One of the world’s biggest soccer stars will not be competing on U.S. soil this summer at the Copa America Centenario.
Barcelona announced a deal struck between itself and the Brazilian Football Confederation — and its president Marco Polo del Nero — which will let Brazilian playmaker Neymar play for the nation during the 2016 Olympic Games but not during the Copa America tournament.
The Olympic Games in Brazil are not a FIFA event, so Barcelona would not be forced to release Neymar if national team head coach Dunga were to name him to his Olympic roster. The Copa America competition, though, is an official FIFA event, meaning Barcelona would have no choice to release its star player for the tournament in the U.S. if called in.
However, this deal between Barcelona and Brazil’s national team means Neymar will not be playing in back-to-back tournaments this summer. The Copa America runs from June 3-26, while the Olympics are from Aug. 3-21.
What do you think of Barcelona’s deal with Brazil’s national team? Would you have liked to see Neymar compete for Brazil during the Copa America?
Share your thoughts below.
Get used to it.
None of the superstars are coming here this summer.
One year after the last Copa, in the middle of WC qualifying, and before the Olympics I think we will see more up and comers than established stars on most of the rosters. Seems like SAmerican teams don’t often send their best squads for regular Copas unless they are hosting or have immense depth like Brazil and Argentina. Interested to see if Mexico takes a shot at the title or if they send their Olympic squad. Argentina hasn’t won the Copa since 1993 and have 2 recent gold medals so you would think they’d emphasize Copa America. We should know more when 40 man prelim rosters are released at the end of April.
“Seems like SAmerican teams don’t often send their best squads…”
Really ? I believe they do actually. In the last Copa, Mexico was the only team that didn’t and it was a mistake. The real Copa Americas (not this one, which is commercial) are of the same the quality of the European Championships, it is soccer’s oldest competition, and perhaps only less prestigious because there are fewer teams playing in it. But the best players are almost always there.
The real Copa Americas (not this one, which is commercial)
Bummed a little bit. I have tickets for the semi-final in Chicago. Hoping to possibly see him. Oh well. I get it.
It is too bad that the Centenario has to occur in the same year that Brazil (Rio) hosts the Summer Olympics. I can understand Brazil’s desire to have a pretty strong Olympic team and it supports the decision to have the Centenario in the US – no arguments between the CONMEBOL countries about who should host and why.
Brazil better win the Olympics! after that WC exit..
I’m sure their Copa roster will be just as competitive w/o him
I know I speak for a lot of countries in this competition…..”THANK GOODNESS”!!!! lol
Not surprising. Copa is not really viewed as important at all to European clubs. SIlly regional tournament in extremely hot conditions. This won’t really stop Brazil fans from going to their games but it might reduce some TV numbers and advertising dollars.
Sorry Patrick but your comment is clueless. “Copa is not really viewed as important at all to European club.” Well im glad you spoke to all the European clubs. And anyways this is a national team tournament not a European club tournament. Did you not read the article at all? Barcelona would be forced to release Neymar for Copa. Only reason he isn’t going is because of Brazil’s unique Olympics situation (hosting it and have never won it,only tournament left to win). No club would want their star player to play in two different tournaments in the same summer, no matter what the tournaments are.
Just wait. We’re going to see all the biggest south american stars come down with “injuries” that will prevent them from making this fake copa America.
We shall see.
You are correct, Patrick. It’s a celebration and great opportunity for players to showcase, but the “tournament” is an organized series of friendlies and has no tangible value.
Yes Patrick was correct when he said “but it MIGHT reduce some TV numbers and advertising dollars”, not having Neymar there is a slight blow to the tournament, but he was wrong about the other things.
..and yet I am positive that if the USMNT was somehow able to win this tournament (unlikely), no USMNT fan would say something like “ah who cares, this tournament doesn’t matter, it had no value”, and that includes you Old School.
Disagree, UBG. Guys like Old School just like to complain and say how terrible America is at soccer so if they won the Copa, they’d find some reason to write it off as a fluke and the fact that some top players missed the tournament would be one of their biggest arguments.
..and yet I am positive that if the USMNT was somehow able to win this tournament (unlikely), no USMNT fan would say something like “ah who cares, this tournament doesn’t matter, it had no value”, and that includes you Old School.
I celebrated, along with many, when the Nats had notable victories against the Netherlands, Germany (x 2) and Mexico (in Mexico) in friendlies. Any time the Nats suit up the players should care and the fans should care. Your point?
Oh, right. Your point is literally comparing the Copa Centenario to the World Cup:
“World Cup winner: you get money, a trophy, and bragging rights.
Copa Centenario winner: you get money, a trophy, and bragging rights.” -UclaBruinGreat
One of the most asinine stances in a desperate attempt to concoct some form of tangible value out of a tournament that is nothing more than glorified friendlies. Brazil never would have conceded to Neymar’s availability if it actually mattered.
Great opportunity to showcase. Great celebration that will be a blast to watch. Still glorified friendlies.
Disagree, UBG. Guys like Old School just like to complain and say how terrible America is at soccer so if they won the Copa, they’d find some reason to write it off as a fluke and the fact that some top players missed the tournament would be one of their biggest arguments.
Sincere question: Are you intending to flat out lie or do you have my mistaken for someone else? When have I ever said anything remotely close to “America is terrible at soccer.”.
No sarcasm, please provide some form of validation to that statement with quotes, links and proof. I post enough, so you shouldn’t be short on content. Any attempt to ignore this response or divert the focus confirms your lack of character and lack of credibility.
I patiently await, slowleftfarm.
Still with the same thing Old School? In your deluded head you must thing that was some sort of “victory” for you since you keep going back to it how many days later now? Convenient of you to leave out the full context of the conversation.
-You said that the Copa is basically some irrelevant tournament with “no tangible value”.
-So then I made fun of your comment by saying something like, “well then the World Cup must also have no tangible value because as the World Cup winner you get money, a trophy, and bragging rights; And as the Copa Centenario winner you get money, a trophy, and bragging rights.”
-And then I asked you to explain your concept of “tangible value” for a soccer tournament multiple times but of course you avoided the question because you have nothing to say about it.
Go ahead, keep on making a fool of yourself.
I’m not misconstruing anything. Here’s the link: http://sbisoccer.com/2016/03/usmnt-rolls-past-guatemala-in-world-cup-qualifying-rematch
You continue to claim I’m the one attaching some type of “victory/loss” measurement to this conversation, yet, you have been the only one using that phrasing. The link does not validate your claim.
You went so far as to drop a term last seen by teenage Call of Duty players in the 90’s by claiming to “own” me with your ridiculous stance on the merit and value of the Copa Centenario and still claim I’m the one attaching some type of “victory/loss” measurement to this conversation. The link does not validate that claim.
You also went so far, in a desperate attempt, to prove the Copa Centenario was important by comparing it to the World Cup by stating the following parallels (I did not misquote you):
“World Cup winner: you get money, a trophy, and bragging rights.
Copa Centenario winner: you get money, a trophy, and bragging rights.”
-UclaBruinGreat
To say nothing of your embarrassing attempt to claim I made some strawman argument (that you clearly don’t understand the definition or usage) within that thread…and you have the nerve to say someone else looks like a fool? The link does not validate that claim.
Are you resorting to flat out lying like slowleftfarm or just plain delusional? Unfortunately for both of you links completely invalidate your claims.
Old, thanks for the link but I didn’t need it, I remember it well. The fact that you went back to look for it is hilarious to me. Since you posted the link go ahead and actually read it, the link absolutely validates and verifies all of my claims. You of course will just be dense and deny and deny which makes this discussion with you pointless. Still waiting on your definition of what is “tangible value” in a soccer tournament and why some have it and others don’t. I won’t hold my breath. That was the point of your original argument which I then called you out on, and since you didn’t have a good enough response to it, your way out was to deflect/distract/be petulant/change the subject and lead us down this rabbit hole. This might seem like a clever technique to you but it’s actually unsophisticated. You might as well had just said “oh yea, oh yea, oh yea, well I think your stupid” from the very beginning and it would have saved both of us a bunch of time. Your inability to keep up would have been apparent right away and I would have let you be. I am done with you on this subject, we’ve already had this discussion in two articles. I know I am under your skin and you keep wanting to have a go at me but just try and get over it.
Still waiting on your definition of what is “tangible value” in a soccer tournament and why some have it and others don’t.
You really don’t understand the difference between the Copa Centenario and the World Cup (or even the Gold Cup)? The tangible value definition you seek is that this exhibition simply lacks the substance and validity of an actual competition. It is equivalent to a friendly in importance. You do understand this is not the real Copa America, correct? Whomever wins this does not get to participate in the Federations Cup. You know this, correct?
I’m not sure why that’s become your go-to-question to mask your ridiculous statement of comparing this exhibition to the World Cup, but it failed badly. The fact that you needed it defined in this context says a lot.
That was the point of your original argument which I then called you out on
Yes, the original “statement” (not an argument) was me scoffing at the idea that the Copa Centeario possessed enough substance to cause “embarrassment” and “alienation” by the fanbase in response to “Turfboots”. You called me out by typing out one of the most asinine statements seen on SBI in quite some time, swinging for the fences and striking out. Sidenote, do you also post under “Turfboots”?
your way out was to deflect/distract/be petulant/change the subject and lead us down this rabbit hole.
Who deflected? Who changed the subject? Who deflected? Who used the phrase “owned”? Is this another attempt to use “straw man argument” again without understanding the meaning or how to use it? I think something is wrong with your reading comprehension. Literally none of what you’re accusing took place. Swing and a miss…again.
I am done with you on this subject, we’ve already had this discussion in two articles. I know I am under your skin and you keep wanting to have a go at me but just try and get over it.
…and yet you’re the one who continues to respond to me without provocation. I rarely, if ever, respond to your posts because they simply lack tangible value but if you decide to respond to me (as you have in both articles) on your own, then expect me to respond.
None of us can ever come back from you comparing the Copa Centenario to the World Cup, using the phrase “owned” and failing in embarrassing fashion trying to use the “straw man argument” claim. I hope you truly are done with this topic because it’s been utterly futile by all involved.
Hopefully you’re a man of your word and move on. I’m still waiting for the other disingenuous individual, slowleftarm, to also be a man of his word and stand by his statement, too. Although both of you appear incapable of seemingly simple tasks.
Last thing I will say since you responded is, you still don’t get it do you? Without straightout giving you the answer let me try and guide you along the correct path. First look up the word tangible in the dictionary. Ok done? Now remember that I always made a point to quote your phrase “tangible value”. Now perhaps you understand why I compared the World Cup and Copa by saying both give you a trophy, money, and bragging rights/celebrations which are the only TANGIBLE things you get from a soccer tournament. Of course the World Cup has higher prestige, but it is the same when it comes to ” tangible value”. As ive said many times already i was making fun of your phrase ” tangible value”. Everything you wrote above is not tangible, it is symbolic and subjectively perceived. Do you finally get it? Still no? Ok well you won’t ever learn then. Go ahead and write me another book of a response. You are good at digging yourself deeper and deeper.
Wait, Old School, you are saying Copa America (the real one) is ONLY important because of the confed cup spot? That seems pretty asinine to me. Does winning this Copa America come with an asterisk? If Colombia wins… you don’t think they are going to play that up until the next Copa America–the team that dethroned Chile!… You know FIFA rankings count these games with the same weight as the Euros and the Copa America (the real one)… right? Which is for seeding at the world cup, which is a huge deal, probably bigger than Confed Cup.
I am done with you on this subject…
Last thing I will say….
Haha. So absolutely predictable. Have the last one – you need it.
Wait, Old School, you are saying Copa America (the real one) is ONLY important because of the confed cup spot?
There’s literally pages of content on my thoughts on the topic. You’re either asking a rhetorical question or unwilling to read available content (here and in the link I provided).
FIFA rankings are the biggest joke within soccer next to the World Cup locations being awarded. If they mattered, for example, the USA wouldn’t have finished above England in the World Cup group back in 2010. All that matters is making the World Cup – the rankings are a sham and anyone stating otherwise may believe Qatar won the World Cup based on merit, too.