The 2011 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, better known as the 2011 Copa América or the Copa América 2011 Argentina, was the 43rd edition of the Copa América, the main international football tournament for national teams in South America. The competition was organized by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body, and was held in Argentina from 1 to 24 July. The draw for the tournament was held in La Plata on 11 November 2010.

Uruguay won the tournament after defeating Paraguay 3–0 in the final, giving them a record 15th Copa América title and their first since 1995. Paraguay, as the tournament runner-up, earned the Copa Bolivia; Paraguay's performance was noteworthy, as they were able to reach the finals without winning a single game in the tournament; their success in the final stages was achieved by the way of penalty shoot-outs. Brazil were the defending champions but were eliminated by Paraguay in the quarter-finals after failing to convert any of the penalties. As the tournament champion, Uruguay earned the right to represent CONMEBOL in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, held in Brazil. Despite losing to Peru 4–1 in the third-place match, Venezuela had their best ever performance in the tournament.

Competing nations

Both Japan and Mexico were invited to join the CONMEBOL nations in the tournament. Following a proposal by UEFA regarding national teams competing in tournaments organised by confederations different from their own, it was reported on 23 November 2009 that the two countries might not be able to take part in the 2011 Copa América. However, on 31 March 2010, CONCACAF confirmed that Mexico would be allowed to send their 2012 U-23 Olympic Team, supplemented with five over-age players. In addition to Mexico sending a weaker team than those teams sent in previous participations, eight of the Mexican players originally called to play the Copa America 2011 were suspended because of indiscipline one week before the competition started.

Japan's participation was in doubt after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, but the Japan Football Association confirmed on 16 March 2011 that they would participate. However, the Japanese FA later withdrew from the tournament on 4 April 2011 citing scheduling conflict with rescheduled J. League matches. Following a meeting with the leadership of the Argentine Football Association, the Japanese FA decided to hold off on their final decision until 15 April. The Japanese FA later announced on 14 April that they would compete in the competition using mainly European based players. The Japanese FA withdrew their team again on 16 May citing difficulties with European clubs in releasing Japanese players. On the next day, CONMEBOL sent a formal invitation letter to the Costa Rican Football Federation inviting Costa Rica as replacement. Costa Rica accepted the invitation later that day.

The following twelve teams, shown with pre-tournament FIFA World Rankings, played in the tournament:

(10) (hosts) (93) (5) (holders) (27) (54) (55) (invitee) (68) (9) (invitee) (32) (49) (18) (69)

Venues A total of eight cities hosted the tournament. The opening game was played at Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, and the final was played at Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti.

Buenos AiresCórdobaLa PlataSanta FeEstadio MonumentalEstadio Mario Alberto KempesEstadio Ciudad de La PlataEstadio Brigadier General Estanislao LópezCapacity: 65,921Capacity: 57,000Capacity: 53,000Capacity: 47,000MendozaSan JuanEstadio Malvinas ArgentinasEstadio del BicentenarioCapacity: 40,268Capacity: 25,000JujuySaltaEstadio 23 de AgostoEstadio Padre Ernesto MartearenaCapacity: 23,000Capacity: 20,408

Draw The draw for the competition took place on 11 November 2010 at 17:00 (UTC−03:00) in the Teatro Argentino de La Plata in La Plata, and was broadcast in Argentina by Canal Siete. On 18 October 2010, CONMEBOL's The executive committee decided to place the teams in pots for the draw.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

Squads

Each association presented a list of twenty-three players to compete in the tournament five days before their first match. On 14 June 2011, CONMEBOL allowed for the inscription of twenty-three players for the tournament, up one player from the previous allowed twenty-two. Of those twenty-three players, three must be goalkeepers.

Match officials The list of twenty-four referees and two extra referees selected for the tournament were announced on 6 June 2011 by CONMEBOL's Referee Commission. Two referees were chosen from each participating association:

Sergio Pezzotta Assistant: Ricardo Casas Raúl Orosco Assistant: Efraín Castro Sálvio Fagundes Assistant: Marcio Santiago Enrique Osses Assistant: Francisco Mondría

Wilmar Roldán Assistant: Humberto Clavijo Carlos Vera Assistant: Luis Alvarado Carlos AmarillaAmarilla replaced Antonio Arias, who originally replaced Carlos Torres Assistant: Nicolás Yegros Víctor Hugo Rivera Assistant: Luis Abadie

Roberto Silvera Assistant: Miguel Nievas Juan Soto Assistant: Luis Sánchez Wálter Quesada Assistant: Leonel Leal Francisco Chacón Assistant: Marvin Torrentera

Extra assistants: Diego Bonfa, Hernán Maidana

Notes

Group stage The first round, or group stage, saw the twelve teams divided into three groups of four teams. Each group was a round-robin of three games, where each team played one match against each of the other teams in the same group. Teams were awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and none for a defeat. The teams finishing first and second in each group, and the two best-placed third teams, qualified for the quarter-finals.Official regulations

Tie-breaking criteria Teams were ranked on the following criteria: 1. Greater number of points in all group matches 2. Goal difference in all group matches 3. Greater number of goals scored in all group matches 4. Head-to-head results 5. Drawing of lots by the CONMEBOL Organising Committee

However, those normal tiebreaking criterias do not apply if on the last round of group stage, two teams are playing each other and tied by points 1–4 then drew the final game and no other teams are tied. In that case, their ranking is decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Key to colors in group tables Teams that advanced to the quarter-finals Group winners Group runners-up Best two third-placed teams

All times are in local, Argentina Time (UTC−03:00).

Group A

1 July 20111–1 Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata2 July 20111–0Estadio 23 de Agosto, Jujuy6 July 20110–0 Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe7 July 20110–2 Estadio 23 de Agosto, Jujuy10 July 20112–0 Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe11 July 20113–0 Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba

Group B

3 July 20110–0Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata0–0Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe9 July 20112–2Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba1–0 Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta13 July 20113–3Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta4–2 Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba

Group C

4 July 20111–1Estadio del Bicentenario, San Juan2–1Estadio del Bicentenario, San Juan8 July 20111–1Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza1–0Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza12 July 20111–0Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza1–0 Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata

Ranking of third-placed teams At the end of the first stage, a comparison was made between the third-placed teams of each group. The two best third-placed teams advanced to the quarter-finals.

Knockout stage

Different from previous tournaments, in the knockout stage, 30 minutes of extra time were played if any match finished tied after regulation (previously the match would go straight to a penalty shoot-out). This was the first time in the history of the tournament where the knockout stage did not include any invited teams, as both Mexico and Costa Rica were eliminated during the group stage. Paraguay reached the final despite not having won a single match in the competition.

Bracket

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Third place play-off

Final

Result

Goalscorers

With five goals, Paolo Guerrero of Peru was the top scorer in the tournament.

Statistics Discipline

Winners

Awards

Most Valuable Player: Luis Suárez Top Goalscorer: Paolo Guerrero (5 goals) Best Young Player: Sebastián Coates Best Goalkeeper: Justo Villar Fair Play Trophy:

Man of the Match Award Luis Suárez

Team of the Tournament

GoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwardsManager Renny Vega Luis Amaranto Perea Diego Lugano Paulo Da Silva Javier Mascherano Fredy Guarín Álvaro Pereira Carlos Lobatón Lionel Messi Luis Suárez Paolo Guerrero Óscar Tabárez (Uruguay)

Marketing Sponsorship Global Platinum Sponsor: LGLG . Ca2011.com (22 July 2001.2002)Retrieved on 25 May 2014. MasterCardMasterCard . Ca2011.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved on 25 May 2014. SantanderSantander . Ca2011.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved on 25 May 2014. Global Gold Sponsor: KiaKia . Ca2011.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved on 25 May 2014. América Móvil (Claro,Claro . Ca2011.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved on 25 May 2014. Telcel,Telcel . Ca2011.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved on 25 May 2014. Telmex, Embratel, and Comcel (former) are the brands advertised.) Global Silver Sponsor: CanonCanon . Ca2011.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved on 25 May 2014. Anheuser-Busch (Brahma, Budweiser,Budweiser . Ca2011.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved on 25 May 2014. and Quilmes are the brands advertised.) The Coca-Cola Company (Coca-ColaCoca-Cola . Ca2011.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved on 25 May 2014. and Powerade are the brands advertised.) Petrobras (Lubrax is the brand advertised.)Petrobras . Ca2011.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved on 25 May 2014. Official Supplier: Seara (Paty is the brand advertised.)Seara . Ca2011.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved on 25 May 2014. Charitable Partner: UNICEFUNICEF . Ca2011.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved on 25 May 2014. Local Supplier: Buenos Aires Province Argentina Gillette Web Hosting: UOL HostUOL Host . Ca2011.com (22 July 2002). Retrieved on 25 May 2014.

Theme song "Creo en América" (English: I Believe in America) by Argentine singer Diego Torres was the official theme song for the tournament.Diego Torres presents official Copa América song at Obelisk. Buenos Aires Herald. 27 May 2011 Torres performed the song during the opening ceremonies. A secondary theme song for the tournament is "Ready 2 Go" by Martin Solveig featuring Kele.Home | Get In! . Getinpr.com. Retrieved on 25 May 2014.

References

External links

Copa América 2011 Official Site