Copa Is Anyone's but Fans Worry Tournament Emulating Europe
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Injured thumb could sideline Shikhar Dhawan for weeks PAGE 15 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 Lasith Malinga takes World Cup leave CRICKET WORLD CUP to attend mother-in-law’s funeral PAGE 15 AUSTRALIA VS PAKISTAN Copa is anyone’s but fans worry tournament emulating Europe REUTERS teams, although they are gen- SAO PAULO erally from elsewhere in the Americas. THIS month’s Copa America Whatever the reason – will be the third in four years CONMEBOL officials did not but for those suffering from an How much respond to interview requests overdose of South American – administrators and fans will soccer there is an end in sight. is too much! hope that soccer takes the cen- Only not just yet. The tournament that kicks tre stage in a welcoming na- The tournament that kicks tion with facilities that were off in Sao Paulo on June 14 will off in Sao Paulo on June 14 built or renovated for the 2014 be followed next year by yet an- will be followed next year by World Cup. other Copa America – although yet another Copa America Although Neymar has it will be jointly held thousands – although it will be jointly dropped out because of injury, of kilometres apart in both Co- held thousands of kilometres players such as Lionel Messi, lombia and Argentina. apart in both Colombia and Sergio Aguero and Uruguayan After that, however, or- Argentina. After that, pair Edinson Cavani and Luis ganisers have said enough is however, organisers have said Suarez are among the best in enough and the tournament enough is enough and the the world. will thereafter be held every tournament will thereafter be They arrive in Brazil to four years. held every four years. compete in one of the most The decision is open tournaments in years. part of a widespread Brazil have not won the revamp designed by of corruption and chaotic or- Copa America since 2007 the South American ganisation behind them. and coach Tite needs a good Football Confedera- The last three presidents of performance after a disap- tion (CONMEBOL) the confederation were indicted pointing World Cup in Rus- to bring all their in the FIFA corruption scandal sia, where the five-times world tournaments more and last year’s Libertadores fi- champions were eliminated in into line with the Eu- nal was moved to Madrid after the quarter-finals. ropean model. River Plate fans attacked the Argentina, too, are des- The Copa will be Boca Juniors team bus. perate to win their first major held every four years in the All have dealt harmful silverware since the 1993 Copa same year as the European blows to the organisation’s and finally give Messi an in- Championship. Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani (centre) takes part in a training session of the national team at the Complejo Celeste sports complex in Barros credibility. ternational title to go with the At club level, gone are Blancos, near Montevideo, Uruguay, on Tuesday, ahead of the Copa America to be held in Brazil. Although Brazil’s Neymar has dropped out of A decision to include Ja- dozens of club ones. the home and away finals of the tournament because of injury, players such as Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Uruguayan pair Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez are among pan and Qatar as the invited Chile are not as strong as the Copa Libertadores and the best in the world who would be on show in the South American football extravaganza from June 14 to July 7. (AFP) sides to this year’s Copa has they sides that won the last Copa Sudamericana, to be also done little to generate two editions of the tourna- replaced by one off games in say it is unfair to ask support- Likewise, decisions to grant equivalent of the Champions net streams that break up or faith in the new leadership, ment in 2015 and 2016 but neutral venues. ers in one of the world’s poorest Facebook the television rights League – have been met with regularly drop out. with the tournament usually they, along with Colombia, The changes have been met regions to travel thousands of for some games in the Liber- frustration as fans across the The changes come as featuring the 10 South Ameri- Uruguay, Peru and Venezuela, with resistance by fans, who kilometres to see big matches. tadores – the South American continent struggle with Inter- CONMEBOL tries to put years can nations plus two invited cannot be counted out. GUIDE TO THE 12 TEAMS TAKING PART IN COPA 2019 GROUP A QATAR Brazil: Tournament record - Won eight Tournament record - first appearance times, most recently in 2007. Coach - Felix Sanchez Key player - Almoez Eleven times runners up. Ali Prospects - Qatar have made stunning Coach: Tite progress under former Barcelona youth Key player: Philippe Coutinho coach Sanchez and after sweeping to vic- Prospects: With nine wins in their last 10 tory at the Asian Cup, they will be keen to games and a squad brimming with talent further demonstrate they will be no pusho- and experience, spurred on by a fervent vers when they host the 2022 World Cup. home crowd, Brazil are clear favourites, even without the injured Neymar. GROUP C Chile: Tournament record - winners in Exhibition in Sao Paulo to showcase Bolivia: Tournament record - winners 2015 and 2016, runners-up four times. 1963, runners-up 1997. Coach: Reinaldo Rueda Coach: Eduardo Villegas Key player: Arturo Vidal Qatar’s FIFA World Cup preparations Key player: Marcelo Moreno Prospects: Prospects: After euphoric back-to-back Bolivia routinely fail to get out of the Copa triumphs, Chile’s dream became ATAR will host a public World Cup Qatar LLC Chief group and are not expected to progress a nightmare when they failed to qualify Qexhibition at JK Iguatemi Executive Officer, said Qatar’s this time around, but they will guarantee for the last World Cup. Coach Rueda has mall in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from participation in the Copa Amer- opponents an uncomfortable physical struggled to restore confidence, earning 14-24 June to highlight the ica provided the perfect oppor- battle. only five wins in 13 games. country’s preparations for the tunity to engage with fans from FIFA World Cup. across Latin America. Venezuela: Tournament record - their Uruguay: Tournament record - champions The Journey to 2022 ex- “We know that passion best performance came when they 15 times, most recently in 2011. hibition will be held on the for football runs deep across reached the semi-finals in 2011. Coach: Oscar Tabarez 3rd floor of the mall, which Arabian flair South America and we are con- Coach: Rafael Dudamel Key player: Luis Suarez is located in the Vila Olimpia For billions of people, 2022 fident that thousands of fans Key player: Salomon Rondon Prospects: Few countries can match district of Sao Paulo. It will from the region will travel to Prospects: Encouraging results, a talis- Uruguay’s competitive spirit, especially in feature FIFA World Cup™ will be the first time they Qatar to enjoy the next instal- manic figure in Rondon plus a kind draw Qatar players train ahead of Copa America the tournament they consider their own, memorabilia, crowdsourced engage with the Arab world. ment of the FIFA World Cup,” mean Venezuela should be aiming to 2019 at their base camp in Portobello near and if their prolific front two of Suarez and photographs which highlight For us, it’s a golden said Al Khater. reach the quarter-finals at least. Rio de Janeiro. Edinson Cavani remain fit they stand a football culture in Qatar, mod- opportunity to shape people’s “The exhibition at JK Igu- great chance of making the final. els of the eight Qatar 2022 perceptions about our atemi mall is an opportunity Peru: Tournament record - winners 1939, Paraguay: Tournament record - Champions stadiums and details about to share details of our prepara- 1975. Coach: Ricardo Gareca in 1953, 1979; six times runners up. Japan: Tournament record - invited once Qatar’s Asian Cup victory. country and region. Football tions and give people a flavour Key player: Paolo Guerrero Coach: Eduardo Berizzo before in 1999, when they fell at the group Much of the memorabilia is will bring us all together. of what they can expect in just Prospects: Peru’s unpredictability was Key player: Miguel Almiron stage. Coach: Hajime Moriyasu Key player: Prospects: Prospects: the property of Qatari collec- Nasser al Khater, FIFA over three years’ time. We hope summed up by Gareca saying recently Still finding their feet after Shoya Nakajima With coach tor Mohammed Abdulatif and that people will enjoy the acti- his team could beat anyone or lose to Berizzo took charge in February following Moriyasu picking an young and inexperi- includes match-worn shirts, World Cup Qatar LLC CEO vation and take the opportunity anyone. Hurdling the quarter-final stage Juan Carlos Osorio’s surprise resigna- enced squad, Japan look set to use the footballs, tickets and more. to find out more about the first should be their aim. tion, reaching the last eight would be a Copa as a testing ground for next year’s Around 30 Brazil-based preme Committee for Delivery World Cup in the Arab world huge achievement given the circumstanc- Olympic Games, but getting out of the volunteers will support the & Legacy (SC), Qatar Football and only the second in Asia.” GROUP B es and the quality of the group. group is still a realistic goal. delivery of the exhibition after Association, Qatar Stars League Al Khater said hosting the Argentina: Tournament record - 14 times signing up to support Qatar and the Josoor Institute.