2024-06-24 12:22:18
Seven details in regards to the craziest continental soccer championship on the planet
The Copa America is the oldest, however in all probability the craziest, continental soccer championship on the planet. Began as a event between simply 4 South American nations in 1916, as we speak the championship includes 16 groups from South, North and Central America in addition to the international locations of the Caribbean.
However the historical past of this event is chaotic and uneven, just like the historical past of just about all the pieces else in South America. For instance, the event turned the event for the creation of the primary continental soccer confederation (CONMEBOL), not the opposite manner round – the federation organizing the event. Additional, the historical past of the event continues to be the identical madhouse.
At first it was held yearly, however not fairly (due to the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918, the event in Brazil was canceled), then it was not held for 9 years, when in 1930 world championships started to be organized. After the Second World Conflict, editions of the Copa America are each two years, typically each three, chat-pat each 4, as soon as it occurs twice in a single yr (1959), typically it’s on a fair yr, typically on an odd yr and so forth to the current day, when some approximate order has already been established.
For such an extended historical past, the Copa America has created multiple legend, however listed here are seven details about this event that totally show that it’s the most irregular continental championship on the earth:
- Pele solely performed within the Copa America as soon as, in 1959 when he was simply 19, however he was already world champion with Brazil from Sweden in ’58. His staff’s participation is unsuccessful.
- Like him, Diego Maradona was unsuccessful in his Copa America debut in 1979 in Brazil in a match towards the hosts, dropping 1:2. What’s extra fascinating is that on this match Maradona performed with the quantity 6 shirt – the quantity ten is reserved for an additional Argentine legend – Mario Kempes. Diego has had no success with Argentina on this event and, like Pele, he has not gained it.
- In 2011, Paraguay reached the ultimate of the event with out successful a single sport in common time – their three group matches have been attracts and their quarter- and semi-final matches have been gained on penalties after 0-0 attracts in common 90 minutes and further time. Soccer justice was then restored after they misplaced to Uruguay 0-2 within the last.
- The 2016 USA Championship Anniversary Cup was specifically made for this version of the event and is deliberate to be awarded solely on the centennial anniversary of the competitors. Till then, it will likely be guarded by the winners of that event – Chile.
- In 1921, João de María was a part of the Brazil staff and performed as a defender or a striker, relying on the state of affairs. What’s extra fascinating is that, aside from being a soccer participant, Joao additionally appeared as a referee within the match between Argentina and Chile (1:1). However there isn’t a pleasure for him – Brazil finishes third.
- The most important kicker within the historical past of the Copa America is the Argentine participant Martin Palermo, who in 1999 missed three penalties within the match towards Colombia, misplaced by the “gauchos” with 3:0. The funniest factor on this case is that in the identical match the Colombians get the precise to take two penalties and miss one in all them.
- In 1919, penalties weren’t but a approach to settle ties in common time, and after a 2-2 draw, the groups of Brazil and Uruguay performed two 30-minute overtimes and nonetheless didn’t resolve a winner. In consequence, the match was replayed and Brazil gained 1:0.