This is the last time Argentina lifted the Copa América. In 1993, the Albiceleste relied on a double from Gabriel Batistuta to get rid of a Mexico without complex (2-1). For El Tri, it was a first participation. An undeniable success, in the absence of victory in the final. At a reasonable distance from the Concacaf zone, Mexico had regained its colors in Ecuador, three years after being deprived of the World Cup by FIFA because of players from its U20 selection who were a little too old. This scandal says cachirules had led to a big cleaning within Mexican football and the arrival of César Luis Menotti on the bench of the selection.
In 1993, the Argentinian world champion 1978 was no longer at the head of El Tri, exasperated by political struggles within the Mexican Federation, but Mexico’s participation in the Copa America is his legacy. Convinced that the green selection would gain by not remaining locked in the Concacaf zone, Menotti had thus helped by his interpersonal skills that the Mexican leaders are heard by their South American counterparts. In 1993, the Copa América was therefore played for the first time with twelve: the ten South American countries, Mexico, but also the United States, officially invited as winner of the Gold Cup 1991, but also because a tournament is still more convenient to organize with an even number of participants.
Batistuta (Argentina) against Mexico in 1993
Credit: Getty Images
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A win-win deal
It was a seemingly win-win deal. A higher level of adversity for the Concacaf countries, and much higher income for the Conmebol (then South American football confederation): TV rights, sponsors, merchandising. Football is certainly far from captivating crowds in the United States, but Mexico, the most populous Spanish-speaking country on the planet, is the second largest market in America behind Brazil. At least football question. From 1993, and until 2016, El Tri will also become a permanent guest. La Conmebol will make guest selections a constant in the Copa América.
For the 1995 edition, the South American leaders even tried to broaden the horizon of their tournament even further by inviting Spain and Italy. A calendar incompatibility will lead the two European countries to reject the South American offer. Since then, La Roja has been approached several times, the last time for the edition which will begin on Friday in Sao Paulo, but it has declined again. Finally, the South American leaders ended up inviting Qatar, the reigning Asian champion, for this edition. The selection of the Persian Gulf will be accompanied by another representative of its confederation: Japan. “The presence of these two selections obeyed the high interest of the Asian Football Confederation to participate in the Conmebol competitions, and the South American confederation’s commitment to contribute to the development of football at the world level.“, had justified the Conmebol, in May 2018, time of the officialization of the plateau.
France invited this year?
For the Japanese, this will not be a first. In 1999, the selection had thus scrapped in Paraguay, against the host country, Bolivia, and Peru. Japan had moved without its star, Hidetoshi Nakata, but with its Brazilian-born striker, Wagner Lopes, who will score two of the three Japanese goals … Eliminated in the first round with a small point on the clock, Japan therefore waited twenty years to come back, even if the Conmebol has repeatedly invited a large income-generating selection, like Mexico. In 1999, Philippe Troussier’s men were also preferred in Guatemala, against all geographic logic. Faced with the great Asian economic power, the will of the poor Central American country did not weigh heavily. Twenty years later, here is Japan again.
According to the Brazilian media Globe Sports, it is a Copa America more global than ever which had even been considered by the South American leaders for its 46th edition. A sixteen-party tournament with the great selections of Latin Europe: Spain, but also Italy, Portugal, and even France. As a general rule, however, the Conmebol will seek its guests in America to strengthen a plateau which was limited to its ten affiliates until 1993. When the USA were not available to favor the Gold Cup or for incompatibility with the calendar of the MLS, Costa Rica has often been called in as a backup (1997, 2001, 2004, 2011, 2016). The circumstances of the moment also led to the entry of new nations into the competition.
Japan invited to the 1999 Copa América
Credit: Getty Images
United States, Haiti, Panama, Jamaica in 2015
In 2011, Argentina, in the midst of an economic slump, was thus unable to finance its trip to Colombia, and following Canada’s polite refusal, it was ultimately Honduras that would compensate for this package. The Central American selection will then create one of the biggest surprises in the history of the competition by eliminating Brazil in the quarterfinals (2-0). Luiz Felipe Scolari had certainly lined up a B team, but the Catrachos had nonetheless left their mark on the tournament.
The record number of guest countries is held by the Copa América 2016, a special edition organized to celebrate the centenary of the competition. A tournament of sixteen, with six selections of Concacaf, which was played for the first time in its history outside its zone. In the United States, Haiti and Panama were thus released in the competition, while Jamaica did it again after being invited for the first time in 2015. The striker Deshorn Brown was then noticed by taking out his cell phone in full match to take a selfie with Messi …
Reverse
Some saw this centennial Copa as the future of a tournament that would take place above ground and bring together all of America, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. The project would also still be in the works, even if the field for the 46th edition of the Copa América suggests rather a reversal, since El Tri will be absent for the first time since 1993, while the Gold Cup will be held in same time (June 15 – July 7). Under pressure from Concacaf, Mexico had already started, since 2011, to no longer send its selection to the Gold Cup years.
César Luis Menotti, he will be well in Brazil. In January, the former coach of the Mexican selection returned to service as director of the Argentinian national teams. At 80, we do not surprise ourselves much. But seeing Argentina take on Qatar in the Copa America’s third group match should still leave The skinny somewhat pensive …
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