Australia recover to beat Brazil despite Marta’s landmark goal FRIday, JUNE 14, 2019 page 12

India, Kiwis remain unbeaten at World Cup cricket world cup as rain rules in Trent Bridge page 13 ENGLAND vs WEST INDIES

Qatar, Australia Copa America a chance for Copa 2020 for Brazil to make good DPA Berlin After falling short at 2014 World Cup, the hosts have opportunity in front of their own fans Injured Neymar is miss- ing for hosts Brazil but Li- onel Messi leads Argentina in their quest for a first title in 26 years as South America’s Copa America tournament kicks off on Friday. Expectations are not only high for five-time world cham- President of the South American pions Brazil to be in the final in football’s governing body the Maracana on July 7 or for CONMEBOL, Paraguayan Alejandro Messi to end his title drought Dominguez, at a press conference in with the national team. Sao Paulo, Brazil on Thursday. (AFP) Reigning champions Chile are seeking to become the first AFP team in 72 years to win the Sao Paulo tournament for the third con- secutive year, while teams like Australia have accepted Uruguay and Colombia will be an invitation to take part in hoping to make an impression. next year’s Copa America After 12 years without a alongside Asian champi- title, much is at stake for Bra- ons Qatar, who make their zil’s Selecao in front of their debut in the South American own fans. tournament this weekend, Full-back Filipe Luis said: CONMEBOL announced on “We never thought about be- Thursday. ing part of a failed genera- “We have decided to tion. It’s a new opportunity to invite ... to participate in make history in the national our competitions the current team jersey.” Asian confederation champi- Brazil open the tour- ons and the previous ones,” nament on Friday (0030 said Alejandro Dominguez, GMT Saturday) in Sao Paulo the president of South Ameri- against Bolivia, with memo- can football’s governing body. ries still not faded of their last The announcement came home tournament when they the day before the 2019 went out of the 2014 World competition kicks off in Sao Cup in a 7-1 semi-final defeat Paulo with hosts Brazil tak- to Germany. ing on Bolivia. “This competition is a Qatar, the 2022 World great opportunity. We have Brazil coach (centre) gives instructions before the team’s training session at the Pacaembu Stadium, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Tuesday ahead of Copa America 2019. (AFP) Cup hosts, are participat- to win at home in front of our ing in the Copa America as fans,” Filipe Luis said. Albiceleste eludes him fol- guests for the first time this Goalkeeper coach Claudio lowing three Copa America Historic for Qatar, says Almoez year and line up in Group B Taffarel said: “The fans want final defeats and a World Cup alongside 14-time former to see the national team win. final loss. Title winners winners Argentina, Colombia It’s not just about playing well. “We are very clear about With 15 titles, Uruguay are and Paraguay. What matters in the how we want to the most successful Copa “Qatar are the last end is victory.” play,” national coach To play against champions of the Asian Even without said. America team. Argentina such strong teams have 14 titles and Brazil, 8. confederation – having Neymar, Brazil have “We have great is an historic champions participating in a the likes of Liver- players, especially in The other former competition always elevates pool’s Roberto Fir- attack. If we are also opportunity for us. champions are Paraguay, the prestige and quality of mino and keeper Alis- solid in the defence, Peru and Chile, with 2 titles football,” said Paraguayan son Becker fresh from we can cause prob- Almoez Ali Dominguez. Champions League lems.” each, and Bolivia, and CONMEBOL has 10 triumph. Others Defending cham- Colombia, 1 each. members but the Copa such as Barcelona’s pions Chile, after America usually features 12 Philippe Coutinho, Manches- successive titles in 2015 and teams meaning there are ter City’s Gabriel Jesus and the 2016 Centenario, are mo- often a pair of invitees to the Fernandinho, or captain Dani tivated to win a third title but tournament. Alves with Paris Saint-Ger- are not a top favourite, coach This time around, Japan main have enjoyed domestic Reinaldo Rueda said. are the other guests, making league title wins. “Chile will remain true to their second appearance. It Argentina’s expectations its DNA, the search for order, will be the third continental are just as high in what could the joy of the game, working ing part as guests. for us,” said striker Almoez Ali, championship Australia have possibly be Lionel Messi’s last together,” he said. For 2020 World Cup hosts who was top scorer at the Asian contested. major tournament unless the Uruguay meanwhile can Qatar, it is an opportunity for Cup earlier this year. Australia won four out Barcelona forwards decides still call on the potent double the national team under Span- The teams are drawn in of six editions of the OFC to stay on for the 2022 World strike force of Luis Suarez and ish coach Felix Sanchez to three groups of four, with the Nations Cup before leav- Cup when he will be 35. Edinson Cavani. measure themselves against winners, runners-up and two ing the Oceania federation For all the multiple Ballon In addition to South Amer- some of the world’s best. best third-placed teams ad- (OFC) and joining the Asian d’Or winners triumphs with ica’s 10 teams, Asian champi- Qatar striker Almoez Ali, who was top scorer at the Asian Cup earlier “To play against such strong vancing to the quarter-final Football Confederation (AFC) Barca, a major title with the ons Qatar and Japan are tak- this year, during the team’s training session in Brazil. teams is an historic opportunity knock-out stage. in 2006. The Socceroos then won the AFC Asian Cup in 2015 at only their third attempt. Although the tournament Stars and the big show in Brazil invitees are now known for next year’s Copa America, the final venue is still a mystery. For the first time, South America’s showpiece tourna- ment will have two hosts: Ar- gentina and Colombia, even though they are at opposite ends of the continent. The Copa America has mostly taken place in odd years throughout its history, which began in 1916. Recently it was played in the year following a World Cup but is now moving to the same window as the Euro- pean Championships, two years apart from the global (From left) Brazilian singer Leo Santana, the mascot of Copa America extravaganza. Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera (centre) upon his team’s departure at the Fans of Peru cheer as they watch a training session of the national 2019 Zizito, Colombian singer Karol G and former Brazilian player Cafu Carrasco airport, outside Montevideo, Uruguay, on Friday. (EPA-EFE) team in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on Friday. (AFP) at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday. (EPA-EFE)