I'm pressed for time when it comes to these reviews for the Copa América Centenarío. Some of it has to do with being lazy and generally all around distracted. The thing is I've been here before so I have no worries. That has been my mantra in recent times. "I've been here before!" To me it's lyric to a song I know all to well. It reassures that I've faced a specific problem(s) before and 9 times out of 10 I've gotten passed it. In Group C we have Jamaica, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela nations who have been...well here before. Jamaica and her players have been in big games before. The Gold Cup final just last year and earlier they were taking their lumps in Chile at the Copa America. Mexico is getting familiar with Jamaica and will come across them again in a crunch time scenario. Yet another "I've been here before," moment. Before beating the Jamaicans in the Gold Cup to lift crown, they too were invited to Chile for the Copa America and like their CONCACAF adversaries they were thumped in South America. For Uruguay this is nothing new. They are use to coming into tournaments as favorites, maybe it be a World Cup or an intercontinental clash like this one. As for Venezuela they have locked horns with Mexico and Uruguay plenty of times and know what they are getting themselves into.
Group C
Jamaica
Mexico
Uruguay
Venezuela
Jamaica
I ripped Jamaica apart in my last review of them. They were taking part in the Copa America in Chile and they were up against it when they were wedged into a group with Argentina and Uruguay and Paraguay for good measure. I said they didn't have a sniff of a chance and I even broke out the Merriam-Webster dictionary to shame them. I wasn't in love with the fact that relied so heavily on players of Jamaican descendent. I preferred the born and bred Jamaicans and I took umbrage with the likes of Wes Morgan, Giles Barnes and Adrian Mariappa. Jamaica although they played well in Chile, points allude them. I was scathing towards the side because I believe they are the best Caribbean team and the standard bearers for the region. What I forgot to remember is that the Copa America isn't meant for Winfried Schaefer's men, the Gold Cup is! Jamaica were a game away from lifting the CONCACAF competition but Mexico took them down. A pretty big deal seeing that Jamaica weren't even in the conversation for the title. Dumping the United States was unexpected and the way the "Reggae Boyz," played was unconventional as well. It wasn't hurried at all they were very methodical in their approach not a trait associated with Caribbean squads. At this year's Copa I can see it going one of two ways for them. They play spoiler and really annoy the Mexicans and Uruguayans or they can duke it out with Venezuela for relevance. It's a coin toss at this point.
Key Man- Wes Morgan if I am correct is the first Jamaican/West Indian man to win a Premier League title. There is no doubt he is in the form of his life. The only problem is that Rudolph Austin isn't N'Kolo Kante and Andre Blake isn't Kasper Schmeichel.
Mexico
Mexico are in great form! To date they have kept eight straight international clean sheets. A tidy stat for a team that is historically average defenders. They are the reigning CONCACAF Gold Cup champions disposing of Jamaica last year in the final. They didn't have the best Copa America in Chile but they did take a probing squad with the more notable names being saved for the Gold Cup a moved that payed off in the end. Javier Hernandez, the face of the Mexican side is coming off one of the best years of his footballing career as he banged in the goals for his Bundesliga squad Bayer Leverkusen. His strike partner Oribe Peralta is a real shark and gets his goals. While team captain Andres Guardado has found a new life in Holland with PSV Eindhoven. Guillermo Ochoa has returned to his best form hard to believe he is 30 now. New coach Juan Carlos Osorio has even called up Rafa Marquez to add fatherly presence to his rearguard. Literally the stars are aligning for Mexico (couldn't help myself to a bad cliché) and this might be a trophy that is really viable for them. This group isn't easy but the wave of support, the locations of their games being in south western states of the US and the fact they come in off of winning a major FIFA tournament you could only think they are in good shape to go deep in the tournaments.
Key Man- The darling of Mexican football Javier "Chicharirto," Hernandez has been killing it over in Germany and I expect him to do the same over here. Really hoping coach Osorio does us a favor and pairs him with Oribe Peralta in a two pronged attack. That would be nice to see.
Uruguay
Uruguay come to the Copa without probably the best pure striker in the world Luis Suarez. A fact that has dented their hopes of maybe stealing away the cup back to Montevideo. Suarez scored a seismic 40 goals in a season for his side FC Barcelona last term and I don't care what team you play for you remove a guy that from your ranks you are going to be smarting. Nonetheless "Le Celeste," has to carry on and the objective is to actually win Copa América Centenarío. As I said in my little speech before Uruguay has been here before. They're punchy bunch and and tend to hit harder when they are overwhelmed or underestimated. They've won the World Cup before and have a knot of Copa America titles, 15 and counting on their CV. If anything they could be more dangerous without Suarez the Uruguayans hope everyone will take huge sighs of relief because he is not around. Óscar Tabárez longstanding coach of Uruguay will be hoping for just that so he can play the chess games he likes to play. At the last Copa America Uruguay were bested in a tumultuous affair with eventually cup winners Chile. A game that they felt they were cheated out of. Couple that with the fact their without their star man in Suarez that means they have a lot they want to get off their chest. Tabárez will look to Edison Cavani to provide the offensive and stardust to a generally pragmatic Uruguay. How they are going to capture the cup is anyone's guess but I have a sneaky feeling they might be there in the end.
Key Man- Edinson Cavan's chance to be Billy Big Boots is here. No Diego Forlan or Luis Suarez to rely on.It's team now...let's see how he gets on.
Venezuela
Alphabetically the last team in the Copa and forgive me for saying probably the last team you think of when it comes to South American football. Venezuela have wonderfully forgettable games despite having in my opinion, one the better forwards in the Copa América Centenarío in Solomon Rondon. I honestly do believe if Venezuela had to qualify for this tournament they would make a hard go of it. I'm dramatic sometimes but the need to highlight when things are wrong is a strong habit of mine and with Venezuela there isn't much right apart from the big man up top the aforementioned Sr. Rondon. The Venezuelan FA recently appointed former goalkeeper Rafael Dudamel as their head coach and he will look to turn around what has to be a pretty plain Venezuelan side he inherited from Noel Sanvincente. It's crazy because if you saw what I wrote about Venezuela a few months ago it's the polar opposite, it was quite complimentary. This last Copa America campaign when they finished dead last in Group C and the start they have made in World Cup qualifying has just left me over them. I think if you switched federations and let Guyana be in CONMEBOL and allow Venezuela to join CONCACAF I don't think anyone would bat an eye at this current moment. It's that dire. They have one point in World Cup qualifying for Russia 2018. Uruguay has 13 points in the same amount of games. I put my budding reputation on the line that in this tournament they won't win a game.
Key Man- You can't choose where you're born if that was the case we all would be cramped into Norway or Canada. Don't get me wrong Venezuela sounds like a swell place but not for football maybe baseball not so much football. Solomon Rondon is the shining light here without a doubt. I want to see him to well here in this little fling here in the States.
Predictions- Mexico 1st, Uruguay 2nd, Jamaica 3rd, Venezuela 4th. Mexico is basically playing a home game every time they step onto the pitch and they are in magical form. Uruguay is a big boy team but without Luis Suarez and having Edinson Cavani deputize they just won't be the same let alone take a group. Mexico already has Jamaica's number and Uruguay does too so I don't expect the West Indians to get enough points to advance. As for Venezuela we appreciate the color...you can leave your name tag next to the oreos when you leave.
If this Copa America 2015 preview seems rushed to you I apologize...because it is. In fact when it
comes to a preview of the last group at a major competition I usually just want to get it out of the way. I did it last World Cup in Brazil with Group H. At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa Group H felt the brunt of my laziness and rashness editorial flaws as well. So what now of this Group C of the Copa America? Normally I would have some complicated retort to my own ridiculous question but I’m so fatigued I just want to get the each country’s preview and be done with it. It’s a bad attitude to have but I like to keep it honest with you guys something a lot of columnist won’t do. Of course I will keep what integrity I have when it comes to the actual content but just like an athlete wear and tear does effect performances and your boy is feeling it. On top of that the fact that I have to preview Peru and Venezuela is not something that get my juices flowing. I can only talk about Jefferson Farfan and Claudio Pizzaro for so long without losing a part of my soul. I will do my research as usual but I’m not going to like it. Again a sucky attitude to have especially if you are me, a person who swears they want to do this as a profession for the rest of their life. It's potentially a bad PR move on my part by being so lax but let’s hope that future employers of mine in the sports media world don’t come across this particular article. If they do hopefully they don’t read this intro and are amused by the pretty bright colors of the website. All I have to say is thank goodness Brazil and Colombia are up first in this preview.
Group C
Brazil
Colombia
Peru
Venezuela
Brazil
This is a big tournament for Brazil. We all know they hosted the last FIFA World Cup and we all know how they preformed even the novices. A 7-1 semi final exit to the eventual tournament winners Germany was embarrassing and unacceptable on every level and that display will forever tarnish the Seleção. Dunga the coach of Brazil will be looking for absolute redemption and is expected to come good at this regional competition. This is a serious matter and a business like tone should accompany the Brazilians all throughout this championship. They should come out ready to treat Peru and Venezuela like step children and punch Colombia square in the mouth to assert it’s position as alpha male straight away. Brazil need to get over what malaise they are under and be ruthless if not she will not capture that 9th Copa America crown. I’m not Brazilian and even I feel an overwhelming sense of retribution casted over this Brazilian squad. Every notable voice on the Brazilian football scene feels the same way. It’s like an unfinished project that needs to know completion. I’ve heard former players like Taffarel, Rivellino and Bebeto speak of the need to restore Brazil’s honor. That crushing exit in the World Cup has left Brazil scarred and frankly bruised her ego and now the whole vibe about them seems just vengeful. One of my favorite books of all time is “The Count of Monte Cristo,” by Alexandre Dumas. The main character was a dude called Edmond Dantes a lucky go happy man who wanted nothing out of life but had everything taken away from him through wrongful persecution to one day return to the peak of his powers. I see a lot of comparisons between Brazil right now and Mr. Dantes. There is sense of theft and Brazil will look to right it. Dunga has called on players like Philippe Coutinho and Neymar to perform sorcery and return Brazil the head turners they once were. If those two can brew up some magical moments I know for sure only Messi and cohorts can debunk their road to glory.
Key Man- Neymar has gone from a showman to the shaman Brazil needs to cure them of their ills. I doubted Neymar’s maturity at some point but he has grown into a pretty decent leader and figurehead. The guy is talent probably the second best talent at the competition behind Lionel Messi but one thing is for sure he won’t want to be finishing second.
Colombia
Forget Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez they both can take a backseat to my main man Carlos Bacca. This guy has absolutely starred for Sevilla this past season. His 20 goals in La Liga helped his club to a 5th place finish. One point off a Champions League birth but that didn’t even matter because his seven goals in the Europa League allowed his side to win the tournament thus cemented their place in Champions League for next season. So I’ve got him pegged to have an excellent tournament and I think coach José Pékerman would be a crazy man not to start him despite having the likes of Victor Ibarbo, Teo Gutiérrez, Jackson Martinez and the already mentioned Falcao to chose from. The truth is Colombia is incredibly top heavy, all of those names I just mentioned plus Juan Cuadrado and James Rodriguez makes “Los Cafeteros,” saturated with buzzing goal scorers. The defense and midfield are nothing to get excited about. Cristian Zapata and James holding rank in both departments while between the sticks David Ospina should be solid for them. Pékerman is a great coach, him and Óscar Tábarez of Uruguay are real mentalists and the prior will look to deliver his side a second Copa America title. A task that I don’t think he can do. I just look at Colombia’s defense and I get critical. Sure the Colombia can gun down the opposition with their goal scoring ability but if they want to play the “Goal Blitz Game,” I know three sides that play that game even better...Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay and they don’t lose at it! If Colombia is going to win this competition Pékerman will have to find the right mix of defense and attacking flair but that’s pretty cliche and every coach will be looking to find that combo. What he really needs to do is get men like Bacca and James to play like extraterrestrials only then could they take home the silverware.
Key Man- I would say Carlos Bacca should be the key man here but I don’t even know if José Pékerman will actually play from the start. So my nod will go to James Rodriguez a legitimate star. I think the world has figured out the young Colombian’s game by now. It isn’t like the last World Cup where he was relatively unknown to those outside the major leagues of Europe. I love his game, a hybrid midfield man with pace. He should do well this summer.
Peru
What is alarming about coach Ricardo Gareca’s squad is the lack of defenders...I only count six! I know I said I was tired and was feeling sluggish but I don’t know if it’s injuries or if Gareca think he can get away with just six ball stoppers or if this is a typo. Surely there must be a problem or maybe he feels that the Andean country is depleted of defenders but anyway we carry forth and I won’t dwell on it any further. Gareca will have a task ahead of him because Peru has not been percolating now for a very long time now. In fact their last World Cup appearance was in 1982 six years before I was born. What I won’t do is paint Peru with all doom and gloom and one point that Peruvians can rally around is the fact they did win the Copa America twice. These wonder marks in this nation’s history came way back in 1939 and more recently in 1975. So they have some pedigree at the tournament and not to mention they finished 3rd in the 2011 Copa but I don’t think they will have what it takes to even bother the opposition this time around. One problem I have highlighted for Gareca is the fact that Peru's stars are aging. Striker Claudio Pizarro is currently 36, Juan Manuel Vargas a talented left sided player is 31 so is forward Paolo Guerrero and Jefferson Farfan their best player is 30. Going into a tournament like this one’s age is not a problem because in reality the most games you can play is like seven but having players long in the tooth doesn’t help your chances to do well either. I predict a quick and swift lesson for Peru and Gareca.
Key Man- Jefferson Farfan is the liveliest of the aging lions and still plays with tremendous energy and the Peruvians will need his quick tempo to rouse them against Brazil and Colombia and to get pass Venezuela.
Venezuela
Here is a side that I have huge respect for. Venezuela and Bolivia have been seen for a very long time as a running bad joke. Bolivia are still the brunt of a bad joke but Venezuela has really raised their game. They haven’t turned into Portugal overnight but they certainly aren’t as meek as before. “Los Vinotinto,” will look to build on their best ever Copa America finish of 4th in 2011. Where they loss on penalties to losing finalist Paraguay. Then went on to lose to ironically Peru in 3rd place game. New man at the helm of the national team is Noel Sanvincente and he will need to keep the good vibes high for the men from Caracas. It will be hard because Brazil and Colombia are not meant for the moving and Peru do fancy themselves against the Venezuelans. What Sanvincente has to work with is good but not great. Veteran Juan Arango is a serious threat over a dead ball but at age 35 one has to wonder if he can really be heavily relied on? Fernando Amorbieta and Oswaldo Vizcarrondo are both rough and tumble defenders but they are not the most mobile. While midfield man Tomás Rincón is like a Duracell battery but a puller of strings he is not so don’t look for him to be very influential. Venezuela's super hero comes in the form of now Zenit St. Petersburg striker Salomón Rondón. He has impressive stats over there in Russia. In the 36 appearances to date he has 20 goals. I’m not good at goal per game averages but to me that seems like pretty a tidy ratio. To add more to his fame, while playing for his homeland he has netted 12 goals in 38 appearances so far which isn’t bad. If Venezuela are even thinking of getting a point he will have a lot to with it.
Key Man- I will go for Oswaldo Vizcarrondo. Not only do I think his surname is kind of cool but given who the Venezuelans are playing in Group C they will need an Atlas like figure at the back to hold things together. Vizcarrondo and his equally sturdy partner Fernando Amorbieta will need to play perfect games.
Predictions- Brazil 1st, Colombia 2nd, Venezuela 3rd, Peru 4th. Brazil has a point to prove. Colombia has more fire power than the old Soviet Union. Venezuela are willing but are four players too short to make a real impact. While Peru will look to give their fading stars their last hooray.
