Copa America- Group A (R), VEN, BOL, URU, PER

I thought Vaca played pretty well for Bolivia. He was involved in a good portion of their buildup play and I thought he was subbed out mainly to bring in fresh legs. It is now distant history since the other groups are starting play now but I was pleasantly surprised by both games on day in in Group A. Peru, as everyone has commented, were the real revelation with their efficient attacking play and solid defense. Uruguay looked lost at sea and the emphasis on their defensive and midfield failings is correct I think. Venezuela countered well but looks a little weak elsewhere while Bolivia passed the ball well but seem to lack concentration defensively. Peru look to be in very good position in this group while Uruguay needs to get Recoba back.

Before going on to discuss the second day of games in this group, I wanted to agree with rosarino that Joselito Vaca played pretty well for Bolivia. He did tire and was subbed off but his skillful passing was important in Bolivia's creation of play.

Saturday the second day of group games begin with Bolivia playing Uruguay followed by Peru against Venezuela. We'll find out how good Bolivia and Peru are after their impressive opening games and whether Uruguay can lift their play. Alvaro Recoba should be back for them and his presence alone should lift them but they'll have to defend better and be much more creative in midfield.

The way I see it 4 points will assure you classification to the 2nd round, 3 and you have to wait out results from other groups. So tomorrow's game between Bolivia and Uruguay is a do or die match between the two. Venezuela is in the same condition and will have the home support but I am going to be very curious to see if Peru can replicate their play against Uruguay when they face Venezuela tomorrow.

These second set of games are off to a pretty poor start. Uruguay beat Bolivia 1-0 in a pretty lifeless game where Bolivia didn't do anything until injury time when they forced Carini into two good saves. Sanchez got Uruguay's goal by reacting quickest to a missed shot by Forlan. Right now it is halftime of Peru-Venezuela and it is 0-0 with Peru down to 10 men after their midfielder Garcia was sent off for throwing an elbow to a Venezuelan who was fouling him. So Peru are now just sitting back and trying to absorb pressure and hit Venezuela on a counter. Their defense is solid but you have to wonder if they'll be able to hold out for another 45 minutes?

Venezuela-Peru ended up being pretty dramatic after all. 2-0 win for Venezuela but Peru were victims of Armando Archundia and his home team reffing again. Just like with the US against Canada, Archundia again benefited the home nation with a controversial call. Peru had a clear penalty not given but even then they seemed to be about to tie it when down 1-0 (great header by Cichero) when Venezuela's sub Arismendi made a nice run and taking advantage of the wet field alluded a defender who slipped and then scored the 2nd goal. Peru played 75+ minutes down a man after a player was sent off for an elbow which Venezuela's player clearly embellished and provoked.

To Venezuela's credit they had some dangerous looking long range shots and this was their first Copa America win in 40 years! But Peru to me deserved better. Despite the loss they still stand a good chance of advancing with a draw on the last round of group matches against Bolivia.

Uruguay wins ugly and while I do think Archundia should have given Peru a penalty maybe it was karma as Venezuela were denied a legitimate looking one against Bolivia in their previous game. And for me, despite the provocation, Peru's Garcia did throw an elbow and his red card was justified. I don't think Peru should worry too much as they'll qualify and they still may be the best team in this group but it is nice to see Venezuela's experience the joy after 40 years of finally winning a Copa America match!

Archundia is getting a reputation for being a home team ref isn't he? Bad call deneid Peru the penalty and I too thought they were playing Venezuela at least even while down a man. But Venezuela urged on by their crowd got the key 2nd goal and it does make a good story for them to enjoy this first Copa America win in 40 years. Uruguay-Bolivia was a pretty ugly game but that is Uruguay's style, winning ugly. Both Moreno and Vaca, after good games against Venezuela, I thought struggled against the Uruguayans and their more rugged style of play. Bolivia are going to need to defeat Peru in the final match in order to advance and while Bolivia's play is better than expected I don't think they have enough to beat Peru.

By the way, still no Alvaro Recoba for Uruguay. They definitely miss him.

Peru did get jobbed by the ref and I am thinking you guys may be right Archundia is going to get a reputation as a home town ref but Peru had their chances to tie that game up against Venezuela but couldn't take advantage and on the other end Arismendi made them pay with that 2nd goal. Peru could still end up winning their group, if as expected, they defeat Bolivia and Uruguay ties or defeats Venezuela on the final match day. It looks now like Venezuela, Uruguay and Peru will be the three teams advancing from this group.

One good game and one absolutely awful one tonight as Group A concluded. Peru twice came from behind to tie Bolivia 2-2 with both Peruvian goals by Claudio Pizarro. Bolivia got first half goals from Jaime Moreno and Campos and once more were passing the ball very well but in the final 1/2 hour they got too defensive and got burned. The draw was enough to classify Peru for the quarterfinals while Bolivia goes home. Tough luck for Bolivia who played a good game and looked like they were set to classify and eliminate Peru but Pizarro's final goal in the 85th minute sunk them.

That result also classified Venezuela and Uruguay so in the night's final game they basically made a non aggression pact. It wasn't as bad as the disgusting Austria-West Germany game from Espana 82 but neither Uruguay or Venezuela really looked like they wanted to score tonight. Consequently it ended 0-0.

So with tonight's results the group standings ended up this way:

Venezuela 5 pts.
Peru 4 pts. (goal difference +1)
Uruguay 4 pts. (goal difference -2)
Bolivia 2 pts.

Since neither the US or Colombia in Group C can catch Uruguay's 4 points, the charruas classify as one of the top two third place teams. I'm pretty certain this is the first time Venezuela have ever advanced this far in Copa America.

Can I get those 2 hours of my life back? Man Uruguay-Venezuela was boring. There were a few chances to score for both teams in the opening half but the 2nd half was dreary and valenciano is right it did look like neither was really interested in winning.

Peru-Bolivia was the opposite, an exciting and dramatic match which had Peru qualifying via that 85th minute goal by Pizarro. I think Bolivia played a pretty good Copa America but that one goal loss to Uruguay and conceeding this late goal tonight against Peru is what is keeping them out of the quarterfinals. Jaime Moreno scored a beautiful goal tonight, chipping the keeper but Bolivia's entire team played a nice passing game in this Copa America and hopefully they can keep building on this showing and have a competitive team for World Cup qualifying.

Uruguay have scored 1 goal in 3 games yet they've made the quarterfinals. Their style is a throwback to the 80's and is very unattractive to watch but they knocked in one loose ball against Bolivia for a win and combined with last night's draw and they are through. Too bad. They did benefit from the lack of any really strong opposition in their group.

Venezuela's qualification is good to see for their long suffering fans and the big crowds in all of the stadiums have been good to see too. We'll see who they get drawn with in the quarterfinals but anything beyond this stage would just be an added bonus for them.

Peru were experimenting around with new players and formations in this game against Bolivia and it almost bit them but Pizarro's two headed goals rescued the team. The bad news is Jefferson Farfan has a severely sprianed ankle and will miss the quarterfinal game, and possibly even more if Peru advances and central defender Alberto Rodriguez will also sit the next game out with accumulated yellow cards.

Bolivia I thought had a pretty successful Copa America and as others said here, they surprised with a very nice possession game. Right back Miguel Hoyos, defensive midfielder Leonel Reyes, playmaker Joselito Vaca and forwards Jaime Moreno and Juan Carlos Arce all looked good. head coach Erwin Sanchez has Bolivia on the right track to regaining respectability in South America.

The less said about Venezuela v Uruguay the better.