Copa America – Final – Lucky
By David, BettingExpert.com | Published
Were it not for Larissa Riquelme’s striptease promise and some early bet at odds 27.00 of them lifting the trophy, few non-native Paraguay fans would still be rooting for the Albiroja after having seen them reach the final without ever winning a game.
Uruguay – Paraguay
Guus Hiddink had managed something similar in 1988 when, at the helm of PSV Enidhoven, he failed to win any Champions League match from the quarter-final stage onwards – five games in all including the final against Benfica – drawing all of them. The away goals rule favoured PSV Eindhoven against Bordeaux and Real Madrid whilst penalties backed their efforts in the final game against Benfica.
The penalty spot has already smiled upon Paraguay twice as they had the better of Brazil and Venezuela in the quarter-final and the semifinal respectively. Whilst, as expected, against Brazil it was a clear one-sided match with Menezes’ men missing loads of chances in front of goal, the match with Venezuela was a more level encounter.
Paraguay, having the better players, were expected to take the initiative but they gave up on that. Venezuela, playing for the first time in a semifinal, did not give in to Paraguay’s approach and decided to stay behind the ball as well. Things changed when Paraguay’s Santana saw red in extra time and Farias ordered his men to take hold of the game trying to win before it went to penalties.
The game therefore changed in extra half an hour and Venezuela hit two more posts, making their total for the match three. They pressed on with their fullbacks, especially Cichero on the left, but the Paraguayan wall resisted. From the spot it was just one mistake, that of Lucena, which gave the match away to Paraguay.
Paraguay have so far not won a game yet but they find themselves in the final. Their intent so far has clearly been to stop the opponents from playing rather than making use of their potential. Theirs have been some of the most boring games with things becoming even more dull as the stakes increase. The game with Venezuela was too disappointing.
Despite all this Argentine proud nationals will still be supporting Paraguay. Not only because they were the team to have eliminated their arch rivals Brazil one day after they left the tournament, but also because the Albiroja’s win is their last chance to see an Argentine get his hands on the trophy this year.
Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, Paraguay’s tactical mind, is in fact an Argentine manager ‘exiled’ in Paraguay. He won the title with both Libertad and Cerro Porteno. Two honours which eventually proved enough for the Paraguay football federation to convince themselves that he was the right man to take charge of the national side in 2006.
That same year Uruguay were making long term plans for their national team as well when they handed the reins to the most renowned of their homeland managers, Oscar Washington Tabarez.
Since then he has been grooming a squad with great ambitions. After the fourth place in last year’s World Cup they now find themselves in the final of the Copa America with the chance of becoming the team which most of all won the competition since its inception, one more than Argentina. For a country with just 3.5 million inhabitants their football history is undoubtedly a magnificent one.
Tabarez will be able to watch his team perform and guide them from the bench. Something which Martino or his assistant manager will not be able to benefit from after having been suspended during the semifinal match. For Martino that was his second suspension throughout this short tournament.
Apart from the Paraguay duo and Santana the scuffle at the end of the match between Paraguay and Venezuela may have repercussions in terms of suspensions, although it was mainly Paraguayan coaches who were involved rather than players. Santa Cruz got injured again and had t be subbed in the semifinal so he will not be featuring in the final either. Barrios and Valdez will lead the line again.
What is sure is that Villar, Paraguay’s big hero so far, especially after some exceptional saves against Brazil, will be regularly between the posts leading the team as their captain. Chilavert may have won over the hearts of the fans but Villar may go one better by winning a title for his country as team captain and goaler.
Verdict: Under 2.5
The last time Paraguay reached the final in the Copa America it was 1979, 32 years ago, and they went on to win the competition. Although Uruguay seem to have done more to deserve the trophy picking a winner is not easy for a final, especially for a tournament which has presented a lot of surprises already. Going with an Under seems the safer choice but it has been a crazy competition, very much in line with South America’s history of goalkeepers. It was a Copa wearing the face of Chilavert, Campos or Higuita. Witnessing a ‘scorpion’ turn around with Paraguay winning over 90 minutes should not be such a big surprise so be on the lookout with bets on this game.
22.07.2011, 11:53 CET
I would not be surprised. Their game frustrates the opponents and although so far their strikers have shown very little they are quality players - Barrios and Valdez both know how to find the net.
I will be waiting for the in-play market to pick a winner.
22.07.2011, 13:13 CET
It's been a strange Copa. Hopefully the Final throws us up something equally as strange. Looking forward to it. Great preview David
23.07.2011, 09:09 CET
Thanks. We can still hope for some entertaining football in the last two matches, although judging from what has been served so far it is quite unlikely.
24.07.2011, 12:07 CET
Wow I have just googled Larrisa Riquelme and now I am definetly behind Paraguay for one night only ... Lol
Brilliant Preview David...
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22.07.2011, 11:46 CET
Amazing for Paraguay to go all the way to the final without winning even one game in regular time!
Could they even win it all?