Group A
Passarella playing it safe? Like many other coaches,
Argentina boss Daniel Passarella is taking a “B” team to Bolivia, but he’ll be in charge himself, instead of delegating responsibilities to an assistant. He’s been under pressure for the poor play ù if not poor results ù of the “A” team in World Cup qualifying, so he’ll always be able to use the excuse, in the case of an early exit in Bolivia, that he didn’t have his best players. “It serves me nothing to win the Copa America if I don’t go to the World Cup,” he told the Argentine press on the eve of the tournament. Argentina has a greater wealth of players than any other South American team except Brazil, so Passarella isn’t exactly taking an inexperienced team to Cochabamba. Among the players he has at his disposal: — Goalie Nacho Gonzalez, who won the No. 1 job earlier this winter but was slapped with a three-game suspension by FIFA for his involvement in a brawl during the World Cup qualifier against Bolivia. — San Lorenzo midfielder Gustavo Zapata, who, like Gonzalez, was a starter before FIFA stepped in and suspended him following the Bolivia game. — Marcelo Gallardo, the young midfielder considered the great hope of Argentine soccer just two years ago but now fighting just to keep his starting job at River Plate. — Rodolfo Cardoso, the Hamburg midfielder whose successful adaptation to the Bundesliga has caught Passarella’s attention. Argentina could have a tough time simply getting out of the group.
Paraguay is the runaway leader in the South American World Cup qualifying tournament and its Brazilian coach, Paulo Carpegiani, wants to take advantage of the team’s fine form. The core of his team, including keeper Jose Luis Chilavert, plays in Argentina and will be aiming for its third Copa America title.
Ecuador is bringing close to its full squad, which is led by Alex Aguinaga, who plays for Mexico’s Necaxa, and the L.A. Galaxy’s Eduardo Hurtado. Ecuador has never done better than fourth place ù which it achieved twice, as host. In 1995, Ivan Zamorano, now starring at Inter Milan, disappointed his countrymen by refusing to join
Chile at the Copa America. The chances of seeing the leading scorer in qualifying play (nine goals in nine games) depends on whether coach Nelson Acosta prefers to rest stars for the France ’98 quest.
Group B
Host led by MLS stars Bolivia won the Copa America as host in 1963. That sums up the nation’s major titles. But qualifying for the 1994 World Cup revitalized the land-locked country’s soccer. In addition to the obvious advantages of playing its games in La Paz (12,000 feet above sea level), D.C. United stars Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno boost Bolivia’s chances. In accordance with tradition,
Venezuela, the continent’s weakest team, meets the host in its opening game. The Venezuelans have won only once in 33 Copa America games. They actually have a player European scouts will be looking at: Daniel Noriega, the sensation of the South American under-20 championship.
Uruguay’s win in 1995 served as consolation for having missed the 1994 World Cup. But it isn’t putting much effort in a title defense; coach Juan Ahuntchain won’t call up European-based players. Only four members of the 1995 squad are on the roster: Tabare Silva (Defensor Sporting), Eber Moas (Monterrey, Mexico), Pablo Bengoechea (Penarol) and Ruben Da Silva (Rosario Central, Argentina).
Peru isn’t even sending its “A” coach, Juan Carlos Oblitas. Freddy Tenero will lead a team of young players, albeit including five players from Libertadores Cup semifinalist Sporting Cristal.
Group C
Brazil faces CONCACAF teams In
Brazil, they say Mario Zagallo was born under a lucky star, because he won two World Cups as a player, one as head coach (1970), and another as assistant coach (1994). But since he’s returned to the helm, Brazil has finished runner-up at the 1995 Copa America and won only a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics. Zagallo, who’s hungry for a title, sees this tournament as invaluable for World Cup preparation, because the Brazilians have no qualifying games as defending champion. He’ll arrive in Bolivia with Ronaldo and Co. after playing France, Italy and England at the Tournoi de France. Unless they’re knackered, the Brazilians should win their first Copa America in eight years.
Colombia coach Hernan Dario Gomez said he would sacrifice anything to qualify for France ’98, but using the Copa America to revitalize a team winless in 1997 qualifiers isn’t in the plans. He’s keeping the Colombian stars at home. Bora Milutinovic would have liked to bring a young
Mexico team ù he loves nurturing his own discoveries ù but he’s been under pressure to bring a first team. Seven players from newly crowned champion Guadalajara form the core of the team. Assuming coach Horacio Cordero survives
Costa Rica’s qualifying loss to Canada ù the federation has tossed out coaches for lesser sins ù the Argentine coach hopes to prove that Costa Rica “individually and collectively can hold its own against anyone.” The team that beat the U.S. and tied Mexico at home enters its first major international tournament since its surprising Italia ’90 performance.
by Soccer America
Managing Editor Paul Kennedy and Senior Editor Mike Woitalla
