Copa America - Messi and Tevez Play for Argentina National Team
Copa America Update
Two of the top footballers in European competition are playing for Argentina in the Copa America - Carlos Tevez (Manchester City, Premier League) and Lionel Messi (AC Milan, Serie A). Argentina sit in second place in Group A after earning a draw against Bolivia.
The Argentine team's best chance, in the first half, came through Messi. After a speed play, Messi passed to Tevez, who forced goalkeeper Carlos Arias to a great save.
It was only the first match of Argentina, and Lionel Messi was not satisfied with the performance of Argentina.
"Not what we expected, now we have to win the next matches" he said.
All national teams have played their first match. In six matches, four draws occurred and only Colombia and Chile emerged as winners. Only eight goals were scored to date.
Argentina face Colombia on July 6th.
Group A
Colombia currently sit top of Group A having beaten Costa Rica 1-0. The hosts Argentina got their campaign off to a disappointing start with a 1-1 draw with Bolivia and currently sit second in the group with their opponents third and Costa Rica sitting last. Argentina face Colombia on July 6 before Bolivia face Costa Rica a day later. In the final round of matches, Colombia will face Bolivia on July 10 and Argentina play Costa Rica on July 11.
Group B
Group B remains in deadlock with both opening games failing to produce any goals. Brazil were held to a 0-0 draw against Venezuela on July 3rd. Paraguay and Ecuador played out a 0-0 on the same day. Brazil face Paraguay on matchday two on July 9 and Venezuela face Ecuador. The final round of matches will be completed on July 13 where Paraguay will face Venezuela and Brazil go up against Ecuador.
Group C
Chile currently sit top of Group C having beaten Mexico 2-1 on July 4. Uruguay and Peru played out a 1-1 draw on the same date and therefore sit second and third respectively with Mexico’s loss putting them last. Uruguay face Chile and Peru face Mexico on July 8 before the final round of games sees Chile face Peru and Uruguay play Mexico on July 12.
Playoff Matches
- The winner of Group A v Best third position
- Second Group A v Second Group C
- The winner of Group B v Second best third position
- The winner of Group C v Second Group B
Great football tickets are available now online.
Wembley and Emirates Stadium Home to Top Upcoming Clashes!
Emirates Stadium is located in London and is the current home of Arsenal FC. The stadium opened in July 2006 and has an all seated capacity of 60,355 – making it the second largest football club stadium in England behind Manchester United’s Old Trafford, and the third largest stadium of any kind in London, after Wembley and Twickenham, and overall the fifth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom.
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Popular Man Utd Chants for Champions League Final 2011
King Juan Carlos of Spain and Prince William Wales of Britain
Britain's Prince William and King Juan Carlos of Spain were among the excited fans at the UEFA Champions League Final match between Manchester United and Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico on May 27, 2009 in Rome, Italy.
Thousands of Red Devils and Barca fans will be gathered world-wide to cheer for their favorite team as Man Utd and FC Barcelona take the field at the new Wembley Stadium iin London, England on Saturday to battle for the 2011 Champions League silverware.
Here are some popular Manchester United chants to learn before the big Champions League Final match tomorrow. Watch the match live at Wembley – premium football tickets are still available in a wide range of prices:
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2011: FC Barcelona v Manchester United Tickets - Champions League Final Tickets
MANCHESTER UNITED POPULAR CHANTS
Champions League Final 2011 @ Wembley Is Match of a Lifetime
Champions League Final 2011 @ Wembley Is Match of a Lifetime
The Champions League Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday features one of the best superstar footballer lineups ever assembled on one field, including Lionel Messi, voted the world’s best player two years in a row. The value of their combined player contracts tops $1 billion. The average salaries of the players in the final dwarf those of most professional athletes in America.
Superstar footballers, genius managers and fanatic football fans will all be part of the Champions League Final “Match of a Lifetime” as Manchester United clashes with FC Barcelona in the at the new Wembley Stadium in London, England on Saturday, 28 May 2011 19:00 - when the highlight of European football’s club calendar returns to the London venue for a record sixth time, the first at the stunning new stadium.
Watch the match live at Wembley – premium football tickets are still available in a wide range of prices:
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2011: FC Barcelona v Manchester United Tickets - Champions League Final Tickets
MANCHESTER UNITED
“When I saw the Manchester United team two years ago my view, my impression, was it was a strong, strong team. From two years ago and the last four or five games, and the many games I have seen they are strong, they are competitive, each player knows what they have to do. It is an honour to play in the Champions League against Manchester United.” _Pep Guardiola
“I’m not sure where their weaknesses are because they are a very strong side, very physical and extremely efficient in all their lines. I’m one of those players who doesn’t look too much at the opposition and concentrates about what we need to do. This is a one-off game – but we have to think about us.” _Lionel Messi
“Rooney is one of the best strikers in the game. I will have to concentrate hard to not to give him space. It was always difficult playing against him in training as it is with Lionel Messi now.” _Gerard Pique
“Messi is not just a detail, he’s the best player in the world and that’s more than a detail. We have the good fortune to have him on our side and let’s hope we can all help him. That doesn’t mean that, because he is the best player in the world, he is going to decide the game on his own, but it’s an advantage. At the very least, I prefer to have him on my side.” _Javier Mascherano
“We’re confident we will win. We have to be. We’d be nothing without belief. We’ve achieved great things with this team and we know we can win more trophies.” _Xavi Hernandez
Manchester United Tickets – FC Barcelona Tickets
Premium Champions League Final Tickets are still available online from the world’s top football tickets provider:
Sir Alex Ferguson's Team Goes High Tech to Win Champions League Final
Man United have issued every member of the squad with an iPad complete with detailed statistics on every arch rival Barca player.
Rio Ferdinand said the data is invaluable.
"Individually we all get stuff put onto our iPads about certain players, week-in, week-out," said Ferdinand. "It's more fine-tuned stuff in terms of what you get to see.
"It's all about different scenarios in games. We do it for every game. We watch different players doing different things and what their habits are.
"We've been studying Barcelona just this week, collectively, but no more than we would do with any other team to be honest with you.
"We've also watched a re-run of the defeat to Barcelona in the final two years ago. Some of us watched it on our own and some of us watched it as a team experience.
"It's all part of doing your research before a game and there's no better time than a week before."
"You have to be adaptable and in this game we will have to do things we don't normally do," said Ferdinand. "We play against one or two strikers, traditionally, but this time we might have no-one around us for long periods, yet they will be still as dangerous."
"We just need to make sure we give the right account of ourselves. If the real Manchester United team goes out and gives the right account of ourselves, then hopefully we'll get a better result.
"It's our third Champions League final in four years and that tells you everything about our consistency, as does four Premier League titles in five years.
"We're a consistent club and we know what it takes to win. But on any given day you can be beaten by anybody and I'm sure Barcelona will be thinking the same thing.
"They've got players who can hurt us and we've got players who can hurt them, so it makes for a good final.
"We know Barcelona won't be underestimating us. We know what we are capable of and they know what we're capable of."
"That's the key in all games," said Ferdinand. "You've got to have a good balance in your team and that's what we've done better than anyone else in the Premier League this year.
"We need to take this into the game, but against a team like Barcelona they've got so many attacking threats that you have to make sure everything is clicking in the right order. If we do that, we know we can win."
Champions League Final: Champions League Fast Facts
1. Manchester United have not scored a headed goal in Europe this season.
2. United's Michael Owen is one of only two players to have scored three hat-tricks in the Champions League.
3. Bob Paisley’s record for the number of victories by a manager. If United win tomorrow, Sir Alex Ferguson will pull level with him.
3.1 The average number of goals that have been scored in the last 10 meetings between Manchester United and Barcelona.
4. This will be Fergie’s fourth Champions League final.
6. The number of Englishmen to have managed Barcelona, with Bobby Robson being the most recent in 1997.
8. Number of British teams that took part in this season’s Champions League, including Linfield and TNS.
9. Occasions on which the final has been decided by penalty shootout.
11. Lionel Messi’s goalscoring tally, which should see him win the golden boot for the third consecutive season.
12. Number of times British clubs have won the European Cups, with Liverpool winning five of those.
14. Number of times the final has been tied after 90 minutes of play.
19. Number of times British teams have reached the European Cup final.
20. Number of games since Barcelona failed to score in Europe (they were shut out by Rubin Kazan).
25. Number of players sent off during this season’s Champions League campaign.
27. Number of goals Barcelona have scored in this season’s competition - the most by any team, and nine more than their opponents tomorrow.
31. The number of days after the final that the qualifying rounds for next season’s competition begin (June 28).
40. Age of Edwin van der Sar, who will become the oldest winner of the competition if United triumph.
52. The number of seconds that had elapsed when AC Milan's Paolo Maldini scored the final’s fastest ever goal, in 2005.
76. Number of teams that have played in the Champions League, including the likes of FC Sheriff and HB Torshaven.
90.9 The percentage of passes Barcelona have completed in their European matches this season.
135. Appearances United's Ryan Giggs has made in the competition. He is eight short of Raul’s record.
1103. Most completed passes by one player in this season’s competition, by Barcelona's Xavi.
1134. Minutes of play that have elapsed since Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov last scored in the Champions League back in October 2008.
1968. Manchester United won the trophy 43 years ago, when they defeated Benfica 4-1 after extra-time at Wembley.
1992. The year Barcelona lifted the trophy at Wembley, when they beat Sampdoria 1-0
2009. Last time Manchester United and Barcelona played each other in the final. The Catalans came out on top.
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