Luka, Giannis To Square Off In Olympic Qualifying
July 4 (Reuters) - History is at stake for both Venezuela and Canada when they meet on Friday in Arlington, Texas, in the second Copa America quarter-final.
Long considered one of the minnows of South American football, Venezuela would guarantee tying their best Copa America showing by advancing past Canada, ensuring they at least match their fourth-place finish in 2011.
"We know that we have to motivate ourselves a little bit more than maybe how we motivated ourselves for the group phase," Venezuela manager Fernando Batista said, through an interpreter.
"Because we are very close to surpassing the best performance historically of Venezuela in Copa America. We know it's important."
Venezuela won all three of their Group B matches but perhaps rode their luck a bit in the process, aided by Enner Valencia's early red card in a 2-1 win over Ecuador and Orbelin Pineda's penalty miss in a 1-0 win over Mexico.
In their first Copa America appearance, Canada also got some breaks in their path to the quarter-finals, defeating Peru 1-0 and drawing Chile 0-0 in matches in which both opponents received red cards.
Canada's one goal, scored via Jonathan David, is the fewest among teams that advanced and they will be without winger Tajon Buchanan, who suffered a broken tibia in training following the Chile draw that clinched the second-place finish in Group A.
"There's so much room for improvement," manager Jesse Marsch said after the Chile draw.
"But I have to say the overall mentality and commitment to try to be the team that we want to become has been at the highest level I've seen of any team I've worked with.
"That part I've really enjoyed. I'm proud of them, but more so, I'm happy for them." (Reporting by Field Level Media; Editing by Peter Rutherford )
Hkoq01tpwfs51 ?auto=webp&s=4610f554a0d126b069d8330813bb8612f69865dbLocal Authorities And Postcodes Cropped M 04 Uk Postcodes1 Uk Postcode Map 450x741 0709 Pl Local Authorities Postcodes Map Preview London Postcode Map Pl Plymouth Postcode Map Uk Postcode Area Map Detail2 Ar3 800x ?v=1568370584B New Postcode District Image 3 ?v=1671537098Pe Postcode Map Detail 1800x ?v=1519668115MSM21 Greater London Postcode Sector Map Detail Large 1024x1024 ?v=1499952987Map Postcode Area PL Plymouth Safe Local Trades PE Postcode Map Postcode Maps Mid Page Images 1 OPT May 2023 NR OMR Outcome Region Wales Postcode Map 960 640 1 Pe Peterborough Postcode District Map May 2023 NR OMR Outcome Region East Of England Postcode Map 960 640 DisplayMay 2023 NR OMR Outcome Region Greater London Postcode Map 960 640 Uk Postcode Area Map Detail3 Ar3 1800x ?v=1568370593768px PE Postcode Area Map.svg May 2023 NR OMR Outcome Region South East Postcode Map 960 640 Image 3 Postcode Map 01 PL Postcode Districts Map Preview Uk Postcode Area Map Detail3 Ar3 1800x ?v=1496954313PE Postcode Districts Map Preview ?media Id=2342435222475126?media Id=532807070127961
Luka, Giannis To Square Off In Olympic Qualifying
July 4 (Reuters) - History is at stake for both Venezuela and Canada when they meet on Friday in Arlington, Texas, in the second Copa America quarter-final.
Long considered one of the minnows of South American football, Venezuela would guarantee tying their best Copa America showing by advancing past Canada, ensuring they at least match their fourth-place finish in 2011.
"We know that we have to motivate ourselves a little bit more than maybe how we motivated ourselves for the group phase," Venezuela manager Fernando Batista said, through an interpreter.
"Because we are very close to surpassing the best performance historically of Venezuela in Copa America. We know it's important."
Venezuela won all three of their Group B matches but perhaps rode their luck a bit in the process, aided by Enner Valencia's early red card in a 2-1 win over Ecuador and Orbelin Pineda's penalty miss in a 1-0 win over Mexico.
In their first Copa America appearance, Canada also got some breaks in their path to the quarter-finals, defeating Peru 1-0 and drawing Chile 0-0 in matches in which both opponents received red cards.
Canada's one goal, scored via Jonathan David, is the fewest among teams that advanced and they will be without winger Tajon Buchanan, who suffered a broken tibia in training following the Chile draw that clinched the second-place finish in Group A.
"There's so much room for improvement," manager Jesse Marsch said after the Chile draw.
"But I have to say the overall mentality and commitment to try to be the team that we want to become has been at the highest level I've seen of any team I've worked with.
"That part I've really enjoyed. I'm proud of them, but more so, I'm happy for them." (Reporting by Field Level Media; Editing by Peter Rutherford )
