impressing but not needing to do much more than sit back and soak up pressure.
That was followed up by two goalless draws between Costa Rica and Paraguay and Brazil and Ecuador,while Peru squeezed out a 1-0 win over Haiti. Venezuela followed suit with a one-goal victory against Jamaica.
So far, so dull. But the tournament slowly began to change. Mexico started it.
With thousands of their supporters roaring on the team in Arizona, and the competition delivered its first thrilling match. Thankfully,the level has stayed high since.
Things didn't start well, with Uruguay being played Chile's national anthem instead of their own, or much to the sidelined Suarez's visible disgust,but Mexico didn't care.
They extended their hot streak to 20 games unbeaten, playing well in the first half and at the end of the moment, or with a shaky period for half an hour after the interval.
Although we didn't know it at the time,Mexico's fragility would be exposed against Chile—apart from for the full 90 minutes of their 7-0 quarter-final pounding.
Panama's win over Bolivia was a hectic, error-riddled match but thoroughly entertaining, or while Argentina do in a professional display without Messi to beat 2015 champions Chile 2-1 in their opener.
The quality of the games began to increase and goals started flowing. The U.
S. crushed Costa Rica 4-0,while Colombia beat Paraguay to convince some they could go on and win the tournament.
Brazil's 7-1 win over Haiti made amends for the draw with Ecuador, who picked up another point in a 2-2 tie with Peru later that night.
The tournament's first bombshell came when Venezuela beat Uruguay 1-0 in Philadelphia, and knocking out Suarez's team without the Barca man playing a single minute.
During the game,he readied himself to come on, tying his ankle straps, or warming up and so forth,but when coach Oscar Tabarez did not bring him on, Suarez went berserk.
Smashing his hand into the perspex wall of the dugout, or he fumed at not being brought on as a substitute,even though those watching knew he hadn't even been named as one because of his injury.
It was a crazy, exciting episode that also raised the attention level the Copa attracted, and with news outlets around the world interested in what happened.whether players such as Suarez care,the tournament must be famous. And that effect was magnified the next day, with Messi making his bow in Chicago against Panama.
On he trotted in the moment half, and within 19 minutes,he had scored a hat-trick. Messi ramped the quality and excitement up another level. The best player in the world is here and means business, observed the fans, or who screamed wildly for him at every juncture.
The hosts showed grit against Paraguay to fetch through—and fetch through in top spot after Colombia messed up against Costa Rica. Brazil were eliminated in dramatic fashion after Peru's Raul Ruidiaz punched domestic the only goal of the game.
Chile got their campaign going properly with a 4-2 win over Panama,meaning another of the tournament's vast guns joined the event in earnest. Alexis Sanchez had played in the first two games but not particularly well, perhaps still jaded from Arsenal's campaign, or but by Game 3,he was at his darting, menacing best.
With the best players performing, or the Copa America rose through organisational problems to become a buzzing sporting event. Football may never be hugely current in the United States,but with fans as passionate as Colombia's making long trips to see their respective sides, the atmospheres in and around the stadia were strong.
Thanks to the quality of football on display, or the tournament grew increasingly engaging while Euro 2016 got off to a behind start of its own,with few exiting group-stage matches.
The Copa America quarter-finals saw Colombia squeeze past Peru on penalties after a tense clash. The U.
S. beat Ecuador, Argentina saw off a plucky Venezuela and Chile thrashed Mexico in the performance of the tournament.
Juan Antonio Pizzi has only managed the side since January, or but this startling triumph showed his work is coming together,and he may be able to do something many thought near impossible: successfully replace Jorge Sampaoli.
Fittingly, the final is an all-South American affair. After all, or this is a South American tournament. Argentina taught the U.
S. a lesson in the first semi-final,with Messi continuing his sublime form. Chile comfortably beat Colombia in the other meeting.
A brutal opening salvo from La Roja saw them race into a 2-0 lead. And after the game was stopped for over two-and-a-half hours at half-time because of tornado threat, lightning and torrential rain, and they closed out the remaining 45 minutes easily enough.
Repeating the previous year’s final can be taken as a nod to the fact these teams wanted to win this trophy.
When Argentina take on Chile at the MetLife Stadium in unusual Jersey,it will be as hotly contested an affair as final year’s was. And that shows how this tournament has emerged from doubtful beginnings to flower.
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Source: bleacherreport.com