Copa America Centario June 4 - June 27 2016 Live on Sky Sport

Man, I got the news I was hoping for today when Sky TV phoned me to confirm their Copa America coverage after I enquired earlier in the week

We're in for the biggest festival of football in the history of NZ with the announcement today that Sky are showing all 32 games in the Centenary Copa America starting Saturday week.

https://www.sky.co.nz/-/copa-america-centario-2016

Sky TV the next six weeks:

OFC Nations Cup 28 May - 11 June.

Centenary Copa America 4 - 27 June NZT (special edition with all the South American nations plus the six best CONCACAF nations)

Euro 2016 11 June - 11 July NZT

All games in the Copa America live on Sport Pop-Up ch. 57

(replays and highlights on other channels)

There's still a special offer going for Sky Basic plus Sky Sport for six months minimum contract for $39 / month from a marketing company who work for Sky (less than $10 / week) - you can get the special offer for up to one year but it's six months minimum. They also give you a free My Sky Plus box to record everything on for up to one year.

I've been enjoying this offer very much for a few months now.

ph. 0800 475 988 (Icon Marketing) on week days until you get someone answering - leaving a message usually isn't effective.

(only this number - you don't get the deal by phoning the regular Sky TV number)

Excited about this, and glad Sky will have it on TV.

Who will win it this time? My pick is Uruguay. Great backline with two Atletico Madrid centre-backs, solid midfield and lethal strikeforce with Suarez and Cavani. It would be interesting if a CONCACAF team won it, spoiling CONMEBOL's party.

Less then a kfc meal a week, can't complain about that

Chile to defend their crown. Experienced team, used to playing together, but not too old either. Sanchez will be fresh after missing a lot of this season and Vidal will boss the midfield

...and they just lost a friendly 1-2 to Jamaica :/

Friendlies are friendlies though. They still have a solid team and I could see them doing it again. Although this time they won't have the home support.

Chile always have a great support where ever they go - but winning the last Copa America was really down to being at home

The great thing about the Copa America is that anyone of the 9 Commebol nations could win it, I'm picking Uruguay

Here is a link to a schedule for the Copa America. All games are live on Sky Sport Pop Up. All times are NZ time. There is spaces for you to input the scores.

Copa America spreadsheet

All games on popup again. Clearly has to be a deliberate ploy by Sky so people can't just use fanpass for such events. 

Are All Blacks games on SS1-4 or on pop up channels these days?

or they just have sports that rate better on SKY 1-4, haven't we already had this discussion?

All Blacks games are almost always on Sport 1 but there are several reasons for that.

On all 4 channels, for every single game during the entire euro 2016 tournament (as well as Copa America, OFC Nations cup etc) at the strange times these games are going to be on? I doubt it. 

rightly or wrongly SKY always try and keep events like this on the same channel rather than looking for gaps across all of their channels - Formula 1 is a good example, they try and keep all the buildup and qualifying and etc on the same channel so it's easier for viewers.
You could argue this means there is less live or premium sport on Sport 1-4 but that's the call they have made.

And they obviously think those events on Sport 1-4 will out rate this and that's how the call has been made.

I think it's very tin foil hat to suggest they have deliberately scheduled this on popups to screw over fanpass subscribers.

Yet, they have the upcoming Football Ferns friendlies and replays on the main Sky Sport channels:

Australian Matildas v Football Ferns Coverage on SKY SPORT

Game 1: Saturday June 4 in Ballarat, 5pm LIVE SKY Sport 1 (Highlights June 4, 9:30pm SKY Sport 4)

Game 2: Tuesday June 7 in Melbourne, 7pm LIVE SKY Sport 1 (Highlights June 7, 10:30pm SKY Sport 2)

Full Tournament Schedule

(Automatically gives time for your time zone):

http://www.livesoccertv.com/competitions/internati...

First game USA v Colombia 1.30 pm NZT Sky ch. 57

I'm thinking either Argentina, Brazil or Uruguay will win it.

Chile only won it for the first time ever last year - I doubt they can back up...

so just to clarify our logic here is since they CAN get the football ferns on Sport 2 and 4 that they should be able to get the All Whites on there?  Can't we just be happy that both our national teams are on TV (and yes they should fix pop ups on FanPass)

Great game between Mexico and Uruguay.  Mexico went down to 10 men, but still managed to score 2 more goals to finish 3-1 winners

Tune in to The Kick Off on TAB Trackside Radio at 7:25am for an exclusive Copa America bet option.

http://www.tab.co.nz/help/tv-radio/radio-trackside...

Venezuela v Uruguay is entertaining

Great goal! Was actually a wicked save from Muserla from the first shot.

Venezuela knock out Uruguay! The Venezuelans win 1–0 courtesy of West Brom's Salomón Rondón as he pounces after a spectacular save from Muslera who was caught out of position. 

Surprisingly awful tournament from Uruguay, as they get knocked out with one game to go (assuming Mexico achieve at least a draw in their 2:00pm match vs Jamaica). Perhaps it can be attributed to Luis Suárez's absence. Uruguay's record in major finals since 2010:

	Won	Won (on pen)	Drew	Lost
With Suárez	8	2	3	1
Without Suárez	1	0	1	6

Group C standings after this match:

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Venezuela	2	2	0	0	2	0	+2	6
2	Mexico	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2	3
3	Jamaica	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1	0
4	Uruguay	2	0	0	2	1	4	−3	0

Brazil turned on the style vs. Haiti with some classy goals, especially Coutinho's first and third goals in the 7-1 win.

Will be interesting to see if they can play well against better sides in further rounds.

Brazil v Peru is the crucial game to determine the group on Monday NZT. A win for either side insures progression, possibly at the expense of the other if Ecuador beat Haiti and they could go through. 

USA were also much improved from their first game in their 4-0 win vs. Costa Rica and will make the next round if they beat a lame Paraguay side on Sunday NZT. Always good for a tournament when the hosts make the later stages.

Colombia in that group are looking very good with James Rodriguez and Bacca looking sharp up front.

Both Chile and Costa Rica are pale shadows of the sides from World Cup 2014 (and in Chile's case, last year's Copa America) now that their inspirational coaches have departed.

Mexico are looking the best side they've produced in several years and are very well coached by Osorio.

Today it's the second round of matches in Group D, the only group to have played only one round so far.

Argentina look assured of a quarter-final spot but any of Panama, Bolivia and Chile could progress as well. 

Chile very lucky to beat Bolivia 2-1 with absolute dodgy penalty decision (handball) 8 mins into added time...Bolivia equalised with a fantastic free kick from about 35 metres out, top corner

One of those tricky handball ones... When the defenders arm is sticking out then it's sort of tough luck I think, need better technique to avoid that happening. Served Bolivia right anyway for their time wasting (not including the actual injury at the end when they guy got kicked in the head, how was that not a card by the way). 

He actually had his arms behind his back (ridiculous defenders have to even do that) in an attempt to not handle it. Awful decision. Looked as though it was the linesman who made the call. 

I hated seeing the ref completely surrounded by the players.  Should put a rule in to stop this sharke from happening.  Blight on the game.

Well Argies beat Panama 5-0, with Messi getting a hattrick.

Things got a bit 'Messi' for Panama when he came on (sorry had to do it haha)...they were well in the game before Messi came on. Yes the constant surrounding of refs needs to be addressed...I didn't agree with the decision but you gotta get on with it 

A shame about the early red card for Panama, they were looking well up for it before then. Have I think four players suspended for big last group match vs Chile.

Brazil just got knocked out by this

Oh my goodness... #CA2016 pic.twitter.com/TDTM4KRy3J

— Outside90 (@Outside90) June 13, 2016

https://twitter.com/Outside90/status/7421848029592...

The United States and Colombia qualify as first and second, respectively, from Group A. Colombia lose their last match against Costa Rica as they didn't care about being first or second.

In Group B Peru and Ecuador qualify as first and second. In the last match of Group B the Peruvians upset a dire Brazil which drew its first game 0–0 against Ecuador, defeated Haiti with a tragic 7–1 scoreline, and just now has lost 0–1 to Peru. Lone goal by Raúl Ruidíaz.

Two of the quarter-finals are now set: Friday afternoon (NZ time) will see hosts United States face Ecuador and on Saturday afternoon we'll see Colombia and Peru. 

Tomorrow in Group C first place is yet to be decided as both top teams on 6 points, Mexico and Venezuela, play each other for the decider for first place. Then an irrelevant match between Uruguay and Jamaica.

Edit: Changed video as previous one got a copyright claim on it.

Thanks for the video in your comment. Brazil is going to be pissed about that handball goal, referee looks in a good position to see it.

I didn't think the ref was in any position to see it - he had two Brazilians crossing his line.

That's so unfortunate as it looked so blatant.

I'm really surprised the ref cant double check goals, but Brazil didnt deserve to be knocked out by that.

Just another example of why there needs to be some sort of access to video replays to help the officials 

Brazil have been playing crap football though, completely uninspired. Or perhaps inspired... but by Anthony Hudson. The Brazilian coach Dunga is awful, hasn't called up players like Thiago Silva, one of the best defenders in the world. Also, the Brazilian Football Federation allowing Neymar to play for the U23 Olympics team but not the senior Copa America team shows a lack of ambition if you ask me. 

Against Ecuador a penalty for the Ecuadorians went uncalled, and that could've meant a 1–0 deserved win for Ecuador. Not being able to score against Ecuador and Peru, only scoring against Haiti, means they deserve to get knocked out, not matter the origin of Peru's goal.

Back to Copa America, Mexico just drew with Venezuela, with a great goal from Tecatito Corona, dribbling past quite a few defenders. Mexico will likely face Chile and Venezuela will likely face Argentina.

Venezuelas goal was terrific as well, a bicycle from a knock down header in the box

Argentina and Chile win their matches, which sets the tone for the quarter-finals.

 United States vs  Ecuador, Thursday 1:30pm.

 Peru vs  Colombia, Friday 12:00pm.

 Argentina vs  Venezuela, Saturday 11:00am.

 Mexico vs  Chile, Saturday 2:00pm.

So the semi-finals will be the winner of USA vs Ecuador vs the winner of Argentina vs Venezuela and the other semi-final will be the winner of Peru vs Colombia vs the winner of Mexico vs Chile. It would be great to watch an Argentina vs Mexico final.

Argentina should take this, i think Colombia will be there too

How boring would that be though? Go to celebrate a goal, but have to wait 5mins to check it first. Takes away the pure immediate joy of a goal (ie probably the best thing about football) and turns it into a robotic process. 

I'm happy with the odd wrong decision being made, so that we can keep that.