VENEZUELA: SOCCER - Argentine soccer team arrives the day before its showdown match against Mexico for the Copa America semi-final showdown

Record ID: 446572

  • Title: VENEZUELA: SOCCER - Argentine soccer team arrives the day before its showdown match against Mexico for the Copa America semi-final showdown
  • Date: 11th July 2007
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF FLAGS AND COPA AMERICA PARROT MASCOT BALLOON
  • Embargoed: 26th July 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAEV4XXY9XMWRC5XIH63DU5624R
  • Story Text: Argentina's soccer team arrives in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela a day before their semi-final showdown match against Mexico. Argentina's team arrived in the Venezuelan city of Puerto Ordaz on Tuesday (July 10) one day before they are to play against Mexico in the semi-final of the Copa America.
    Everything is ready at the stadium, including the sales stands which are loaded with Copa memorabilia and soccer jerseys of all the participating teams.
    The players got off their bus to shrieks of excitment and a media frenzy as journalists jostled to get pictures of the players and their coaches.
    Argentina and Mexico produced one of the best matches at last year's World Cup and promise to serve up another soccer feast Wednesday (July 11).
    It is the fourth year in a row that the two countries have met in a competitive international.
    Argentina coach Alfio Basile has the usual wealth of talent at his disposal. The main doubt is in attack, where Diego Milito and Carlos Tevez are competing to replace prolific striker Hernan Crespo, who pulled a muscle while celebrating a goal last week against Colombia.
    Mexico's big worry is Nery Castillo, one of the tournament's revelations, who has a swollen left knee.
    Probable teams:
    Argentina: 1-Roberto Abbondanzieri; 8-Javier Zanetti, 2-Roberto Ayala, 15-Gabriel Milito, 6-Gabriel Heinze; 20-Juan Sebastian Veron, 14-Javier Mascherano, 8-Esteban Cambiasso, 10-Juan Roman Riquelme; 18-Lionel Messi, 11-Carlos Tevez
    Mexico: 1-Oswaldo Sanchez; 5-Israel Castro, 2-Jonny Magallon, 4-Rafael Marquez, 3-Fausto Pinto; 6-Gerardo Torrado, 20-Fernando Arce, 8-Jaime Correa, 18-Andres Guardado; 12-Juan Carlos Cacho, 19-Omar Bravo or 21-Nery Castillo
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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