The Copa America 2011 has reached its semi final stage, with heavyweights like Argentina & Brazil already eliminated after having a bad day in penalty shoot-outs. To contest in the final, Uruguay, who added to Lionel Messi’s miseries at the international stage, will take on Peru. On the other side, Venezuela will face Paraguay, who did the almost impossible task of knocking out Brazil.
Uruguay in pole position to grab the Copa America
Out of the four sides competing for the championship, Uruguay is emerging as the favourites, be it among the fans or the football experts. And this does not come as a surprise, given the brilliant form in which they are for the last couple of years. It would not be any sort of shocking news anymore if Uruguay lifts the trophy by winning the Copa, as there’s no better side than them left in the tournament.
The true potential of Uruguay has always been underestimated for the past several years. Since a long time, they have been playing under the shadow of South American heavyweights Brazil and Argentina, despite being the first nation to win the FIFA World Cup back in 1930. But, with the quarterfinal triumph over Argentina and Brazil’s misfortune against Paraguay, Uruguay have proved it again that they are emerging as today’s best football-playing nation from South America.
Though they are performing very well in this edition of the Copa America, no one can forget their heroic display at the FIFA World Cup 2010, where they reached the semi-finals, thanks to Luis Suarez’s ‘Hand of God’, and finally finished fourth in the tournament. Even that performance was way better than the likes of Diego Maradona’s Argentina and a Brazilian side led by Carles Dunga.
Uruguayan star players Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez would be desperate for some silverware. In particular, Forlan would be looking at this opportunity to achieve something at the international stage after his sublime efforts at the World Cup – which earned him the ‘Golden Ball’ – could not help his nation claim the third spot, let alone reaching the finals.
Forlan will not wish that the Copa slips away from his hands similar to his last-minute free-kick against Germany in the third-place decider, which just went off the cross bar & denied Uruguay a penalty shoot-out & thus, a chance to get the third spot. Still, Forlan bagged the best player’s award.
At present, Uruguay look just inches away from reclaiming the Copa America after a long period. And all the football fans would hope that they do so, because a player of the quality of Forlan – one of the best footballers of all times for Uruguay – deserves at least one big trophy at the international level.
Tags: Copa America 2011, Football, Paraguay, Peru, Semi-Final, Uruguay, Venezuela
