Well, it keeps my attention that nobody here talks about this tournament. Argentina played against USA yesterday and won 4-1.

Argentina too much for US in Copa America opener

MARACAIBO, Venezuela (AP) — Missing most of its top players, the United States was trampled in its Copa America opener. Hernan Crespo scored twice, Pablo Aimar and Carlos Tevez added late goals and Argentina routed a youthful United States team 4-1 Thursday night in South America's championship.
Eddie Johnson put the U.S. ahead with a penalty kick in the ninth minute, but Crespo scored in the 11th and 64th minutes for fifth-ranked Argentina, which increasingly outplayed the Americans as the game progressed. Aimar connected in the 78th minute and Tevez scored in the 85th, just after entering the game.

The loss was the first for the United States since a 2-1 defeat to Ghana on June 22 last year in Germany, which eliminated the Americans from the World Cup. They had been 10-0-1 under Bob Bradley, who coached his first road game since replacing Bruce Arena as coach late last year.

Kasey Keller made his 101st international appearance, moving ahead of Tony Meola for the record among U.S. goalkeepers, but he was overwhelmed in the second half as his defense tired.

On Tuesday, the U.S. team plays Paraguay, which routed Colombia 5-0 in the opener of the doubleheader. The Colombians face Argentina.

The United States shocked Argentina 3-0 in the first round of the 1995 Copa America in Uruguay, but the Albiceleste already was assured of advancing and left many regulars out of its starting lineup.

This time, with former Argentine great Diego Maradona looking on in a national team jersey, Argentina fielded a full-strength lineup filled with stars from the world's top clubs.

Defender Jonathan Bornstein and midfielder Benny Feilhaber were the only holdovers from the U.S. starting lineup Sunday, when the Americans beat Mexico 2-1 in Chicago to win their second straight CONCACAF Gold Cup. Instead, the 13th-ranked Americans fielded a youthful side that included six starters with 10 international appearances or fewer.

Among them was Marvell Wynne, son of the former major league baseball player, who had his national team debut. Herculez Gomez, who replaced Taylor Twellman in the 69th minute, also made his first appearance for the national team.

Feilhaber, who had a spectacular winning goal against Mexico, created the play that led to the opening goal. Feilhaber split the defense with a pass half the length of the field in the seventh minute, and Johnson ran onto the ball for a breakaway on goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri.

Johnson was knocked down from behind by Gabriel Milito, and Chilean referee Carlos Candia didn't hesitate to call the penalty. Johnson slotted the ball to the right post, with Abbondanzieri breaking the other way, for his 11th goal in 27 international appearances.

Argentina didn't waste any time in getting the equalizer. Juan Roman Riquelme took a free kick from about 35 yards out. The ball bounced through the defense and Gabriel Heinze got to it ahead of Keller. The ball went to Crespo, who put it in the open net.

Argentina didn't have another good scoring chance until the 43rd minute, when Keller leaped and with his right hand tipped Juan Sebastian Veron's blistering right-footed shot from about 20 yards off the crossbar.

Crespo scored his second goal off a pass from Messi, speeding unmarked into the penalty area and beating Keller from 8 yards. Aimar scored on a header from 12 yards off a cross from Heinze, who bent the ball back from near the corner. Tevez then collected a through ball from Riquelme on a failed offside trap, touched it ahead to himself and slotted the ball just inside the post to Keller's right.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/national/2007-06-28-us-arg_N.htm?csp=34

It was difficult at first, Eddie Johnson who is a fast runner made the first goal and the 11 players were at the back field protecting the area, I was scared, but somehow Hernan Crespo could make the first goal for Argentina and the second in the second half, the point was to break the 11 players defense. When the second goal was made, USA was forced to break the defense to go ahead, and then we could make the third and fourth goal. It was too difficult to break that defense.

If Americans aren't good at a sport, we don't care for it.

Coincidence?

Well, I thought we played well for the first 60 or so minutes with a bunch of kids. lol But uhh, Argentina is too good of a team to not beat us. Oh well, at least we led for 2 minutes.

you should be happy because I'm a brazilian, from the Country of Soccer, and my national team still lost 0-2 to Mexico.

Cmon brazil,wup the argies ass.

De Niro, don`t be angry! Capone, it`s true USA has been embarrasing argentinian team for a while, I couldn`t believe a long history soccer player like Argentina could play with too much effort to beat a team with a short history in Soccer, but remember USA made a good performance in Germany 2006

Tony Morsite, I cannot believe Mexico won 2-0, I was told it could be 3-0 but a mexican player did it wrong.

USA have had a national team since the 50's..

There 94 performance was better..

'02 was a pretty good year for us.

But yeah, I was surprised that it took so long for you guys to score a second goal. Before the game I was thinking like 4-0 would be an ok result. Pretty good for our "B/C" team.

Actually, I would phrase it, "If Americans don't care for a sport, they aren't good at it."

that would apply to anyone, I guess.

That would apply to anyone, yes, which is why it's probably more apt to say it the other way round for the US.

Aw c'mon.... its not like soccer is a REAL sport.

Well, for us, the 50`s is a recent time comparing with Argentina, we took part in the first World Cup in Uruguay 1930

It is!

We invented the game and we are still shit at football..

it could have been easily 3-0. this mexican player went all alone from the midfield, got past the goalkeeper and missed the empty goal!

they still missed 2 other very good chances to score.

and c'mon DE NIRO, is not like the English Team is all bad!

I tought you were american...

But, England had a national team at the end of the 19th Century?

Argentina beated Colombia 4-2, then the same with Paraguay 1-0 and Peru 4-0, We are gonna face Mexico today after Germany 2006...

Congratulations Tony Morsite for reaching the final match

Englands first game was somthing like 1888 against scotland

I think brazil will just sneak it..

Let's be honest, the coach of the US(Bradley I think though I am not sure) brought a younger "B" team down to Venezuela so when they lost it was so he would have an excuse because he has a great international record after just beating Mexico to win the Gold Cup.

Like many younger guys, they start off strong but just can't make it to the finish.

^ Thats not true at all. He couldnt bring most of the A team because we were invited to Copa America meaning club teams didnt have to let the players go. And its better that they didnt play anyways. I'd rather have guys like Dempsey, Boca fight for regular first team action at Fulham and Run DMB was in the process of joining Rangers and it was better for him to join with them. In the long run, whats better, having players be regular starters in the EPL and SPL or have them for 3 meaningless games in 2007?

Also, this was a great way to see what younger guys could help us for 2010. We already know what the full team can do. Also it gives the young guys so much expeience in a hostile environment.