ZM’s Copa America Best XI
The starting line-ups
The outstanding performers from July’s Copa America tournament in Argentina.
Justo Villar (Paraguay)
Getting to the final without winning a game or scoring a goal in the knockout stages relies on a good record at the back. Paraguay’s constantly changing back four were generally impressive, but Villar was superb. Some fantastic saves against Brazil were followed by some impressive saves in the shoot-out, a trick he repeated in the semi-final against Venezuela.
Juan Zuniga (Colombia)
A utility man for Napoli, but a key man for Colombia. In a defence which didn’t concede a goal in the group stages, Zuniga contributed to the good defensive record whilst also being a constant threat going forward, showing good quality with the ball at his feet.
Sebastian Coates (Uruguay)
The youngest of Uruguay’s impressive collection of centre-backs, but the standout performer in this competition. After Diego Lugano and Mauricio Victorino had a nightmare against Paolo Guerrero in Uruguay’s opening game, Coates came into the side and steadied the defence. Comfortable either as a man-marker in a four-man defence or as a sweeper in a three, Uruguay always seemed more comfortable when he was in the side.
Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (Venezuela)
A fantastic penalty box defender – uncompromising, committed and positionally-excellent. Venezuela often had to put up with the opposition enjoying the majority of possession, but Vizcarrondo was the main reason they could be comfortable with this. He also popped up to score a great header in the quarter-final against Chile.
Alvaro Pereira (Uruguay)
Pereira started the tournament on the bench against Peru when Uruguay desperately needed his width and attacking drive from left-back – but after that he started every game on the way to the final. His versatility came in handy – he is able to play as a left-back, a left-wing-back or a left-sided midfielder.
Egidio Arevalo (Uruguay)
A fierce competitor in the heart of midfield – and whilst Luis Suarez received the official man of the match award for the final, it was Arevalo’s closing down of Nestor Ortigoza that set the tone for the Uruguayan performance. Arevalo has been used to performing in a double act with Diego Perez, but Perez’s red card against Argentina and subsequent suspension against Peru brought the best out of Arevalo as the sole holding player.
Tomas Rincon (Venezuela)
A powerful but technically gifted midfielder, and officially named as the best player at the tournament. His harsh red card against Chile robbed him of the chance to play in the semi-final against Paraguay – and without their driving force in midfield, Venezuela were much less likely to score.
Juan Arango (Venezuela)
Another Venezuelan who showed technical quality in the middle of the pitch, as well as great ability from dead balls. Indeed, with this tournament being dominated by set-pieces, Arango’s delivery was crucial for Venezuela – especially in the 2-1 win over Chile, where both goals came from dead ball situations.
Alexis Sanchez (Chile)
Not quite at the level he reached for Udinese last season, but a constant threat. He also came up with an end product at important moments – a good goal against Uruguay, a key assist against Venezuela.
Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
A good finish against Peru was crucial to Suarez staying in the side over Edinson Cavani, as Oscar Tabarez switched from a front three to a front two after that opening game. That gave Suarez more freedom and more of a central role – he was able to work the channels, picking up the ball between full-back and centre-back and looking to come inside. He also showed an amazing ability to win free-kicks and get opponents booked – especially against Argentina, where this knack was crucial to Uruguay remaining in the game.
Paolo Guerrero (Peru)
The classic all-round centre-forward – holding the ball up, working the channels, trying to get onto balls over the top and relishing crosses, Guerrero was a handful for every defence he faced, despite frequently getting little help from his teammates. He and Suarez finished as the two top scorers, but they were also the best forwards as a whole.
Honourable mentions
Fernando Muslera (Uruguay)
–
Mario Yepes (Colombia)
Diego Lugano (Uruguay)
Dario Veron (Paraguay)
Maicon (Brazil)
Pablo Armero (Colombia)
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Carlos Sanchez (Colombia)
Nestor Ortigoza (Paraguay)
Jorge Valdivia (Chile)
Ganso (Brazil)
–
Sergio Aguero (Argentina)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Joel Campbell (Costa Rica)
ZM’s Copa America Best XI
No Forlan. Cool. Zonal Marking’s the best.
sarsasm much? if you can even see, forlan is in honorable mention
When was the last time there was a copa america best eleven without any Argentinians or Brazilians?
For me the best player of the tournament was Alvaro Pereira, he was outstanding and played a great game in every game of the tournament. Versatile, great going forward, helped set the tone fro pressing, and great defensively.
I agree with most of the eleven, and i was really liking alexis Sanchez, and was dissapointed when chile were knocked out, thought they could have won it with an in form forward like him, but oh well. Suarez was excellent too, and did such a hard job, constantly running around pressing defenders and running the channels. And i really liked guerrero, hes my kind of striker, and i think was what brazil were missing really.
I have to admit i wasnt sure about rincon, showed great potential, but Venezuela never really controlled a game, so he wasnt able to excert his influence too much, not a criticism of him, more the lack of quality around him maybe. Though they did a great job getting to the semis and should be proud.
proud to read the nomination for player of the tournament.
Alvaro is in fact a great player who deserves recognition.
Guarín and Falcao were also well under the circumstances, the season was too long.
Zonal Marking, Congratulations for the fantastic work!
http://thebluefactoryofdreams.blogspot.com
Imagine the odds on no Brazilians or Argentinians in the best XI pre tournament…
I’m not sure zonalmarking.net is high profile enough for a bookies to give you odds on their XI best of the tournament post.
Totally agree with your opinion on Álvaro Pereira. For me as well, the best player of the tournament.
For me, hands down it was Egidio Arevalo. He saved Uruguay after the red card. Amazing World Cup and Copa America.
Three Bundesliga players in starting XI. Time to pay more attention, world.
It is time for them to step up in Bundesliga because all three of them are regularly disappointing on club level.
If they were any good they wouldn’t still be in the Bundesliga.
Ridiculous statement. Bundesliga just happens to be among the top3 leagues in the world.
great selection, I also liked Estigarribia a lot.
Yeah man he was great! Bought Alves to his kneees….Where is he ZM?
Useless in the knockout stages after his fantastic flash in the pan against Brazil.
My only complaint is that Peru’s and Fiorentina’s Juan Manuel Vargas isn’t even in the bench – other than his crazy red card (in the semis, i think?), he was awesome. Can’t disagree much otherwise.
+1
I’d exchange Juan Arango for Vargas or Marcelo Estigarribia without thinking.
Really impressive that none of them were mentioned in the article.
Estigarribia had disappoinging games against Brazil (second match) and Venezuela. He was great against Alves, but nothing other than that. Vargas was good, tough between him and Arango. Like ZM said, Arango gets it because of his set-pieces.
mine is:
—————aguero
———————–messi
——-valdivia—ganso
–A.Pereira—-Vidal——-Maicon
——Lugano–Coates–Yepes
————–Muslera
there are many players who were subs in their teams and i didn’t see all the games (mostly the games of the big nations)
you can also argue that my team is a playstation team, not really realistic ^^
messi and aguero as team of the tournament is offensive to the performances made by other forwards in the Copa
aguero scored even when not starting and not playing in his position, and messi played mostly with 10 zombies
and it’s my team not the objectively best performing team of the copa
ZM how could you put sanchez instead of messi???
Can’t disagree much with ZM’s selection.
All the players selected were top performers.
I’d probably put some of the 2nd team players into the 1st team, but overal, great job!
Dario Veron had a great few games until the final, when Suarez ran him ragged. I suppose it’s unfair to exclude a defender for failing to contain the player of the tournament, though, and Veron filled in very well in a few different roles.
Ortigoza deserves the award for highest highs and lowest lows. Some great passing out to the flanks when he had a chance, but some unforgivable lost balls near his penalty area to Arevalo in the final and to Rincon in the 1st round draw with Vzla.
In addition to villar, suarez and alvaro pereira, the no-brainer of the tournament is Tabarez as best manager.
personally i thought Sanchez was rather rubbish in the Copa America. Sure he is talented but not all that he was expected to be..I thought how easily people overlooked Forlan who i thought was very integral to Uruguay’s success more so than Suarez who was brilliant.i thought Pereira played left middle through the whole tourney? Arevalo is an excellent pick as well but i would somehow included Lugano..awesome player
I would agree, it seems like A Pereira was playing in the left side of midfield throughout the tournament.
i think the fact suarez had to take on all of forlans defensive work was very impressive, Forlan was left to create and become the link, and he did a good job, but i thought suarez occupied both CB’s and was a threat throughout, so i think had a better tournament.
Suarez was rubbish? What are you on? Fair enough you could argue that he wasn’t the best player at the tournament (even though he was), but rubbish? Never.
who said suarez was rubbish?? i said he was better than forlan
And the first person said SANCHEZ was rubbish, and just that forlan was better than suarez
Coates: South America’s response to Gerard Piqué?
More like a taller Puyol. Not nearly as technical on the ball as Piqué.
I’d say he’s quite technical
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpNEzRr7HTM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxxw6GPPT8U&t=1m30s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxxw6GPPT8U&t=1m30s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpNEzRr7HTM
Nah, he’s pretty techincal
Yeah, more like Puyol. He is okay technically, but not Pique style. More Puyolish in the way he is unbeatable on the 1v1s, and puts more calmness into the team.
A little disappointed not to see Vargas in best 11 (not even an honorable mention!?). Sanchez and Arango performed well perhaps, but they did not lift their respective teams in the same manner that Vargas lifted Peru. He had an immediate impact upon his introduction against Uruguay and was a constant danger throughout the tournament, many times being one of the few players to link defense with attack and support Guerrero up front. Also, three players from Venezuela in the top 11? Granted they had a good tournament but I believe three is a bit much, especially since Peru thrashed them 4-1. Vargas over Arango in my opinion!
Great article
i think tabarez switched from a front 3 to a front 2 essentially because cavani had an injury against chile
OMG, surely ZM hasn’t picked a bog standard premiership style 4-4-2
. Or is it a 4-2-3-1 where Suarez drops off and the wingers push on?
I’d say it’s an Ancelotti style Christmas Tree. Sanchez is not an orthodox wide midfielder, and Arango primarily plays in the center. In this system Pereira would be the key man, and have the entire left flank to himself. He was my player of the tournament as well.
I’d be happy to hear anybody’s opinion about the Chilean Arturo Vidal.
I’m a Juventus fan and I’ve been told he did pretty well, but if ZM doesn’t even mention him, well, then that’s probably not true.
He’s a quality player. Versatile midfielder – box-to-box, can put a tackle in and also has an eye for a pass – reminds me of Michael Ballack in a way (not just the Leverkusen connection there). Also in Chile’s system he’s played as a centre back and wingback – once playing 3 positions in one match this tournament! I reckon he’ll do well in Serie A. Juve really mean business this transfer window don’t they.
Thanks!
And yes, Juve really want to go for some good quality players this time (there was a terrible lack of quality last season). Vucinic is about to be signed too: not very consistent, but great talent.
Very happy to know that Vidal is so versatile and can play at the back too: he’s got to play next to Pirlo, which is a hell of a job (ask Gattuso), and I’m wondering if such midfield will work. It looks like Conte will play with a sort of 4-2-4 (it’s actually a 4-4-2 with wingers very high on the pitch, but everybody calls it 4-2-4 cause it’s cooler) and I doubt Pirlo-Vidal will offer enough cover to the defense.
whats with that honorable mention? you put too many players there. putting ganso there is SHOCKING
Ganso played the Copa far from being 100% fit, played the only creative role for Brazil (making it easy for opponents to nullify Brazil by nullifying him) and was top-joint (with Lionel Messi) assistant of the competition playing rather poorly. I wonder what he’s going to do when Brazil’s system suit him better and when he’s completely fit again. The boy has such a huge talent.
Probably he didn’t play well enough to be mentioned, but what he did in those conditions I mentioned above might be the reason why ZM mentioned him.
so because he has potential it means he should be here? despite playing extremely bad and having just a few lucky assists? are you kidding me? dont kid with the kid, man.
Luis Suarez – ‘He also showed an amazing ability to win free-kicks and get opponents booked…” hmmm maybe thats because he’s a whining cheat? Terrible sportsman. He can play but I really do hate to watch him, especially after his antics last year vs. Ghana.
“especially after his antics last year vs. Ghana.”
See Jack Charlton in 1966, Kempes in 1978, etc etc. it has happened plenty of times before, even in world cups.
BTW, great blog but ZM commited a lot of mistakes in this one. Cavani did´t play because he was injured. Suarez was the official best player of the tournament, not Rincon, who received the adidas award, voted by internet. Vargas was excellent. A. Pereira played as a midfielder.
Who gives a flying fcuk if it happened before? I guess murder isn’t so bad seeing as how it’s happened before, eh? Why don’t you go suck suck a large one Pedrinho, and stop wasting everyone’s time with your nonsense before I give you a puck in the jaw for yourself.
Why don’t you suck suck a large one, fag. The only thing you’re the bossman of is your own todger.
I think Messi deserves a spot in the best XI, he is just getting a rough time because he is the best player in the world and Argentina were the favorites but if a random player puts the performance Messi did for a random team he would obviously get in.
I think ZM got it wrong with DARIO VERON, he was by far the best defender in the competition, he almost never made any mistakes, and he played in more positions than any other central defender in the list.
Tryin to be a rebel by putting Sanchez instead of Messi, pretty childish.
As someone put it, if a random player would give that performance it would have been a sensation.
That’s what happens when you are a double – soon to be triple – Balon Do’r winner. Your expectations are three times as high the second best player’s. And being Argentine makes it even worse, considering they have the strangest football fans in the world. If a random player gave those performances, he would of course easily be on any list. But Messi is unique, not many players in history have had his talent, and after 3 years of consistent brilliance, of course the way you judge him is different. Regular standards, Messi did a 15/10. Messi standards, Messi did a 7.5/10.
I like that answer, Iason. Messi created a ton of chances, but they were not put away. I think one day it will be easier to compile lists like this by saying “Best XI aside from Messi.”
Estigarribia deserves a spot.
He did magnificently for multiple matches.
Plus i like his name, esp. when spoken out by commentators.
What do you think about Rondon? I think he did very well with what was given to him. Considering he probably received the least amount of service of any Striker in the tournament, I think he did well. Not a best 11, but I would put him as an honourable mention. Also because of his talent. With a fair chance, he would have been a starter in most of the South American teams (even in Argentina, I would have played him over the off-form Higuain).
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