Spain invited to play in Copa America

[Z31Fanatic]

World and European champions Spain have been invited to play in the Copa America following the withdrawal of Japan, Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) president Angel Maria Villar was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
"Yesterday we received the official invitation, and we don't rule it out," Villar said at an event in Barcelona, according to local media.
"Next week or the week after we will determine at a meeting of the board of directors whether we will accept the invitation," he added.
Japan withdrew from the tournament in Argentina in July after the Asian country's northeastern coast was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami last month.
They were drawn in Group A with the hosts, Bolivia and Colombia.
"I don't rule anything out when the request is made with affection and love, but at the same time taking into account the difficulties," Villar said.
"That doesn't mean we are going or not, but as president I have the obligation to take it to the board."

[Zeman]

It wont happen. Clubs wont allow their players to go

[SILVI0]

The clubs don't have a choice in it!

[Zeman]

The clubs don't have a choice in it!



Real Madrid and Barcelona have more power than Zapatero in Spain.

[Bossanova]

I guess they'll just call another Asian country or something instead

[Foley87]

why were japan asked to be in it anyway?

when did the rules change?

[Bossanova]

the rules are up to the governing body to decide i think

uefa proposed it in 2009, and I guess conmebol went with it...

[Supremacia]

A very tempting offer - imagine holding the EC, World Cup and Copa America trophies all at the same time - but the players really need the rest seeing as how we'll be playing in next year's EC. Add the Confederations Cup in 2013 and it would mean seven straight summers without a break (2008-2014). Unless we send an experimental squad to Argentina (ie no players who played in South Africa).

The USA, Costa Rica and Australia are supposedly the other teams being considered by CONMEBOL with Costa Rica very willing to participate.

[Celticrugby]

Honestly, we shouldn't be considered because of how disrespectful our team was last time sending a bunch of C and D rate players into one of the better tournaments in the world.

[Supremacia]

CONMEBOL will wait 10 more days to see if Japan reconsider their decision.

[Bossanova]

Oz would be cool

Doubt spain could win there supre - you never know, but it's tough for euro teams to perform in sud america

e.g. portugal lost 6-2 (or maybe it was 5-2) to BASIL only a few months before drawing 0-0 in sud africa with the same team

[Supremacia]

Doubt spain could win there supre - you never know, but it's tough for euro teams to perform in sud america

You said the same about European teams in the WC. :D

If we brought our strongest team, we'd have every chance. CONMEBOL would never be able to stomach Spain taking their trophy back to Europe with us though.

But if we did go, I'd rather we took an experimental side. We are in too many tournaments. Players need rest this Summer so we can retain our Euro next year.

[mhrelayyan]

This is becoming like the WC then , i hope spain dont agree on this.

[elias]

i think costa rica will be given the invitation ... i feel sorry for japan :S tehy were developping and they have a decent NT but **** happens :S

[Celticrugby]

Costa Rica are solid...but at home, away and they'll be beaten.

[mhrelayyan]

it is called Copa America , why they want other countries to play ???

[Celticrugby]

it is called Copa America , why they want other countries to play ???

Because they've always invited other nations to spice up the competition.

[Dragonlord]

even if they do agree, there's little chance that the "A" team players will go. Probably 4-5 at most - the rest would just be fill ins.

[Supremacia]

Because they've always invited other nations to spice up the competition.

And given Spain's latin links, it isn't that ridiculous.

[Barcantina]

Spain has rejected the offer to play in the Copa America this summer...

[Zeman]

Spain has rejected the offer to play in the Copa America this summer...

http://www.soccer24-7.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3917374&postcount=2

[Supremacia]

The RFEF has officially declined the invitation to play in the Copa America saying that "conflicts with the calendar" makes it impossible to participate.

RFEF spokesman Jorge Carretero:

"We will not participate. We are very grateful to the Argentinean federation for their invite. We cannot be present for organisational reasons. We are very sorry."

A statement on the Federation's website also notes that "this does not eliminate the possibility of accepting a future invite at a time that it would allow us to show our support for this great competition."

[Supremacia]

Japan's FA confirmed they are going to participate in Copa América 2011. (http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1418055.html)

[Supremacia]

Japan to pull out of Copa America

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's trip to the Copa America in Argentina this summer appears likely to be called off, organizers of the South American continental championship said Tuesday.

"Japan are doing everything they can to put together a team, but it looks extremely difficult," Jose Luis Meiszner, head of the Copa America organizing committee, was quoted as saying by several Argentine media outlets.

Meiszner said the Japan Football Association is struggling to secure its Europe-based players for the July 1-24 tournament. He spoke with a JFA official earlier and was told a final decision would be made this week.

As guests of Copa America, Japan do not have the right to call up their Europe-based players. The JFA said it needed 15 players from abroad to send Alberto Zaccheroni's side to the competition.

Speaking to Kyodo News on Wednesday, the JFA said, "We cannot comment because our technical director Hiromi Hara is currently in Europe for negotiations."

FOX Deportes reported on Tuesday that Japan's withdrawal is set to be formally announced on Friday.

Costa Rica, who belong to the North and Central American confederation (CONCACAF), will fill Japan's guest slot in Group A with hosts Argentina, Colombia and Bolivia, according to FOXSoccer.com.

Asian champions Japan had been asked by CONMEBOL, the South American confederation, to take part in their second Copa America but the March 11 earthquake forced an overhaul of J-League fixtures, initially leading the JFA to turn down the invitation.

Following a meeting between JFA President Junji Ogura and his CONMEBOL counterpart Nicolas Leoz, however, Japan reversed their decision on condition that the tournament organizers would negotiate for the release of the Europe-based players with the blessing of FIFA, world soccer's governing body.

But the negotiations between South America and the European clubs appear to have hit a snag and the JFA's official request seeking the release of the overseas players was quickly rejected by several teams, including Shinji Kagawa's Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund and Atsuto Uchida's Champions League semifinalists Schalke.

Leoz of Paraguay is currently up to his neck in dealing with new explosive corruption charges laid against him by England's 2018 World Cup bid committee.

England's former bid chief David Triesman, a member of the House of Lords, told a British parliamentary inquiry on Tuesday that Leoz and three other FIFA executive committee members had asked for favors in exchange for their votes.

According to Triesman, Leoz asked for a knighthood for his vote. Leoz has yet to comment on the accusations.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/sports/news/20110511p2g00m0sp083000c.html

Probably a CONCACAF team are going to replace them, if they do withdraw.

[JiggaMan]

It would have been great if Spain was in Copa America, Casillas could up his Spanish appearances tally even more, lol.

I think Argentina will win it anyway, Brazil aren't the team they were before.

[Supremacia]

It's confirmed now, Costa Rica are replacing Japan in Copa América 2011:

Costa Rica agree to take Japan's place at Copa America

Costa Rica have decided to accept an invitation to replace Japan at the Copa America, the Central American country's Football Federation president Eduardo Li said on Tuesday.

"We have taken the decision to take part in the Copa America," Li, whose squad will take one of two berths for guest teams in the July 1-14 tournament, told reporters.

"We can go with an Olympic team, an under-23 (side) with five reinforcements basically over 23 years of age."

Japan pulled out on Monday after failing to get the release of European-based players and facing a problem with J-League clubs whose season has been extended into July following the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the country in March.

Costa Rica, guests at their fourth Copa America, will go into Group A with hosts Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia. They held visiting Argentina to a 0-0 draw in a friendly in March.

"We want to raise the name of Costa Rica at international level and the more so in a tournament like this one," added Li.

They are in the same group as Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia, so they can finish in third place and maybe qualify as one of the two best third placed teams.

[Bobo_Snowman]

Honestly, we shouldn't be considered because of how disrespectful our team was last time sending a bunch of C and D rate players into one of the better tournaments in the world.

Spain would do the same I think.