2011 Copa América: Japan pull out

2011 AFC Asian Cup champions Japan yesterday pulled out of the upcoming 2011 Copa América, the South American football championships, to be played in Argentina from July 1 to 24. The Japan Football Association took the decision in view of the situation in the island nation following the earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

JFA president Junji Ogura said, "The priority at this moment is to continue saving lives and rebuilding the country after the earthquake and tsunami. We are sorry to be pulling out because we recognise that we have advanced in football by being close to South America."

Japan originally planed to take part in this years Copa América, but with a number of matches in the J-League postponed due to the disaster the J-League will now be playing over the summer which would have forced coach Alberto Zaccheroni to pick a weakened side for the Copa América. Japan had looked at this years Copa América as a test run for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. But as one would understand the nations focus has shifted on other matters then football.

CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation, will now have to look for a replacement nation with less then three months to go. Besides its 10 member nations it invites two sides to make-up its 12 team Copa América tournament. This years invitees where supposed to be Japan and Mexico.

Some officials would love to see current FIFA World Cup winners Spain take part, but there might be a problem that European clubs could oppose any such move as such a tournament would cost the players their much-needed holiday. Other nations being mentioned are the United States, Costa Rica and Honduras. For the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela, Mexico and the United States had been invited to participate.