Reporter: Welcome to Allthatisfootballmanager news, today’s headline features the Copa America. We are literally days away from this well recognised competition and two nations have already locked horns. After winning 5 of the last 6 tournaments, Brazil seem to be dominating South American Football. The 9 time winners also host this years Copa America and look like the team to beat. Argentina on the other hand have a wealth of talent, but perform like the Spain and Holland of yesteryear, always crumbling under such high expectations. Brazil’s arch rivals failed to even reach the final during 2011. While the 2007 and 2004 tournaments saw them defeated by Brazil at the last hurdle. A nations pride is at stake this year and a new manager has been appointed. Darren Smith has enjoyed a flattering start to management with HSV, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid. The 30 year old has won 9 major trophies within 5 years. However, this will be Smith’s first International competition as a passionate nation looks on. The Englishmen has never been shy with the media and had this to say about his teams chances.
07/07/2015 — quote from Darren Smith
Argentina are by far the best team in the world. I have never seen so much talent and all they need is someone to piece the jigsaw together. That someone is me and I am so confident in our ability, I would bet my own mother on us winning the Copa America. I want Brazil to go far so we can beat them on their own turf. This country has hidden in the shadows far too long and its time for us to outshine the hosts. We should both qualify for the quarter-finals and from there its just a matter of time before the titans clash.
Group C — Argentina vs Ecuador
10-07-15 match day one, reporter: The eagerly anticipated Copa America is finally upon us. The 23 man squads have been selected and each nation has been drawn into their groups. Earlier today the hosts, Brazil, provided a beautiful opening ceremony. The holders got off to a great start as well, beating Chile 1-0.
Smith’s Argentina will be playing next and they are our featured match. With a fully fit squad, Darren has hinted towards fielding his best XI. The likes of Messi, Aguero, Berrera and Pastore could well grace our televisions. The young English manager has developed a very successful 4-5-1 and this tactic seems to be his preferred choice. Kick-off is just around the corner so we’ll go to our commentary team for the match.
What a great result for Argentina! lets take a look at some of the games highlights. With some fluid football and deadly finishing Argentina walked into the dressing room at half-time 2-1 up. A mistake from Angulo opened the scoring, before Aguero shot home on the 23rd minute. Ecuador found a way back in to the game after Otamendi’s own goal. However, what followed was nothing short of pure class. Argentina’s training ground corner’s paid off as Messi set up Otamendi to make amends. Then super sub, Higuain, took advantage of some tired legs to score two further goals in the space of four minutes. The match finished 5-1 and Argentina’s odds were immediately slashed to evens, making them favourites to win the competition.
Group C — Argentina vs USA
13-07-15 match day two, Darren Smith pre-match: OK lads, we’ve been watching these match videos for two weeks now. The USA tend to play a very narrow 4-1-2-1-2. This should work to our advantage and I want you to focus your passing down the wings. Lionel is our playmaker for a reason, so use him and get the ball forward to Higuain quickly. Our opponents have a capable DMC in Edu and we need to draw him out of position. Messi, you have a free role and I want you switching sides with Becerra on the left. If you have read through your manuals, you’ll notice I’ve highlighted Donovan, Dempsey and Bell as the main threat. This is because they will be the attacking trio…keep them quiet and we’ll win this one with ease. So tackle Bell hard and close him down, be sure to show Dempsey and Donovan onto their weak foot. Brazil won 3-0 a few days ago and look set to top their group. We have to show them who is the favourite and get a result here today. One last thing lads…’DO IT FOR THE FANS’.
Post match comments from Smith: We have been working towards this game ever since seeing the group draw. Stopping USA’s danger men became our foundation for victory today and I am delighted with the boys. They listened to my every word and another bonus was seeing our training set piece come to life. Galeano is deadly in the air and scored a vital goal today. I hope the entire Brazil team were watching today, they’ll see we mean business!
Group C — Argentina vs Paraguay
16/07/15 match day three, Darren Smith pre-match: Today is the last of our group matches lads. You have been excellent so far and I’m delighted to be in the quarter-finals already. However, gaining top spot would guarantee avoiding Brazil in the next round. Paraguay may be two points behind, but a loss would put them above us. I know a few of you are tired and can’t play every game. Messi, Pastore, Mascherano and Millemaggi will all be dropped to the bench. Vella, Gonzalez, Banega, Gago, now is your time to shine. GAGO!! Are you listening to me, I’m giving you an opportunity here and all you can do is yawn and scratch your arse. Get your head back in the game and I don’t want to see any complacency. We’ll stick with the same tactics as against the USA. They worked a gem, but seen as Messi is on the bench we’ll keep things simple. No switching positions and no free roles. Paraguay are using a 4-4-2 and this could become a threat if we get disorganised. Barrios and Cruz need showing onto the weaker foot while their playmaker, Barretto, can be tamed through hard tackling and closing down. Don’t get complacent lads, we’re not there yet.
Smith’s post match interview: Reporters question — Darren, you must be very happy to have reached the quarter-final, but how do you rate your chances through the rest of this competition?
Darren’s answer — We are definitely the team to beat. Lionel has been fantastic and so have the rest of my players. I honestly think it may take a bad refereeing decision or some awful luck to stop us now.
Reporter’s follow up question — How can you be so confident after just three games. I mean, your side are well known for crumbling under the pressure in latter rounds.
Darren’s answer — I’m sorry, is that a joke? Did you not watch our opening three games? And may I remind you Argentina are a new side since I took over, we are unbeaten and that will not change within this competition!
End of group stages, reporter: Good afternoon and welcome to Allthatisfootballmanager news. In recent events, the Copa America has reached its halfway point. The group stages are over and there hasn’t been any shocks so far. Smith’s Argentina won all three games and showed they will be a real threat this year. The hosts, Brazil, also finished top of their group with nine points. The two rivals even finished up on the same goal difference of plus 7. Paraguay and the USA managed to gain a place in the quarter-final along with Chile from group A. The quarter-final is completed with Colombia, Uruguay and Mexico. The quarter-finals are about to be drawn after the break so stay with us…
…Today we welcome ex-Argentina coach Diego Maradona who will be helping with the Copa America quarter-final draw. The balls are rolling and we’re ready to see who will be drawn first, so when your ready Diego please pull out the first ball.
Diego Maradona: Argentina will play…Mexico (hint of a smile from Diego.) Brazil will play…Ecuador, Chile will play…Colombia and Uruguay will play…Paraguay.
Reporter: There you have it, our quarter-final matches have been confirmed and match of the round must be Argentina vs Mexico. Smith’s boys look unstoppable at the moment, but Argentina always start well and slip away in the latter stages. Can they stop this rot and live up to expectations? Or will Brazil have the last laugh yet again? What do you think Diego, will your beloved Argentina go far this year.
Diego Maradona: They are unstoppable and we will learn the power of my great nation this year. Smith has my full backing and I’m behind him every game, I just hope he can continue to get the lads scoring.
To be continued…….
wazz
12 февраля, 2011 at 05:29
Nooooooo! I wanna continue reading that. :) Really great start in the Copa America Darren! Go and win that title! :)
Good luck!
Darren Smith
12 февраля, 2011 at 10:31
Glad you liked it Wazz, every now and then I like to spend more time to make an interesting post. I just need to make the second one better now. :)
fmcrazy
12 февраля, 2011 at 07:18
Love it, you must spend quite a lot of time writing your posts.
Darren Smith
12 февраля, 2011 at 10:34
Thanks fmcrazy, but not all my posts are so in depth and written that way. I just like to try something different at least twice a month. This one did take a while but its worth it to provide a good read.
kevin
12 февраля, 2011 at 09:40
Hi Darren
What a great post. A rivetting read — I want more!! Good luck against Mexico :)
Darren Smith
12 февраля, 2011 at 10:35
Cheers Kevin, its nice to know people are enjoying the read. There will be more mate but not just yet. I’ve got to finish the tournament and then write it up…besides, I love keeping you guys in suspense. :)
plobdork
12 февраля, 2011 at 10:44
well done mate this post is like reading a book its just soo good
Darren Smith
12 февраля, 2011 at 10:52
Thanks for the kind words Plobdork. I was trying to make the reader feel like this is real life, so to hear that is very nice. Part 2 will take a few days to write though :)
Laxeyman
12 февраля, 2011 at 11:30
Hi Darren, brilliantly written and a good job you’re doing with Argentina too. I reckon you’ll beat Mexico and you’ve got a good chance of winning the Copa America because your sqaud is so good. Good luck!
Darren Smith
12 февраля, 2011 at 15:01
Cheers Laxeyman, its a shame there aren’t extended highlights on youtube uploads, because Argentina are just crazy. It would take some rotten luck to beat us I think.
Lye
12 февраля, 2011 at 12:48
Hi Darren,
Nice format of the report. It attracts people into the post easily. Back to the matches, you have done well progressing. Mexico has some good players but not enough to stop you. The final will be a classic match between your team and Brazil, provided they progress. Good luck.
Darren Smith
12 февраля, 2011 at 15:02
Cheers Lye, glad you liked the post. I really want to play Brazil, it would be like cheating to win the competition without playing the best team. :)
Sibo
12 февраля, 2011 at 17:35
Hi Darren, congratulations, hope you go all the way and win it… just a quick question, is Tevez just too old in your game or do you just not pick him because of skill?
Darren Smith
12 февраля, 2011 at 18:52
Cheers Sibo, hopefully we will but Brazil are the main threat. Tevez is getting old but definitely good enough to make the team. I wasn’t able to register him due to a suspension. Think its a bug on the game because Tevez hasn’t been sent off?!?!
Sears
12 февраля, 2011 at 17:37
Wonderful post Darren, very well written! I think you can go all the way and absolutely destroy those Brazilians in the final :-p
Darren Smith
12 февраля, 2011 at 18:53
Thanks Sears, lets hope for a big final and a happy ending of course. :)
Johnny Karp
12 февраля, 2011 at 18:11
Must be quite funny to interview yourself, I’d feel a bit weird to say the least (probably because I do a lot of interviews at work). Anyway, the group stage went as planned but the tricky part is yet to come. Mexico should be a tough not to crack but I think your team can get past them with fair ease. Good luck!
Darren Smith
12 февраля, 2011 at 18:50
Was my post really that bad? Noticed the one star rating, any tips on how to improve it would be much appreciated. Its tough to know where you’ve gone wrong when the writing blinkers come on. Should be an interesting end to the tournament and hopefully part 2 will be an improvement. :)
Sears
13 февраля, 2011 at 00:47
I gave it ten stars mate :-p
Darren Smith
13 февраля, 2011 at 09:17
:) Thanks Sears, must admit I did read over it again and saw a few bits that seemed like I was bigging myself up. Certainly wasn’t intended that way.
Johnny Karp
13 февраля, 2011 at 09:56
I guess it’s just a matter of personal taste, some might like it, some might not. That doesn’t make it good or bad though.
Darren Smith
13 февраля, 2011 at 11:29
Yeh that is true Johnny, for the next one I might leave out the interviewing myself part though. :)
Johnny Karp
13 февраля, 2011 at 11:34
That’s not a problem mate, most people seemed to have liked it. What I disliked was your Mourinho-like arrogant answers to the reporter.
Darren Smith
13 февраля, 2011 at 12:20
Thats a fair point and like I said to Sears, after reading it back those parts didn’t come out right. They were intended as a bit of fun and to add some flavour to whole thing but ended up coming across arrogant as you say. It is worth saying though that I am not like that at all, just part of the story that went a little off track. Hopefully the next post will come across as intended. Thanks for the advice mate, I much prefer it when people give me constructive criticism so I can improve my posts for the general audience. Because reading it back, I will be surprised if your the only one with this opinion tbh.
Johnny Karp
13 февраля, 2011 at 18:19
I agree, criticism is much more valuable than praise any day of the week if it comes with honesty and no hard feelings.
Ana Garcia
14 февраля, 2011 at 17:17
Good post!
Nice to see something a little bit different, not too surprised that you sailed through your group and you have been handed a difficult draw against Mexico.
But with the players you have you should progress, good luck!! :)
Harv
14 февраля, 2011 at 19:08
Wish I could just take all of your saves darren, you’re a great manager and I hope your Argentina go far in this Copa America
Darren Smith
14 февраля, 2011 at 21:34
Thanks Harv, I just play the game far too much lol :) The latter stages of the Copa America will be interesting. I have an incredible side, but wonder if an underdog could make my players too complacent and provide a shock.
Timmy
15 февраля, 2011 at 03:12
Hi
you had a great team.I can see you reach final already :)
ps:Otamendi score 2 goal in one match :)
Darren Smith
15 февраля, 2011 at 19:13
Thanks Timmy, Argentina are just amazing. :) Otamendi is a beast and I’m actually just about to post part 2 :)