before I get jumped on for my Riquelme should be on the list comment...two players mentioned played in the copa america .. Robinho and Messi ... take a look at a review of the tournament. notice the commentator had no brief for Argrentina and slammed their performance in the final ..
.Copa America 2007 Review
Published: 17 July 2007
by Andrew Cherrie
After 26 games, 86 goals and exhilarating football played by some of the greatest players in world football, the Copa America has come to an end.
Brazil retained their Copa crown with a tactically superior 3-0 victory over an Argentina side whose mesmerising football had enchanted fans worldwide throughout the tournament, but who fell short once again at the final hurdle.
This edition of the Copa America can be considered a hearty success, perhaps even the best of all-time. Here is, in no particular order, the good, the bad and the Carlos Tevez of the Copa America Venezuela 2007:
Player of the tournament: Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina)
The term ‘world-class’ is often dished out to players who are not deserving of the title, though Juan Roman Riquelme is not one of them. Pivotal in every Argentina attack, Riquelme displayed himself as the complete attacking midfield player. Not only was he the second top scorer with five goals, but he also was vital in the build up to a number of goals, showing why he was such an important component of Boca’s Copa Libertadores winning side. Nothing short of extraordinary. Almost faultless, though his sub-standard performance in the Final would have left a bitter taste.
Worthy mentions: Robinho (Brazil), Castillo (Mexico), Suazo (Chile).
Match of the tournament: Mexico 0-3 Argentina (Semi Final)
On the basis of Argentina’s elegant second half display alone, this was the greatest game of the tournament. Mexico put on a stern, yet enjoyable, defensive performance in the first-half to suffocate Argentina’s creative assets, though five minutes of flagging concentration allowed Heinze to give Argentina a somewhat undeserved lead from a set-piece. Resistance was futile eventually, as the frontline of Messi, Tevez and Riquelme combined to produce the most perfectly rounded attacking show seen in years to propel their team to the final. After the game, one journalist went so far as to brand Argentina as the ‘team of the decade’. Not far wrong.
Worthy mentions: Uruguay 2-2 Brazil (Semi Final), Paraguay 5-0 Colombia, Brazil 3-0 Argentina (Final).
Surprise package: Venezuela
A case could be made for Brazil as the tournament’s surprise package as nobody expected them to be crowned champions with a bit-part squad and a manager with non-existent coaching experience, but it’s Venezuela who take the accolade. The host team progressed to the Quarter-Finals for the first time in history whilst riding on the wave of the country’s sudden explosion of enthusiasm for the game. Their 2-0 victory over Peru in the group stage was La Vinotinto’s first Copa America victory since 1967.
Worthy mention: Uruguay
Miss of the tournament: Nery Castillo vs Brazil
After scoring a fantastic opening goal to set Mexico on their way to a 2-0 victory over Brazil early on in the match, Nery Castillo had the opportunity to round off the win when he was left one-on-one with the goalkeeper deep into injury time. He managed to carry out all the hard work, outpacing last-man Alex and rounding Doni in the Brazilian goal, but with an open goal at his mercy he somehow managed to flunk the ball over the crossbar from 8 yards.
Worthy mention: Robinho vs Ecuador
Funkiest celebration: Julio Baptista
Baptista is joined in a rumba by team-mates Robinho and Vagner Love after putting Brazil 2-0 up against Chile.
Ugliest footballer: Carlos Tevez
Because Ronaldinho was absent from the tournament, Carlos Tevez has the displeasure of taking the award. If it wasn’t bad enough having a see-through hole in his neck the size of the Channel Tunnel (the result of a childhood accident), Tevez now resembles the creation of a certain Doctor Frankenstein to boot. No wonder opposition defences are scared by the prospect of facing him. He can’t half play football, though.
Worthy mention: Ronaldinho (he’s not at the tournament, but he deserves a place here nonetheless)
Let down of the tournament: Argentina
They promised so much with their brand of open, expansive football throughout the competition but once again failed to deliver the goods when it really counted. As with the 2004 Copa America Final and the deciding game of the Confederations Cup in 2005, Argentina slipped up dismally against Brazil when they were within touching distance of a trophy, denying them a success which they so deserved. This Argentina team is bound to draw comparison to the ‘Total Football’ Dutch side of 1970’s, who despite having the greatest national team of the period, failed to gain a single piece of silverware. At every big international tournament in recent years they have been cited among the favourites, yet Argentina’s trophy-less streak is currently at 14 years and counting.
Worthy mentions: Ecuador, United States, Colombia.
Young gun: Lionel Messi
At just 20 years old and having just completed his second full season of professional football, to say Lionel Messi has a bright future ahead of him is something of an understatement. The Barcelona starlet was a vital cog in Argentina’s attacking machine, chipping in with 2 goals and creating a handful of assists. To add to his strike against Peru in the Quarter-Final was his Semi-Final finish versus Mexico, which leads us nicely on to the next section…
Worthy mentions: Castillo (Mexico), Cristian Rodriguez (Uruguay)
Goal of the tournament: Lionel Messi vs Mexico
"Only a genius could do this," proclaimed Argentina boss Alfio Basile of Messi’s strike. After being found in space by Carlos Tevez on the right, Messi took one look up, composed himself and lifted the ball gracefully with one swift yet delicate swipe of his weaker left foot over the head of flailing gaolkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez as the whole stadium rose to acknowledge the magic of Messi. Genius indeed.
Worthy mentions: Suazo (Chile vs Brazil), Guardado (Mexico vs Uruguay), Garcia (Uruguay vs Venezuela).
Team of the tournament:
Doni (Brazil)
Maicon (Brazil) - Alex (Brazil) – Marquez (Mexico) – Zanetti (Argentina)
Mascherano (Argentina)
Suazo (Chile) – Riquelme (Argentina) – Baptista (Brazil)
Robinho (Brazil) – Castillo (Mexico)
Subs:
Sanchez (Mexico)
Gilberto (Brazil)
Cambiasso (Argentina)
Forlan (Uruguay)
Messi (Argentina)