Villar makes the PK save.
The stage is set for Sunday’s Copa America final following this week’s semifinal action. Take a closer look with me, won’t you?
The Uruguayans knocked out Peru, 2-0, to reach their first final since they lost 3-0 to Brazil in 1999. Los Charrúas are currently tied with Argentina for the most Copa America titles (14 a piece), so a win Sunday would give them the edge. Uruguay are the favorties by virtue of actually having won a couple games in this tournament.
Say what?
Paraguay reached their first Copa America final since 1979 without winning a single match. That’s right, they drew every single game, and are only here thanks to some heroic keeping by Justo Villar, who recently signed with Estudiantes de La Plata (missed opportunity there, Gunners). Paraguay knocked out Brazil in the quarterfinals thanks to a PK shootout save by Villar (well, and some horrible shooting by the Brazilians which may or may not have been caused by the grass at the PK spot), and he did it again last night against Venezuela.
The semifinal match against Venezuela, which was a rematch of the 3-3 group stage draw, ended with some SASIC handbag shenanigans. You didn’t expect to get through a South American tournament without a little friendly brawl, did you?
Also, Venezuelan socialist hot air balloon Hugo Chávez is butthurt about the result and tweeted his disgust: “In my humble opinion and based on observation of the events, THEY STOLE OUR WINNING GOAL! I hope I’m not offending anyone with this.” Translation: WE WAS ROBBED. Seriously, if you ever wondered what goes through the mind of a crazy banana republic dictator, fire up Google Translate and read his Twitter feed.
I don’t know if a team has ever reached the final of a tournament without winning a single match. It would definitely be interesting if Paraguay could win the Copa America without actually winning any games. That would probably look bad for CONMEBOL and their president, Dr. Nicolás Leoz, who happens to be from Paraguay.
Muslera stops everything.
Uruguay has its own heroic goalie in Fernando “Little Beaver” Muslera, who recently left Lazio to sign for Galatasaray (again, doesn’t Arsenal need a good keeper?). Muslera made several key saves in the quarterfinal match against Argentina and blocked Carlitos “Choke” Tevez’ PK in the shootout to eliminate the hosts.
Liverpool’s Luis “horse teeth” Suárez is currently tied with Sergio “Kun” Aguero for the golden boot lead (3 goals each). Barring a hat trick from Peru’s Paolo “Warrior” Guerrero in the third place game, Suárez only needs one goal to claim the boot and make Outside Mid very happy.
Speaking of our predictions, we were all pretty off and no one guessed that the two Guays would meet in the final. But this is the Upside Down Copa America, where all the quarterfinal underdogs won, and the pre-tournament favorites were pretty crap. I’m rooting for Paraguay to win on penalty kicks on Sunday. It would only be appropriate.
That “dictator” has been fairly elected a number of times, as well as passed referendums on things like the new constitution constitutional amendments, etc., not all of which have passed.
Just sayin’.
/He still says the darndest things.
Chávez may not be a dictator in the literal sense of the word, but he wields a lot more power in Venezuela than any democratic president ought to have. In any case, let’s revisit this question in 10 years when he’s serving his 6th consecutive term in office.
Wasn’t one of Chavez’s constitutional amendments to repeal a term limit for the president? Yeah…
And it didn’t pass a referendum so it didn’t happen. You know, a referendum, where people get to practice direct democracy. One of those things we don’t have on the federal level. And few state levels. But ya, I’m excited for this game.
Was hoping we’d pick up Muslera after the WC last summer… but Wenger doesn’t buy at inflated prices off of an outstanding tournament run. Hell, Wenger doesn’t hardly buy at any price above a few bags of magic sand.
Musleras a beast for a 12 year old
@Arkie, Actually in 2009 something happened so that the President can run for an unlimited number of terms. Granted it isn’t a dictatorship in the purest sense of the word, but I would say it is closer to a dictatorship than a republic
@PR, I’m just waiting for Wenger to start bitching about Moyes being unreasonable in his valuation of Jagielka
Arkie is Sean Penn in disguise.
@PR: except for Arshavin.
I’m just glad that Grant Wahl feels good about himself for bashing Paraguay making it to the final, that’s the take away for this tournament.
@Brian well that’s shitty of him. I’m not Sean Penn, but Americans tend to label any left leaning brown person a dictator a la Chavez or Moralez. He still did better for the country than the WTO or IMF what with the free education and healthcare.