csconstantine.com

LA PLATA, Argentina (AP)—Brazil was held to a 0-0 draw by Venezuela in the Copa America on Sunday, making a similar lackluster start as host nation and fellow co-favorite Argentina two days earlier.

Venezuela, usually regarded as the weakest team in the South American confederation, packed the midfield in the Group B match to snuff out Brazil’s attack. The five-time World Cup winners seldom played like an organized team, relying on the individual talents of stars Neymar, Robinho and Alexandre Pato.

“We were unable to finish and lost many good opportunities,” Neymar said. “Now we’ll have to work to improve and win.”

Brazil coach Mano Menezes put it more clearly: “It was a bad result. Surprises no longer exist in football … our attack was lacking, particularly in the second half.”

Players on both teams wore gloves, trying to fight off the near-freezing temperatures of the Argentine winter.

Argentina drew 1-1 with Bolivia on Friday in the tournament opener. Brazil has defeated Argentina in the last two finals and the two teams are widely expected to meet again in the July 24 final.

Just like Argentina, Brazil seldom looked like a real team. Venezuela worked harder than its opponent, keeping Brazil’s chances to a minimum and relying on an impressive goalkeeping performance from Renny Vega.

“It’s an important achievement,” Venezuela midfielder Franklin Lucena said. “We played good football and we are convinced we can do important things.”

With Venezuela seemingly content to play for the draw, Brazil had several chances early in the match.

Brazil’s best opportunity came when a sprawling Vega dived to stop a shot from the wing by Pato in the 32nd minute.

Referee Raul Orozco waved away shouts for a penalty in the 39th when Venezuela defender Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, sliding just in front of the goal mouth, blocked a shot from Robinho with his shoulder.

Brazil’s 19-year-old star, Neymar, seldom looked dangerous although he did have a blistering attempt in the 13th minute that was stopped by Vega. He then shot just wide of the far post in the 44th.

“If we had scored in the first half, the results would have been very different,” Thiago Silva said. “We will certainly play better the next time.”

The second half followed a similar pattern with Brazil mounting a few attacks, always looking for a stunning individual effort to win the match.

Brazil plays its second group match on Saturday against Paraguay. Venezuela plays Ecuador the same day.

Eight of the 12 teams qualify for the second round, which means the early draws are unlikely to keep Brazil and Argentina out of the knockout stage.

Lineups:

Brazil: Julio Cesar, Dani Alves, Lucio, Thiago Silva, Andre Santos, Lucas Leiva, Ramires (Elano, 75), Ganso, Robinho (Fred, 64), Alexandre Pato (Lucas, 75), Neymar.

Venezuela: Renny Vega, Roberto Rosales, Oswaldo Vizcarriondo, Grenddy Perozo, Gabriel Cichero, Tomas Rincon, Franklin Lucena, Cesar Gonzalez (Giacomo Di Giorgi, 86), Juan Arango, Nicolas Miku Fedor (Giancarlo Maldonado, 78), Jose Salomon Rondon (Alejandro Moreno, 63).

Labels: America, Brazil, draws, Venezuela

QUITO, Ecuador (AP)—Coach Reinaldo Rueda has named Ecuador’s 23-man squad for the Copa America, picking midfielder Antonio Valencia of Manchester United and Christian Benitez, the top scorer in the Mexican league, to lead the side.

The squad is based primarily on players in the Ecuador league, but features four playing in Mexico and three in Europe.

Ecuador, which has never won the Copa America, plays in Group B with Brazil, Paraguay and Venezuela.

The tournament in Argentina opens on July 1.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Marcelo Elizaga (Deportivo Quito), Maximo Banguera (Barcelona), Alexander Domenguez (Liga de Quito).

Defenders: Neicer Reascos (Liga de Quito), Norberto Araujo (Liga de Quito) Giovanni Caicedo (Liga de Quito), Diego Calderon (Liga de Quito), Gabriel Achilier (Emelec), Luis Checa (Deportivo Quito), Frickson Erazo (El Nacional), Walter Ayovi (Monterrey, Mexico).

Midfielders: Segundo Castillo (Deportivo Quito), Oswaldo Tilson Minda (Deportivo Quito), Luis Fernando Saritama (Deportivo Quito), Michael Arroyo (San Luis, Mexico), Edison Mendez (Emelec), Cristian Noboa (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Antonio Valencia (Manchester United), David Quiroz (Emelec).

Forwards: Jaime Ayovi (Toluca, Mexico), Christian Benitez (America, Mexico), Felipe Caicedo (Levante, Spain), Mina Narciso (Independiente del Valle).

Labels: America, Ecuador, Names, squad

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)—Lionel Messi is back home and setting his sights on winning the Copa America for his native Argentina.

Messi arrived Tuesday in Buenos Aires and said the “most important thing now” was to win the continental championship, which begins July 1 with Argentina facing Bolivia. The final is July 24, with Argentina and Brazil the favorites.

Messi was the man of the match in Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United on Saturday in the Champions League final, but he has had limited success with the Argentine national team.

“The most important thing now is to get the Copa America,” Messi told reporters at Buenos Aires airport. “I’ve had the luck to win everything with Barcelona, win everything as an individual and my goal now is go win things for the Argentine national team.”

Argentina, then coached by Diego Maradona, was demolished 4-0 by Germany last year in the World Cup quarterfinals and Messi was no factor, often isolated in midfield without the ball.

Maradona has since been replaced by Sergio Batista as coach. Argentina has won the World Cup twice—1978 and 1986—but it has not won a major international tournament since claiming the Copa America in 1993 in Ecuador.

Labels: America, Messi, sights