2007 Copa América

2007 Copa América
Copa América Venezuela 2007

Copa América 2007 official logo
Tournament details
Host country Venezuela
Dates 26 June – 15 July
Teams 12 (from 2 confederations)
Venue(s) 9 (in 9 host cities)
Final positions
Champions  Brazil (8th title)
Runners-up  Argentina
Third place  Mexico
Fourth place  Uruguay
Tournament statistics
Matches played 26
Goals scored 86 (3.31 per match)
Attendance 1,050,230 (40,393 per match)
Top scorer(s) Brazil Robinho (6 goals)
Best player Brazil Robinho[1]

The 2007 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, known simply as the 2007 Copa América or 2007 Copa América Venezuela, was the 42nd edition of the Copa América, the South-American championship for international association football teams. The competition was organized by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body, and was held between 26 June and 15 July in Venezuela, which hosted the tournament for the first time. The defending champions were Brazil.

The competition was won by Brazil who went on to beat Argentina 3–0 in the final.[2] Mexico took third place by beating Uruguay 3–1 in the third-place match. Brazil thus won the right to represent CONMEBOL[3] at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.[4]

Competing nations

As with previous tournaments, all ten members of CONMEBOL participated in the competition. In order to bring the number of competing teams to twelve, CONMEBOL invited Mexico and the United States, the two highest ranking CONCACAF teams in the FIFA World Rankings. Just as in every tournament since 1993, Mexico accepted the invitation without reservation. The United States, on the other hand, rejected the invitation due to scheduling conflicts with the 2007 Major League Soccer season. CONMEBOL then proceeded to invite Costa Rica, the third highest CONCACAF team in FIFA's ranking.[5] In the end, the United States accepted the invitation.[6]

Venues

For this Copa América, the organizing committee decided to choose eight cities to hold the tournament. Before the selection of cities, at least 14 cities presented proposal before the committee, of which they rejected proposals from Maracay, Valencia, Valera, Portuguesa and Miranda for not meeting established requirements. The cities of Barquisimeto, Barinas, Caracas, Ciudad Guayana (Puerto Ordaz), Maracaibo, Maturín, Mérida, Puerto la Cruz and San Cristóbal were selected to host the tournament. Having selected eight cities, the organizing committee reconsidered the candidacy of Barquisimeto based on the proposed new stadium for the city. Because of that, Barquisimeto was selected as the ninth host city. With nine host cities, the 2007 edition broke the previous records for host cities set by the 2004 Copa América in Peru, which used seven.

Barinas Barquisimeto Caracas Maracaibo
Estadio Agustín Tovar Estadio Metropolitano de Lara Estadio Olímpico de la UCV Estadio José Pachencho Romero
Capacity: 27,500 Capacity: 42,000 Capacity: 24,900 Capacity: 40,000
Maturín Mérida
Estadio Monumental de Maturín Estadio Metropolitano de Mérida
Capacity: 52,000 Capacity: 42,000
Puerto la Cruz Puerto Ordaz
Estadio Olímpico Luis Ramos Estadio Polideportivo Cachamay
Capacity: 38,000 Capacity: 41,600
San Cristóbal
Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo
Capacity: 40,000

Officials

On 30 May 2007, CONMEBOL announced the list of match officials for the competition. The list included one match official from every country (except Paraguay, which had two). From these thirteen, six officiated in the 2006 FIFA World Cup: Carlos Simon, Óscar Ruiz, Carlos Amarilla, Jorge Larrionda, and Armando Archundia.

Squads

Each association had to present a list of twenty-three players to compete in the competition.

Group stage

The first round, or group stage, saw the twelve teams divided into three groups of four teams. Each group was a round-robin of six games, where each team played one match against each of the other teams in the same group. Teams were awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and none for a defeat. The teams finishing first, second and two best-placed third teams in each group qualified for the Quarter-finals.

Tie-breaking criteria

Teams were ranked on the following criteria:

1. Greater number of points in all group matches
2. Goal difference in all group matches
3. Greater number of goals scored in all group matches
4. Head-to-head results
5. Drawing of lots by the CONMEBOL Organising Committee
Key to colors in group tables
Group winners, runners-up, and best two third-placed teams advance to the quarterfinals

All times are in Venezuela Standard Time (UTC-04:00).

Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Venezuela 312042+25
 Peru 311154+14
 Uruguay 311113−24
 Bolivia 302145−12

26 June 2007
18:05
Uruguay  0–3  Peru
(Report) Villalta  27'
Mariño  70'
Guerrero  88'

26 June 2007
20:50
Venezuela  2–2  Bolivia
Maldonado  20'
Páez  55'
(Report) Moreno  38'
Arce  84'
Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Mauricio Reinoso (Ecuador)


30 June 2007
18:20
Venezuela  2–0  Peru
Cichero  48'
Arismendi  79'
(Report)

3 July 2007
18:35
Peru  2–2  Bolivia
Pizarro  34', 85' (Report) Moreno  24'
Campos  45'

3 July 2007
20:50
Venezuela  0–0  Uruguay
(Report)

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Mexico 321041+37
 Brazil 320142+26
 Chile 311135−24
 Ecuador 300336−30

27 June 2007
18:35
Ecuador  2–3  Chile
Valencia  16'
Benítez  23'
(Report) Suazo  20', 80'
Villanueva  86'

27 June 2007
20:50
Brazil  0–2  Mexico
(Report) Castillo  23'
Morales  28'

1 July 2007
16:05
Brazil  3–0  Chile
Robinho  36' (pen.), 84', 87' (Report)

1 July 2007
18:20
Mexico  2–1  Ecuador
Castillo  21'
Bravo  79'
(Report) Méndez  84'

4 July 2007
18:35
Mexico  0–0  Chile
(Report)

4 July 2007
20:50
Brazil  1–0  Ecuador
Robinho  56' (pen.) (Report)

Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Argentina 330093+69
 Paraguay 320182+66
 Colombia 310239−63
 United States 300328−60

28 June 2007
18:35
Paraguay  5–0  Colombia
Santa Cruz  30', 46', 80'
Cabañas  84', 88'
(Report)

28 June 2007
20:50
Argentina  4–1  United States
Crespo  11', 60'
Aimar  76'
Tevez  84'
(Report) Johnson  9' (pen.)

2 July 2007
18:35
United States  1–3  Paraguay
Clark  35' (Report) Barreto  29'
Cardozo  56'
Cabañas  90+2'
Estadio Agustín Tovar, Barinas
Attendance: 28,200
Referee: Victor Rivera (Peru)

2 July 2007
20:50
Argentina  4–2  Colombia
Crespo  20' (pen.)
Riquelme  34', 45'
D. Milito  90+1'
(Report) E. Perea  10'
Castrillón  76'

5 July 2007
18:35
United States  0–1  Colombia
(Report) Castrillón  15'
Estadio Metropolitano de Fútbol de Lara, Barquisimeto
Attendance: 37,500
Referee: Manuel Andarcia (Venezuela)

Ranking of third-placed teams

At the end of the first stage, a comparison was made between the third-placed teams of each group. The two best third-placed teams advanced to the quarter-finals.

Group Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
B  Chile 311135−24
A  Uruguay 311113−24
C  Colombia 310239−63

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                   
7 July San Cristóbal        
  Venezuela  1
10 July Maracaibo
  Uruguay  4  
  Uruguay  2 (4)
7 July Puerto la Cruz
    Brazil  2 (5)  
  Chile  1
15 July Maracaibo
  Brazil  6  
  Brazil  3
8 July Maturín
    Argentina  0
  Mexico  6
11 July Puerto Ordaz
  Paraguay  0  
  Mexico  0 Third place
8 July Barquisimeto
    Argentina  3  
  Argentina  4   Uruguay  1
  Peru  0     Mexico  3
14 July Caracas

Quarterfinals

7 July 2007
18:05
Venezuela  1–4  Uruguay
Arango  41' (Report) Forlán  38', 90+1'
García  64'
Rodríguez  86'

7 July 2007
20:50
Chile  1–6  Brazil
Suazo  76' (Report) Juan  16'
Baptista  23'
Robinho  27', 50'
Josué  68'
Vágner Love  85'

8 July 2007
16:05
Mexico  6–0  Paraguay
Castillo  5' (pen.), 38'
Torrado  27'
Arce  79'
Blanco  87' (pen.)
Bravo  90+1'
(Report)

8 July 2007
18:50
Argentina  4–0  Peru
Riquelme  47', 85'
Messi  61'
Mascherano  75'
(Report)

Semifinals


11 July 2007
20:50
Mexico  0–3  Argentina
(Report) Heinze  45'
Messi  61'
Riquelme  65' (pen.)

Third-place match

14 July 2007
17:05
Uruguay  1–3  Mexico
Abreu  22' (Report) Blanco  36' (pen.)
Bravo  68'
Guardado  76'
Estadio Olímpico, Caracas
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Mauricio Reinoso (Ecuador)

Final

15 July 2007
17:05
Brazil  3–0  Argentina
Baptista  4'
Ayala  40' (o.g.)
Dani Alves  69'
(Report)

Result

 2007 Copa América Champions 

Brazil
Eighth title

Awards

Goalscorers

With six goals, Robinho is the top scorer in the tournament. In total, 86 goals were scored by 53 different players, with only one of them credited as own goal.

6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
Own goal

Final positions

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Eff
1  Brazil 6411155+101372.2%
2  Argentina 6501166+101583.3%
3  Mexico 6411135+81372.2%
4  Uruguay 622289−1844.4%
Eliminated in the quarterfinals
5  Paraguay 4202880650.0%
6  Venezuela 412156−1541.6%
7  Peru 411258−3433.3%
8  Chile 4112411−7433.3%
Eliminated in the first round
9  Colombia 310239−6333.3%
10  Bolivia 302145−1222.2%
11  Ecuador 300336−300.0%
12  United States 300328−600.0%

Mascot

Guaky suit manufactured by Fractal Studio, through the main cities of Venezuela.

Guaky is a scarlet macaw, a bird representative of Venezuela. He wore the traditional jersey Venezuela national football team burgundy and football shoes. Under their wings the characteristic tricolor national flag, with its eight stars on their wings.

To choose the official mascot held a contest in which proposals received 4,500,000 of Venezuelan children and adolescents at a school. The winning draw corresponded to the 15-year-old Jhoyling Zabaleta.[7] The final design was commissioned to Fractal Studio, bring life and a "strong personality, cheerful and sport" that accompanied the event during its realization. The name of the pet, Guaky was subsequently elected by an online survey, where that option was a 54.17% of preferences.[8]

Sponsorship

Global Platinum Sponsor

Global Gold Sponsor

Global Silver Sponsor

Charitable Partner

Local Supplier

Match ball

The official match ball for the tournament was the Nike Mercurial Veloci. The ball was presented on 14 February 2007, prior to a friendly match played between Venezuela and New Zealand, by the president of the Venezuelan Football Federation, Rafael Esquivel, to the mayor of Maracaibo, Giancarlo Di Martino – head of the local organising committee.

Theme songs

  • "Baila la Copa" by Venezuelan singer Ose was the main theme song of the tournament, which was performed during the draw and the opening ceremonies
  • "Let's Dance" by American singer Vanessa Hudgens was used as a fight song for the U.S. National Team and was used as a secondary theme song of the tournament, as the song was featured extensively during TV coverage of the tournament, especially in the United States.
  • Another song, appropriately titled "Copa América" by Juan Carlos Luces, was an unofficial anthem for the tournament.
  • "A Public Affair" by Jessica Simpson was initially selected as the main theme song, but CONMEBOL withdrew their decision as the song was not as successful in South America as "Irresistible", the song used for the 2001 tournament.

References

  1. "Copa América Best Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  2. "Brazil victorious in Copa America". BBC Sport. 16 July 2007. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  3. The South American champion, along with the European champion (the winner of Euro 2008), "will no longer be obliged to take part" in the Confederations Cup beginning with the 2009 edition FIFA.com – 2005/2006 season: final worldwide matchday to be 14 May 2006. Archived 17 January 2010 at WebCite
  4. Mexico and the United States are members of CONCACAF, the governing body of North American football (which includes Central America and the Caribbean as well). Thus, they would not be allowed to represent CONMEBOL at the Confederations Cup. Had either team won the Copa América, the best-finishing South American team would have taken the place.
  5. "Postergan sorteo de la Copa América 2007". Los Tiempos. 4 October 2006. Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
  6. "Estados Unidos y México tomarán parte en la Copa América 2007". Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol. 29 May 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
  7. "Sketch winner of the "Pet Copa America 2007"". Journal EL MUNDO. 29 June 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  8. "Con nombre propio". ESPN Español. 1 February 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
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