Copa America

Conmebol has played an important role in world football since 1916, when between the 2nd and the 17th of a cold July in Buenos Aires the first ever Copa America was hosted in celebration of 100 years of Argentine independence from Spain. Centennial celebrations have become a major part of international football tournaments with the first ever world cup being hosted in Montevideo in 1930, celebrating, . . yeah, you’ve guessed it, 100 years of Uruguayan independence from Spain. Conmebol was officially formed during that first South American championship and has organized 42 continental tournaments in the following 95 years and this Saturday, the 1st of July 2011, the 43rd edition begins in Buenos Aires.
Unusually, several nations from other continents have participated, including Costa Rica, USA and Mexico most frequently. Surprisingly, Japan has also participated, back in 1999 and even humble Honduras competed in 2001! Amazingly, Honduras’ participation is recorded statistically as far superior to Japan’s while most of us would recognize Japan as a footballing nation of note, while Honduras are purely participative in most respects.
There are many unique aspects to this continent’s tournament but I shall add that it is the longest established continental tournament and it is also the most frequently performed continental championship, occurring evry two years. Perhaps our South American competitive sports fields are part of the reason for such a peaceful continent. As nations we compete on the grass inside stadiums and there is no reason to decide more things beyond purely diplomatically.
Conmebol’s footballing conflicts have worldwide respect and a formidable reputation in addition to being extraordinary spectacles. Part of the wonder of South American football is that there are several minnows, or nations that are usually considered football fodder for the principle pioneers and these encounters can produce goal splurges, good entertainment and a training spectacle for the matches that are more evenly balanced in the final weeks of the tournament.
We can expect second phase dominance from Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay and Uruguay, although all permanent members are improving and there seems to be a spiralling improvement in standards. So, just do it, book your flight to Buenos Aires and make the best of this right now. If you can’t make it down, check these website links and you can make the best from right where you are. Just use your internet connections and follow this most noble of continental sporting events with livestream technologies.

http://www.conmebol.com/secciones/copa_america.html

http://www.stream2watch.com/

http://www.soccertvlive.net/