Copa America

While soccer may not be a mainstay of America’s sports enthusiasts, it is a very popular sport in other parts of the globe such as Europe and South America. Copa America is a soccer competition featuring teams from countries in South America. 

The football confederation in South America is usually tasked with the role of organizing continental soccer tournaments by the world’s football governing body, FIFA. Here is a look at the competition in detail.

History of Copa America

Copa America dates back to 1910, when the inaugural competition was held. It featured four nations namely Chile, Brazil, their bitter rivals Argentina, Uruguay. The hosts, Argentina, easily won the contest after Brazil opted out of the competition prior to its commencement. 

Six years later, Uruguay were crowned champions in what the official South American soccer governing body recognizes as an official part of Copa America’s history. The Uruguayans’ flair for the competition stands to date, as they have won it a record fifteen times.

During the 1920’s the competition was held consistently. However, during the 1930’s issues such as pitch-invasions were rampant and enmity between nations resulted in boycotts. For instance, various national teams withdrew from the tournament leading to a 9 year intermittency, where the competition was shelved. 

In other cases, some nations failed to appear for the competition or boycotted it altogether. However, the situation has since normalized. 

Originally, the competition was christened the South American Competition, which was later rebranded and named Copa America in 1975. Between that year and 1987, the competition was a yearlong affair, with no fixed venues allocated for the matches. However, in recent times, the competition is held about a month in designated venues.

Participating Countries

The participants of Copa America are drawn from the football governing authority in South America, dubbed Conmebol, which is a continental confederation or subset of FIFA. 

The 10 member states of the Conmebol are Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Colombia. Since the competition involves 12 teams, the confederation invites 2 additional countries, with the US and Mexico being regular attendees. 

Tournament Set up

Copa America is usually held once every two years, with each member of the Conmebol taking a turn to host the tournament. This rotation ensures fairness such as no member country is left out of the hosting process. 

The participating teams are divided into 3 groups, with each comprising of four teams. The winner of the group and the runner up qualify for quarterfinals. The quarters mark the elimination stage, where the winning team proceeds to the semifinals and lastly, the finals. In case teams fail to score in regulation time, extra time is allowed and in the event of a stalemate, penalties are used to decide eventual winners. 

Stars who have Lifted the Trophy

Gabriel Batistuta featured prominently in Argentina’s colors, scooping the trophy in successive tournaments- 1991 and 1993. Most notably, his goals played a decisive role in each of the tournament. Moreover, the star combination of Humberto and Sivaro that won the competition way back in 1957 is perceived by many as the country’s best-ever team. Interestingly, despite the country’s vast talent, Argentina has yet to win subsequent versions of Copa America. 

Romario is another notable Brazilian legend to lift the trophy in 1989 after an agonizing 40-year wait for the country. While the win may have offered Brazil some reason to celebrate after beating Uruguay, the country’s fans were still smarting from their World Cup loss to Uruguay in 1950, despite being hosts and firm favorites. Other notable figures to have lifted the trophy include Uruguay’s Diego Forlan, who starred in the 1995 version of the competition. 

Overall, Copa America is a soccer showcase featuring talented international stars of the beautiful game. Its intention is to crown the cream of the competition.

Camila Gomes Came to Play Soccer

Camila Gomes Stood dressed in very best and cleanest soccer uniform that she owns. Her big brown eyes watched as the neighborhood boys laughed and yelled as they ran around the grassy field kicking the soccer ball, trying to make a goal for their teams. It all looked like good fun, and Camila wanted to play soccer with them.

The only issue was that little Camila Gomes was a girl, and she knew that the boys in her neighborhood would never let a girl play on their team. Sighing deeply, Camila turned and walked slowly away from the playground, tears beginning to fill her eyes. When Suddenly a wildly crazy idea hit her.

What if she was not a girl? What if for the next two weeks of summer she could be a boy? Surely then she would be allowed to play soccer. Then once she had been allowed on a team, and she had helped her team win a game or two, they would no longer care that she was just a girl.

Deciding that this was one of her better ideas that she had since school had let out for summer vacation Camila ran as fast as her tanned legs could carry her back to her home. Ignoring the surprised looks her mother and father gave her as she dashed into the house and up the stairs to her room, she giggled excitedly as she went about tying her long brown hair into a braid and wrapping it into a bun that she could hide under a hat of some type.

Then she raced to her brother’s bedroom and began looking through his dresser, searching for a pair if his oldest jeans and t-shirt that would fit her, as well as hide the fact she was a girl. Once she was sure that no one would know that she was Camila Gomes from down the block, she ran outside and smeared some mud on her face just to make sure she could pull off being a real boy.

Walking as calmly as she could and whistling a cheerful tune, she walked back to the neighborhood playground and stuffed her hands into her jeans pockets. It was not long before she was noticed by the boys who were playing soccer. Nor was it long before they stopped their game and came up to meet what they thought was the new kid on the block.

After some small talk, and normal horsing around they asked Camila if she might like to play a game of soccer. Of course she did!!! Making sure not to give away the fact that she was just a girl, Camila ran and kicked the ball as well as she could, and that was pretty good considering the fact that she was a girl.

Before long the team that had chosen her, was soon ahead of the other team and had scored more then a few goals! It was like the new kid on the block had wings on his feet and could run and slide better than any other boy. He could even smack the soccer ball with his head and not be bothered by the sharp sting to his forehead as the soccer ball bounced off.

Then it happened! The entire running, sliding and jumping caused the hat to slip off Camila's head and her long braid began to hang around on her back as she squealed and flew after the soccer ball. As if they were one, all of the boys came to a stop and pointed at her, their mouths wide open and their hands on their hips.

Girls just did not play soccer in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, it just was not heard of. Soccer was an all boys game and a silly girl would cry when she got her knees all skinned up!! Or would she? One by one the boys walked slowly over to stand in front of her, the look in all of their eyes were not as friendly as Camila had hoped.

But at least they were not screaming at her yet, "Camila Gomes is the best soccer player I have met" One of the boys yelled! And soon all of the boys were yelling and slapping her on the back as they told her that she was now a part of their team.

"Welcome our boy Camila to our soccer team" They all yelled at once and lifted her on to their shoulders to carry her across the playground.

Footbolitis

Footbolitis is Inevitable

Footbolitis is the inability to get rid of the passion for your favorite football or soccer team. And once it gets into you it is stuck on your body and soul for the rest of your life.

Footbolitis is a dangerous situation because it interrupts with your daily activities especially in the season when important football matches such as derbies and clasicos as well as Champions League are in the way.

Unfortunately there is no cure for it; people have tried and research ways but have failed. The colors of their favorite team keep fans infected with footbolitis. The need to check the schedules, the scores, and to make fun of the arch rival team are inevitable symptoms.

One of the biggest problems is that footbolitis does not discriminate. People of all ages are exposed to fantastic matches all over the world and for that reason is an ongoing situation that will not stop anytime soon. The world is simply contaminated.

Frankly; dealing with footbolitis is a terrible condition. Checking the scores on the smart phone becomes a daily routine. Then, leaving work early in a rush to quickly get in your car to beat traffic and catch a game is a bit risky. But then again there is no cure for such addiction.

There is no exaggeration here! The obsession with the beautiful game and following great teams as well as their stars are the real cause. People might say that there is something wrong with you and is okay because you know is true. You have footbolitis.