Official 2024 Copa America Thread

[troutman]

Messi Missi

[lazypucker]

Messi hits the bar. It almost never happens!!

[Locke]

Ooooooh Messi!! That was messy!!!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Why does it go to PKs right away?

And why there are commercials between the end of the game and penalties?

Too hot in July?

[lazypucker]

This Ecuador dude looks nervous - and saved

[lazypucker]

Perfect shot by Alvarez

[lazypucker]

The 2nd Ecuador dude looked nervous as well

[Cecil Terwilliger]

That guy was picking his nose.

[lazypucker]

The Ecuador keeper is big and tall, but doesn't look like he moves well

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Oh well. It’ll feel sweeter when we beat Argentina.

[Beninho]

Well they won a world cup off playing games exactly like this and winning on the spot. They have some sort of plot armor when it comes to PK’s. Even when they miss they still win

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Beninho

Well they won a world cup off playing games exactly like this and winning on the spot. They have some sort of plot armor when it comes to PK’s.

The plot tends to be Messi misses his and then Martinez saves a bunch to save them.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The plot tends to be Messi misses his and then Martinez saves a bunch to save them.

Ya Martinez is unreal on penalties, that second save was top notch. Always keeps his foot on the line as well.

If you are a player up against him you have to really take a risk and elevate the ball or hit it low with lots of power. If its a mid height shot more than likely this guy is stopping it. Amazing ability to read the shooter and pick the right side.

[lazypucker]

The close up shots for the first 2 Ecuador PK takers show that they were very nervous. That makes the keeper's job a lot easier...

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

The close up shots for the first 2 Ecuador PK takers show that they were very nervous. That makes the keeper's job a lot easier...

They were.

It’s unfortunate for Ecuador as they finished the game strong. It’s a bit ridiculous to go straight to penalties, which the Copa America has done in the past. I don’t get it honestly

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah that is so weird to go right to penalties.

The thing with Martinez is you're almost better off to hit it where he is, he tends to try to lure you to hit it where you think you have space but that's where he's moving to.

[activeStick]

Totally not a follower of soccer but def gonna try to watch the game tonight... Go Canada!!! Is there any hope at all that Canada can win? Like, honestly? I looked up the standings see their opponent is 3-0.....

[trackercowe]

Well it's interesting to note Canada actually ranks higher than Venezuela in the FIFA rankings (48 to 54). Canada has already played three higher ranked teams in this tournament.

I believe Venezuela was a surprise winner of their group, with Mexico as the favorite (with Equador also going through). To me it seems like a winnable matchup. Canada is rather fortunate as the other group winners would all be guaranteed losses (Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia). Venezuela is a game they can win. They are not a world power like many of the teams left.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I think it’s a very good matchup for Canada but also a very hard one. Could go either way. Venezuela beat Ecuador to win their group. Canada hasn’t had a win of that caliber since the Iceteca over Mexico in WCQ in my opinion, and I’m not sure that Mexico team was as close to as good as this Ecuadorian squad. I think Ecuador is a very good team that’s closing the gap to the big 3 + Colombia in the region. Beninho can probably say if that’s true or not

Looking forward to it! They’ve got an awesome opportunity for a statement here

[SuperMatt18]

Venezuela doesn't have the most impressive roster on paper, but they are playing really well as a unit right now and have a lot of confidence which is always risky.

Canada had done well to get to this point, but were also very fortunate in how their games went, and I doubt they are going into the match with as much confidence as Venezuela has right now.

Should be a good match though.