News
MON 20.06.2016
The action at the the Copa America Centenario 2016 - the tournament marking the 100th anniversary of the South American Football Confederation - got underway on 4 June, with a large contingent of players flying the flag for LaLiga. Indeed, a total of 29 LaLiga players, representing several national teams, were involved at the start of the competition. This week sees the semi-finals being staged, with LaLiga once again set to continue to play a leading role, as 11 top-flight players bid to progress to the tournament showdown.
The first of the semi-finals sees the United States pit their wits against Argentina at 03:00 CET on Tuesday. With the talismanic Leo Messi leading the charge, 'Tata' Martino's side will be looking to move a step closer to glory, as they seek to bring a two-decade wait for Copa America glory to an end. Performances thus far in the tournament have left the Argentines feeling quietly optimistic that 2016 might just be their year. However, Messi isn't the only LaLiga representative in the Albiceleste ranks, the FC Barcelona star is joined in the squad by his club teammate, Javier Mascherano, Éver Banega of Sevilla FC and Atletico Madrid midfield duo Augusto Fernández and Matías Kranevitter.
Meanwhile, in the other semi-final, which takes place on Thursday at 02:00 CET, Colombia and Chile will battle it to take their place in the showpiece on 26 June in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Once again, there will be plenty of LaLiga interest in this one, with six of the players on show playing their club football in the Spanish top flight. Chile's Claudio Bravo (Barcelona), Enzo Roco (RCD Espanyol), Marcelo Diaz, Pedro Pablo Hernandez and Fabian Orellana (RC Celta) will all be looking to play their part to ensure that the reigning champions retain a trophy they lifted just one year ago on home soil. However, if they are to do so, they will firstly have to get the better of James Rodriguez's Colombia. Jose Pekerman's charges edged past Peru on penalties in the quarter-finals, a result which was enough to reduce an emotional James to tears. Following on from the disappointment of bowing out at the quarter-final stage last time round, Colombia are keen to set the record straight this year, with the form of Real Madrid's James - who completes the LaLiga contingent gunning for glory at the Copa America Centenario 2016- pivotal to their chances of success.
LaLiga players involved in the Copa America semi-finals:
RC Celta: Marcelo Diaz (Chile), Pedro Pablo Hernandez (Chile) and Fabian Orellana (Chile)
FC Barcelona: Claudio Bravo (Chile), Javier Mascherano (Argentina) and Lionel Messi (Argentina)
RCD Espanyol: Enzo Roco (Chile)
Sevilla FC: Ever Banega (Argentina)
Atletico Madrid: Augusto Fernandez (Argentina) and Matias Kranevitter (Argentina)
Real Madrid: James Rodriguez (Colombia)
© LALIGA - 2016