Monday, July 11, 2011
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez fears Copa America elimination
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has admitted that South America's football giants could crash out of the 2011 Copa America, as the Celeste, Argentina and Brazil all face vital matches in the group stage's last round.
The three South American powerhouses have staggered to draws in all of their games so far, meaning that while such unheralded nations as Peru and Venezuela have secured passage to the last eight, the trio must win their last games to be certain of avoiding a humiliating early exit.
Uruguay play Mexico on Tuesday evening to decide their Copa fate, and Tabarez is taking nothing for granted despite the North Americans' defeats to both Chile and Peru.
"It is hard to believe that these sides can go out so early, but it can happen," the 'Maestro' told reporters in a press conference held on Sunday evening.
The coach then invoked the example of fallen Argentine giants River Plate to make his point.
"I thought that River getting relegated was impossible, but it happened. In football, your history, your titles, your brilliant former players all make a difference. But they are not absolute. source: goal.com
