Manchester United will have three players involved in the Copa
America this month – namely Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero for Argentina
plus Antonio Valencia with Ecuador.
The main competition between the South American countries is the
oldest international tournament in the world. In this centenary year,
it's being held in the United States from 3 to 26 June, with 16 teams
playing games in 10 different cities.
ARGENTINA
Marcos Rojo and
Sergio Romero are in Gerardo Martino's squad for a campaign which begins against Chile on Monday 6 June in Santa Clara, California
– where
the Reds beat Barcelona on the 2015 pre-season tour. Argentina faced
the same opponents in last year’s Copa America final, a match they
eventually lost on penalties. Lionel Messi and the rest of Martino's men
will also face Panama and Bolivia in the group stage, in Chicago,
Illinois on Friday 10 and in Seattle, Washington on Tuesday 14 June
respectively.
Romero is expected to retain his place in goal,
given he has been there for every single competitive match since 2011.
The United goalkeeper has played all the games of the last two World
Cups (2010 and 2014) and two Copas America (2011 and 2015). Rojo is also
a main man in Martino’s squad as the coach’s first-choice left-back. He
appeared to leave the pitch in pain during the FA Cup final at Wembley
but fortunately does not seem to have suffered an injury.
After the disappointment of losing in both the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 Copa America finals, the
Albiceleste are
seeking to go one better this year. They have not won any major
tournament since 1993, when they conquered the Copa America in Ecuador
after beating Mexico 2-1 in the final. They were also close to winning
it in 2004 and 2007, but they were defeated by arch rivals Brazil on
both occasions.
ECUADOR
Although Ecuador have never won the Copa America, they have proved themselves to be difficult tournament opponents. The
Tricolor arrive
in the US in good form as they are currently joint-leaders with Uruguay
in the CONMEBOL Qualifying Round for the 2018 World Cup.
Antonio Valencia's national team will play their first match against Brazil
– one of the favourites to win the cup
– on
Saturday 4 June. Following that, Ecuador will face Peru on Wednesday 8
in Glendale, Arizona and Haiti on Sunday 12 in East Rutherford, New
Jersey, the venue for the 26 June final.
When playing with
Ecuador, Valencia tends to take up a more advanced position on the right
side of the pitch, compared to the right-back role that he's had at
United recently. He is one of the most experienced players in Ecuador’s
squad, having played for the senior team since 2005. Antonio missed last
year’s Copa America due to injury, but this time he enters the big
event in good shape after a positive end to the campaign with his club,
including an assist for the winning goal in the FA Cup final.
Adele took a moment to dedicate her show at Antwerp, Belgium to
victims of the mass shooting at Orlando, Florida on Sunday, June 12,
2016.
