Central & South America

How Will Chile Defend Their Copa America Title?

Much of the buzz ahead of the Copa America Centenario is about Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and the USA, but people forget that none of those teams are the reigning Copa America champion. Chile is travelling to the United States at full force and won’t be shy in defending their title. 

Out of the players who helped Chile defeat Argentina in a penalty shootout to clinch the 2015 title, only Jorge Valdivia and Angelo Henriquez are not on the 23-man roster for 2016. 

Despite Focusing On The Olympics, Brazil Can Still Do Well At The Copa America

There are a few mysteries in life we might never get the answers to. Where did we come from? Where do we go? And what goes on inside of Dunga’s head?

Brazil

Photo: @futbolsapiens | Twitter

Pumas Lost To Independiente In The Copa Libertadores, Ensuring Another Year Without A Mexican Team Winning

No Mexican club has ever won the Copa Libertadores, and that will continue for at least another year after Pumas were bounced from the competition in the quarterfinals by Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle via a penalty shootout.

Pumas entered the second quarterfinal leg down 2-1 on aggregate, but quickly took control of the match via an Ismael Sosa breakaway.

Luis Suarez Helped Barcelona Win The Copa Del Rey. It Might Make Him Miss The Copa America

Barcelona won Sunday's Copa del Rey final 2-0 against Sevilla in extra time, but they did it mostly without all-world striker Luis Suarez, who won the Pichichi Award as La Liga's top scorer and had the best season of his career.

Suarez limped off in the second half, and was seen in tears on the bench afterward. It's hard not to feel for the guy.

This Bicycle Kick Should Win The Puskas

The odds your coach wants you trying a 30 yard bicycle kick in a game are probably 0. But Javi Gomez doesn't care what manager Ángel García Cabezali thinks, and that's a good thing because the UD Socuéllamos player scored the bicycle kick that could potentially land him on the Puskas list. Gomez chested a deep pass into the air before exectuing a perfect chilena past an out of position keeper. There isn't really much else to say about this goal because it's perfect. Just watch it from this different angle:

Colombia Stands Between The United States And Their Olympic Dream

The United States heads into its Olympic qualifying playoff against Colombia bearing both the brunt of national pressure and the knowledge that they’re coming up against, in many ways, superior opposition.

The Most Intimidating Soccer Stadium In The World

Going on the road to try and capture three points, or even to salvage a draw, is never an easy assignment in soccer. The difficulty in playing aggressively against the home side is encapsulated in the away goals rule, a method of rewarding the away team for any attacking achievement in the match.

Whether it’s the benefit of home support, the psychological boost of familiar surroundings or the disadvantages away teams suffer from traveling to different time zones or climates, your home ground provides you with a significant advantage over the visitors. 

Messi And The 22-Year-Old He Says Might Replace Him Are Teammates For The First Time

The world seems to be at Paulo Dybala’s feet. The 22-year-old Argentine is lighting up Serie A to the tune of 14 goals and eight assists in 29 games. That is a staggering sum considering his age, and that he is in his first year at a new club, Juventus. 

Will Gabriel Barbosa Be The Next Neymar?

Gabriel Barbosa, a.k.a. Gabigol, has a very similar story to many Brazilian youngsters. Born in the suburbs of São Paulo, the talented 19-year-old decided to try to mae a better life to him and his family via a football career. The first club to take a chance on him was São Bernardo do Campo, and soon  he received an offer to come to  Santos FC. 

At Santos his career took off. Santos is known to have a a very strong Youth Academy, discovering Brazilian stars such as Pelé, Robinho and Neymar.

A Goalkeeper's Nightmare Gave This Striker His First Hat Trick

When we last checked in on our friend River Plate goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero, he had received a pair of shoes from Lionel Messi during the Club World Cup. It was a beautiful story, but things appear to have taken a turn for the worse for Barovero, who conceded a hat trick to Alan Ruiz in the Argentine Premier Division.

One of the goals will trouble poor Barovero for some time, we're guessing.

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