Neo Sports showing Copa America live!

A lot of you have been asking me, so just to inform you all the 2011 Copa America in Argentina is live on Indian television through sports broadcaster Neo Sports which kicked-off on Friday (early Saturday in India).

Neo Sports Broadcast executive VP programming Mautik Tolia said, "Copa America reiterates our commitment to showcase the best premium sporting action to the Indian viewer. The Copa America promises to fulfill the Indian football fan's legendary romance with Latin American football. It offers a not to be missed spectacular carnival over the next one month with the world's best footballers - the likes of Messi, Kaka, Robinho etc competing against each other."

The 2011 Copa América (Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América), the South American football championships, is being held in Argentina from July 1 to 24. The 10 South American teams plus invitees Costa Rica and recently crowned CONCACAF champions Mexico will be facing each other to win the trophy.

In Group A Argentina is facing Bolivia, Colombia and Costa Rica; in Group B Brazil take on Venezuela, Paraguay and Ecuador; while Group C will see Uruguay, Chile, Peru and Mecixo in action. So far fans of South American football will have been disappointed with Argentina and Brazil only drawing their opening round matches.

2011 Copa América: Japan out, Costa Rica in

2011 AFC Asian Cup champions Japan has now made a final decision not to play in the upcoming 2011 Copa América, the South American football championships, to be held in Argentina from July 1 to 24. The Japan Football Association took this decision after much thought, but with European clubs unwillingness to release players in pre-season left the JFA had no other option but to opt out. They will now be replaced by central American nation Costa Rica.

Initially the JFA revised its decision after requests from South America after it had decided earlier to pull out in view of the situation in the island nation following the earthquake and tsunami on March 11. This was due to the fact that the J-League will be running during the period when the Copa América will be played and Japanese clubs had opposed any move of denying them of their best players. The JFA had send a special request to FIFA to help them get release of their players from European clubs as their participation is under the 'guest status' which doesn't force clubs to release players, but this didn't help.

"I regret very much to communicate to you that the Japanese national team cannot take part in the Copa America," JFA president Junji Ogura told tournament organising committee chief Jose Luis Meiszner in a letter to the Argentinian FA.

"Although the European clubs understand our situation, unfortunately most of them have told us they cannot release their players," Ogura was quoted as saying on the AFA's website ( www.afa.org.ar ).

Costa Rica now replace Japan and will take their place in Group A alongside hosts Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia.

2011 Copa América: Japan decides to play!

2011 AFC Asian Cup champions Japan has decided to once more change its decision and the nation will now play in the upcoming 2011 Copa América, the South American football championships, to be held in Argentina from July 1 to 24. The Japan Football Association took this revised decision after requests from South America. It had decided last week to pull out in view of the situation in the island nation following the earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

Japan Football Association vice president Kozo Tashima told the media, "The JFA decided to participate in the Copa America today. We are in the process of notifying CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation) as we speak."

Japan will now mainly play with a side made-up of Europe-based players as the J-League will be running during the period when the Copa América will be played and clubs had opposed any move of deny them of their best players. The JFA would send a special request to FIFA to help them get release of their players from European clubs as their participation is under the 'guest status' which doesn't force clubs to release players.

Meanwhile Japan's change of position and deciding to play has come as welcome news for the Copa América organisers as 2010 FIFA World Cup winners Spain had declined an invitation to replace Japan. This was a result of the Spanish FA's board of directors meeting earlier this week as they had to factor in own calendar congestion in Spanish football.

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.