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SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2016 SPORTS Praise for Copa America Centenario, but hard to repeat NEW YORK: The troika running the Copa “What I said at the start of the tourna- Future obstacles America Centenario proclaimed the soc- ment was our base line was at 30,000 Gulati pointed out obstacles to mak- cer tournament a rousing success on (per game). We thought 35,000 would ing an ongoing commitment to a com- Friday heading into the final weekend of be great, 40 would be beyond our petition between the confederations. the special event hosted by the US, but wildest expectations and obviously “The regular Copa America is not a pro- would not commit to a regular arrange- where we ended up is fantastic. “These tected competition on the international ment. The 100th anniversary of the are World Cup numbers for an event calendar for the non-CONMEBOL teams. world’s oldest international soccer tour- organized in seven months with 16 For the CONCACAF teams, we can’t have nament was a cooperative effort teams,” Gulati said. a mandatory release of our players,” he between South American confederation Dominguez said “from any point of said. “And with about half our team play- CONMEBOL, and CONCACAF, represent- view it has been a success” and that he ing in Europe we can’t get our players. ing North America, Central America and was open to new ideas about further And it’s also during our league in the the Caribbean, with US Soccer organiz- collaborations. Victor Montagliani, presi- United States. And in some years it’s ing the competition. “We were able to dent of CONCACAF, said: “We are open played in the same year as our (CONCA- bring whole continents together,” CON- to discussions moving forward but it’s CAF) Gold Cup. “It’s very difficult to go to MEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez not something we’ve been able to sit such a strong competition without our told a Manhattan news conference down and talk about in a concrete way.” best team.” through an interpreter. The 16-team tournament climaxes with Gulati, however, lit upon a tongue-in- “Fair play, good games, an average of today’s final between world number one cheek idea for a new international com- NEW YORK: (From left to right) CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, CON- almost three goals per match, very good ranked Argentina and fifth-ranked petition, referencing the backlash to MEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez and US Soccer Federation President behaviour by the public ... integrating defending champions Chile at MetLife Britain’s vote to exit the European Union. Sunil Gulati hold a press conference with the Copa America Centenario champi- cultures for people to live together and Stadium in New Jersey across the “Victor (Montagliani) and I actually onship trophy on display on Friday June 24, 2016 in New York. The final between respect diversity.” Sunil Gulati, the US Hudson River from New York City. The kicked around an idea this morning of 10 Argentina and Chile is set today at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. —AP Soccer president and head of the Local third-place match between the United teams from CONMEBOL, 10 teams from 24-team tournament to rival the Euro.” er the winners of the Copa America Organizing Committee, pointed with States and Colombia takes place in CONCACAF and the four British teams Dominguez had a more concrete vision, Centenario and the winners of the Euro pride to the massive average turnout of Phoenix on Saturday. who are now apparently looking for a saying: “We have challenged UEFA to 2016. “We are waiting for that answer. 46,000 per game, nearly 1.5 million in all. place to play. “It could be an interesting play one game this year, bringing togeth- They are studying our offer.”— Reuters Copa America, Euro 2016 - 5 differences PARIS: For the first time the European Championship finals and the Copa America are taking place simultaneously, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both facing crucial matches this weekend. Ronaldo’s Portugal faced a Euro 2016 last-16 tie against Croatia in France yesterday, before Messi’s Argentina take on defending champions Chile in the Copa final today night in the United States. The two tourna- ments could yet combine in some manner one day, after the Confederation of South American football (CONMEBOL) suggested a match NEW YORK: Auston Matthews poses for a portrait after being selected first overall by between the winners of the continental compe- the Toronto Maple Leafs in round one during the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, New titions. With that possibility on the horizon, AFP York. — AFP looks at five key differences between the two events this summer. NHL - Leafs select American Changing of the guard? The new format for Euro 2016, with 24 teams Matthews 1st in entry draft qualifying for the finals, was expected to favor the traditional powerhouses. All of the pre-tour- nament favorites have qualified for the knockout LOS ANGELES: The Toronto Maple Leafs son. Despite his young age, Matthews stages, with Portugal saved by a Ronaldo double selected Arizona teenager Auston scored 24 goals and 46 points in 36 games that helped them through by the skin of their Matthews with the No 1 pick in the while playing for Zurich in their elite teeth courtesy of a 3-3 draw with Hungary. But National Hockey League draft Friday as a league. He also led the USA to a bronze at in the 100th anniversary edition of the Copa, record 12 Americans were chosen in the the World Junior Championships and Brazil suffered a humiliating exit in the group first round. Matthews was considered to be played on the US national team that fin- stages that brought back painful memories of ARIZONA: Members of the Colombia team train on the eve of their COPA America 2016 3rd the consensus first overall pick heading ished fourth at the men’s IIHF World the 2014 World Cup debacle, and saw head place final soccer match against the US at the University of Phoenix Stadium, Arizona. —AFP into the entry draft, and he goes to a team Championships last month in Russia. He coach Dunga replaced by Tite. Record 15-time that desperately needs a goal-scorer and a posted nine points in 10 games at the winners Uruguay also failed to reach the quar- between Argentina and Chile, the average atten- ter-final hammering of Mexico. On the other leader as the Leafs are suffering through Worlds. Toronto has been in rebuilding ter-finals of international football’s oldest com- dance has only been 46,000. At the Euros, the hand, the top scorers of the main European one of the longest Stanley Cup droughts in mode for much of the last decade. They petition, giving Argentina the perfect chance to stadiums have been full for almost every match, leagues have struggled. Premier League Golden the league. missed the postseason 10 of the past 11 claim a first title since 1993. as supporters flock to France to cheer on their Boot winner Harry Kane has lost his place in the “It is a dream come true. Especially seasons a finished last with a dismal 29-42- teams. The atmosphere has been boosted by the England team, and Bundesliga stars Thomas going to the storied franchise like the 11 record a year ago. They have not won an The surprises... Or not smaller nations’ participations, with Welsh, Mueller and Robert Lewandowski have failed to Toronto Maple Leafs,” he said of the Leafs, NHL championship since the 1966-67 sea- The new expanded finals have thrown up Northern Irish and Republic of Ireland fans all find the net for Germany and Poland respective- who are also one of the original six NHL son. Puljujarvi is known for his playmaking plenty of surprise packages in Euro 2016, with out in great numbers. Iceland, making their ly. Even Ronaldo was left frustrated in Portugal’s franchises. Finnish goal scorer Patrik Laine and two-way game. He was named MVP of Wales, Northern Ireland and Iceland all reaching maiden appearance at a major tournament, first two outings, while Swedish talisman Zlatan went second overall to the Winnipeg Jets. the 2016 World Junior Championships with the knockout stages in their first appearances in have brought up to 30,000 supporters to France, Ibrahimovic bowed out of international football The Columbus Blue Jackets made the first 17 points in seven games. the finals. In the US though the rank outsiders which is almost 10% of the country’s entire pop- without scoring a goal. surprise pick of the day by choosing center struggled, with Haiti, Jamaica and Bolivia all ulation. Pierre-Luc Dubois of Canada with the third Ready to go dropping out at the first hurdle with three Final repeats pick at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, “I am ready to play next year,” said defeats from three matches. The goals are in America! One similarity is that both tournaments will New York. Puljujarvi. “It is a very exciting day for me. Apart from Neymar, who prioristised the Rio see final repeats in the coming days. Argentina The Oilers then wasted no time grab- Edmonton is a great hockey city.” There Where are the fans? Olympics in August, and an injured Luis Suarez, and five-time World Player of the Year Messi will bing Laine’s Finnish compatriot Jesse were also several significant trades made Traditionally the Copa America is known for the most well-known players have come to the have the opportunity to banish the memories of Puljujarvi for the fourth spot.

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