Colombia take early lead in Copa America

Argentina 1:1 Bolivia
Colombia 1:0 Costa Rica

Colombia are the early leaders of Group A after labouring to a 1-0 win over Costa Rica in Jujuy.

The host nation, boasting an all-star lineup including Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez, had opening night nerves in La Plata, allowing Bolivia to steal a lead two minutes after half time through Edivaldo Rojas. But Sergio Aguero spared Argentina's blushes with a 76th minute equaliser.



Colombia, who won their only Copa at home in 2001, grabbed three points from Adrian Ramos' strike on the cusp of half-time. Invitees Costa Rica had Randall Brenes red-carded for a reckless knee-high tackle after 27 minutes. Los Cafeteros and Argentina meet in Santa Fe on Wednesday.

Sunday: Brazil v Venezuela, Paraguay v Ecuador

* * *

In the FIFA Women's World Cup, the USA made it to the last eight, eliminating debutants Colombia with a 3-0 win in Sinsheim. Sweden are also through, after beating North Korea 1-0 in Augsburg.

Australia got their campaign back on track with a 3:2 win over Equatorial Guinea in Bochum, leaving three nations on three points in Group D going into tonight's Brazil v Norway clash.

* * *

In the FIFA U-17 World Cup it is quarter-final time with Uruguay taking on Uzbekistan and Japan facing Brazil today, with England v Germany and France v Mexico tomorrow.

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Copa America 2011 set to kick-off

La Plata is the venue for Argentina v Bolivia today, the opening game of 2011's South American Championship - the Copa America.

The 24-team tournament culminates in the final at River Plate's Monumental Stadium (pic) - the scene of riots on Sunday when the club was relegated for the first time in its 110-year history.

The ten South American nations are joined by guests Costa Rica and Mexico. El Tri are fresh from winning the Gold Cup last week but are bringing a domestically-based squad instead, with the exception of Giovani Dos Santos, scorer of the winner against the USA in the Rose Bowl.

The hosts, now led by Sergio Battista following Diego Maradona's exit, have an overwhelmingly foreign-based squad, with only goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo playing his club football in Argentina.

Group A: Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica
Group B: Brazil, Paraguay, Ecuador, Venezuela
Group C: Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Mexico

Teams in blue qualified for the 2010 World Cup Finals

Brazil have won the previous two Copa Americas, defeating Argentina in the final both times. The following edition is set to be held in Brazil in 2015, a year after the World Cup Finals.



*A record total of 209 million Japanese viewers tuned in to January's Asian Cup, 43% of the total viewing figures, according to the Asian Football Confederation.

More than 80 countries worldwide transmitted pictures of the tournament, which was won by Japan.

The most-watched match was the Japan v South Korea semi-final, which drew 63 million TV spectators, followed by 54.4 million for the Japan v Australia final.

* FIFA Women's World Cup results:
Group Stage
Germany 1:0 Nigeria
France 4:0 Canada
USA 2:0 North Korea
Sweden 1:0 Colombia

Today: Japan v Mexico, England v New Zealand

*FIFA U-17 World Cup, Mexico
Quarter-Final lineup
Sun 3rd July - Uruguay v Uzbekistan, Japan v Brazil
Mon 4th July - England v Germany, France v Mexico

- Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile

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Japan backs out once more

Japan have withdrawn again from July's Copa America once again.

The JFA initially pulled out when March's earthquake and tsunami forced the J-League to reschedule during the Copa America, but re-entered the competition following discussions with CONMEBOL, who were still keen for Japan to take part.

Now Chief Executive Junji Ogura has confirmed there will be no Japanese presence in Argentina after both J-League and European clubs signalled their reluctance to release players. The stumbling block for the 15 European clubs holding Japanese players was the early start of their league season, because of Euro 2012.

JFA Technical Director Hiromi Hara flew to Europe for discussions with almost a dozen clubs but came back empty-handed as clubs had complained the Copa America was essentially only a friendly tournament for Japan. The JFA opted not to send a B team to the tournament, as the USA had done in 2007, where it lost all its matches.

Costa Rica are expected to be confirmed as Japan's replacement.

-Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile

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Japan joins Copa after u-turn

Japan will enter the Copa America as a guest in July after all.

Vice-President Kohzo Tashima has confirmed the JFA will send a team of predominantly Europe-based players to the tournament, which takes place in Argentina between the 1st and 24th of July.

"By playing in the tournament," said Tashima, "we can show the rest of the world how the country of Japan is fighting. If we don’t take part in the tournament, it could present a negative impression."

J-League fixtures postponed because of March's earthquake and tsunami have been rescheduled for the same period, which initially caused the JFA to withdraw. But promises of financial aid from CONMEBOL forced a re-think.

The Asian Cup holders will face Colombia and Bolivia before a clash with the hosts in Cordoba.

The top two in three groups plus the two best-placed third-place teams will qualify for the quarter-finals.

Group B 1st Round

02/07/11, Jujuy: Colombia v Japan
07/07/11, Jujuy: Bolivia v Japan
11/07/11, Cordoba: Argentina v Japan

-Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile

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Ogura ponders South American mission

CONMEBOL have asked the JFA to think again after Japan withdrew from this summer's Copa America.

JFA President Junji Ogura told former FIFA Executive Committee colleagues Julio Grondona & Nicolas Leoz in Buenos Aires this week that Japan had no plans to travel to Argentina following the turmoil caused to the J-League after March's devastating earthquake and tsunami.

As it stands, the J-League is due to fulfill its postponed fixtures in July at the same time as the Copa America, creating a club v country headache.

Spain were hastily offered Japan's place but the JFA have now been given until Friday the 15th of April to decide whether to participate after all. CONMEBOL are understood to have tempted the JFA with a profit share to help disaster relief efforts in Japan.

In addition to the ten South American nations, Mexico once more make up the numbers in the twelve-team competition, which concludes on the 24th of July with the final in Buenos Aires' Estadio Monumental, home of River Plate.

Copa America 2011 - 1st - 24th July, Argentina
FIFA World Rankings in brackets

Group A
Argentina (4)
Colombia (50)
Bolivia (97)
Japan (15)/Spain (1)

Group B
Brazil (5)
Paraguay (24)
Ecuador (49)
Venezuela (63)

Group C
Uruguay (7)
Chile (14)
Peru (59)
Mexico (27)

(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile; photo by Iman Simon.

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