Copa America – Semifinal – Two good reasons for supporting Paraguay
By David, BettingExpert.com | Edited
After the great display at last year’s World Cup, lingerie model Larissa Riquelme, the most famous representative of Paraguay fans had made good on her striptease promise. With teams like Argentina and Brazil, which enjoy much support around the World, neutral fans will now gladly back Paraguay’s efforts hoping for a welcome repetition of Larissa’s late night show. Will that prospect be enough for Paraguay to finally push for a first victory in this competition as they meet what is on paper a weaker team?
Paraguay – Venezuela
Cesar Farias had planned a cautious approach to try and hold at bay the quick feet of the Chileans. He knew that chances would be scarce for his side and the players were well aware of that as well. Chile were after all rated much better overall whilst Venezuela’s had already turned into a Cinderella story at the quarter-finals. Yet can we really talk about Chile excelling in all departments on the pitch?
‘La Roja’ may have some incredible talent and good passing from the midfield upwards but their defensive organization left much to be desired. Fate saw that their most wobbly performance at the back came around against Venezuela and Farias’ side did not have to be told twice to take advantage of the gaps and uncoordinated movements of the backline as they came out pressing Venezuela’s strikers in midfield with haphazard runs.
Farias was glad to wait for Chile in midfield with his front men, knowing that their frenetic approach and the fact that they require the ball in their feet all the time would eventually get them to press too high up the pitch, breaking the lines and allowing his side some good through balls.
Early warning bells rang as this flaw started becoming more and more evident but the fatal mistakes came mostly from some horrible marking in the box. In fact both goals for Venezuela came from defenders. The advantage acquired would only push Venezuela’s manager to keep defending in numbers and, just as he had done in the build up to the stalemate against Brazil in the group phase, he removed both of his strikers from the pitch – Miku and Rondon – once the first hour of play struck on the clock.
If anyone had thought Venezuela’s was the most cautious approach adopted in the quarter-final stages then they would have surely missed out on Paraguay’s performance against Brazil. The difference in quality here was much more evident between the two teams and this was enough for Tata Martino to apply his usual tactics and seek to stretch the game were they could try playing on a level field – penalties.
Talking about a level field, the pitch was quite a horrible one for technical players like Brazil’s to play on and the farce consumed itself during the penalty shootout when Brazilian players kept insisting on trying to place the ball at the angle of goal, missing the four penalties they took. After the first miss Paraguay quickly realized that there was no place for technique here. The penalty spot was too ravaged. They started kicking towards the centre with strength and did enough to beat the stubborn Brazilians.
It had been a game Brazil had fully deserved to take home but Paraguay got very lucky and now find themselves with a good chance to make it to the final. Venezuela, after all, should not get their legs trembling. Chile had thought the same but their attitude was probably too arrogant not to take lowly Venezuela for granted. Paraguay are notoriously the most prudent and plucky South American team – the more European of the teams from that continent. They will not be leaving any details out.
They may therefore take advantage of their higher quality this time so Martino’s tactics should not be as defensive as those employed against Brazil. Barrios and Valdez, who lead the line-up against Brazil, can be lethal if not caged well. Estigarribia has been the most inspired of the attacking midfielders whilst Caceres, who gave the team more focus on the defensive side in their match against Brazil, may be left out.
Venezuela will be without Rincon who saw red in the game against Chile. Alcaraz, a first eleven central defender, will be the missing player for Paraguay.
Just like the other semifinal this is a match-up between two teams that had started the competition in the same group. Their encounter at the time was one of the most spectacular with Paraguay seeing a 3-1 lead slip away after Miku and Perozo’s goals in the dying minutes of the match.
Verdict: Paraguay -1
Venezuela have never managed to get to this stage. Both sides got here using defensive antics but with Paraguay favourites there should be doubts whether they will be holding back against Venezuela as well. With Barrios and Valdez they can harm their opponents and should be looking to record their first victory in this tournament against the team they went closest to manage that objective in Argentina so far. Paraguay have drawn seven and lost two of their last Copa America games. All fans would be glad to see the team play the ball and stop Larissa Riquelme from calling off the show …if she can find her mobile phone.
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