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Copa America to open on Tuesday
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-07-06 09:33

The 41st Copa America will be opened on Tuesday and teams from each group first set their aim at qualifying from the group stage.

Brazilian soccer players warm up during their training session at Melgar Stadium in Arequipa, July 5, 2004. The Brazilian national team is in Peru for the 2004 Copa America tournament, and will begin play on July 8 against Chile. [Reuters]

In Group A, in which an event level is expected, hosts Peru and defending champions Colombia are the favorites. The group also includes Bolivia and Venezuela.

Argentine striker Carlos Tevez runs for the ball during a training session in Chiclayo, July 5, 2004. Argentina's national soccer team will face Mexico, Ecuador and Uruguay in Group B of the Copa America 2004 tournament, to be held in Peru from July 6-25. [Reuters]

In Group B the main candidates are Argentina and Mexico, although Ecuador will enjoy an overwhelming support from the public as the group venue is located just across the Peru-Ecuador border. Meanwhile Uruguay could resort to its traditional courage.

Paraguay's national players train in front of the Misti volcano at Sachaca stadium in Arequipa, Peru, July 5, 2004. Paraguay will face Brazil, Chile and Costa Rica in Group C of the Copa America 2004 tournament, to be held in Peru from July 6-25. [Reuters]

In Group C Brazil, though didn't call such stars like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Dida and so on, will be asure bet to qualify for the second phase.

Behind Brazil come Paraguay characterized by a collective performance and deadly counterattacks.

With a backdrop of the Misti volcano, Brazilian soccer players train during a practice session at Melgar Stadium in Arequipa, Peru, July 5, 2004. [Reuters]

Each team will play three matches in the group stage with the top two finishers from each group and the two best third-place finishers qualify for the second stage.

Copa America to define the destiny of four coaches 

At least four coaches face an imminent sacking if their teams have a poor peformance in the 41st Copa America to open on Tuesday in Peru.

For many people the only acceptable outcome of this South American competition, which also counts with the participation of Mexico and Costa Rica, from a different regional soccer confederation, is the conquest of the final.

Among the coaches who are about to be fired are Brazilian Paulo Autuori (Peru), Marcelo Bielsa (Argentina), Jorge Fossati (Uruguay)and Argentine-Mexican Ricardo Lavolpe (Mexico).

Autuori is criticized for the recent bad string of matches of the Peruvian national soccer team which lost 2-0 versus Colombia, and got a 0-0 draw versus Venezuela playing as hosts in the World Cup regional qualifying tournament. Peru also lost 2-1 in a friendly match against Argentina in New York.

Argentina's Bielsa keeps a permanent dispute with the sports press and the fans, because the poor performance of his team in Korea-Japan 2002 remains in their memory.

Lavolpe has not been able to form a good team in the North, Central American and Caribbean Soccer Confederation World Cup qualifying tournament.

He has among his toughest critics former Mexican international star Hugo Sanchez and presently coach of this season's Mexican soccer league champions UNAM.

Fossati made his debut with Uruguay with a 3-1 defeat versus Peru in Montevideo as part of the South American World Cup qualifying competitions.

The Uruguayan coach faces serious difficulties with several players and a crisis on bonuses and salaries in the Mutualist Association of the Uruguayan Soccer Association (AUF), which almost led to a suspension in the participation of Uruguay in Copa America 2004.

Colombian Jose Pinto will face his first trial as national team coach of the Costa Rican team.

The seven other coaches have a more or less certain future, although the pressure of winning the tournament is there, mostly following the surprising victory of Greece in the Euro cup 2004.

Copa America will start on Tuesday and conclude on July 25.

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