Copa America 2011: 5 Bold Predictions for Paraguay vs Venezuela

When Paraguay and Venezuela battled to a 3-3 draw in group stage play, no one expected that they would have a chance to resolve their 2011 Copa America tie. Yet, here they are waiting for rematch in the semifinals. 

Kickoff is slated for Wednesday, July 20th at 8:45 p.m. EST.

Prior to the tournament, neither of these teams seemed likely to advance this far. But they have definitely earned it. Especially a Venezuela team that may have been the biggest underdog in the field.

Venezuela has come out of nowhere to dominate the 2011 Copa America tournament. They have yet to suffer a defeat. They are also the highest scoring team in this tournament.

This is really a dream run for Venezuela. Venezuelan defender Oswaldo Vizcarrondo is trying to enjoy what they have accomplished without losing sight of their ultimate goal.

Says Vizcarrondo: "Now we have come so far we have to go one step further and reach the final. It's been a great experience and we are improving all the time."

Venezuela coach Cesar Farias will not have a full arsenal of weapons available for the rematch with Paraguay. Outstanding midfielder Tomas Rincon is suspended following his red card in the quarters.

Farias shrugged off the loss of one player, saying, "We have great faith. We have the chance to play the final if we can get through this one and we don't feel inferior to anyone. We are unbeaten and have scored the most goals."

Coach Gerardo Martino knows that while his Paraguay squad will be favored, they are in for a tough fight.

Martino says that "Venezuela will be a very tough opponent. They have come on so much in recent years. But we must not seek to improve ourselves by thinking about Venezuela but improve within ourselves if we are to achieve our dream of reaching Sunday's final."

This should be a great match. Just check out these predictions!

Venezuela is riding high right now. They are rolling and scoring goals at a breakneck pace. They are going to come out aggressive and ready to rock.

They will score one goal early and follow that with a second for a quick 2-0 lead. 

They will then turn on their defense to hold the lead, and the defense will be up to the task.

Venezuela will roll into halftime flying high as they take a 2-0 lead into the locker room.

Rogue Santa Cruz was forced to sit out Paraguay's quarterfinals match against Brazil with an injury. It is still a questionable if he will be able to play in Wednesday night's semifinal.

And even though they won, this was a big loss for Paraguay. Santa Cruz had been playing as well as ever in this Copa America run.

He was won Man of the Match honors in Paraguay's draw with Brazil in group play.

Santa Cruz will not be able to start this match. However, after his squad enters halftime down 2-0, Santa Cruz will take to the pitch in the second half. And he will net the game tying 2-2 goal in the later stages of the match.

After the gun signifying the end of regulation quickly follows Santa Cruz's dramatic tying goal, the match will head into overtime tied 2-2.

With the momentum clearly now on Paraguay's side they will dictate the flow of the action.

However, with the enormity of the stakes weighing on their minds their shots will sail off target.

This game will stay locked at two and will end play in a draw. Only this time the game will head to penalties.

Paraguay is in the semifinals even though they haven't won a single 2011 Copa America game. Each game was a draw, and they advanced past Brazil in the quarterfinals in a shootout.

That shootout experience will serve them well in the semifinals as they net four out of five shots.

This shootout will be as close as the game though. The match will come down to the very last shot of penalties. And won't be until Venezuela's last playerr sails the shot over the crossbar that the second finalist is determined.

And Paraguay will roll into the finals with all draws.

In a statement of destiny and the power of prayer, Paraguay will advance to the finals.

If you have followed the 2011 Copa America at all, you are probably aware that at the start beautiful model/super fan Larissa Riquelme said, "If Paraguay win the Copa America then I shall pose nude on the pitch."

And at that moment there wasn't a bandwagon ever constructed that was big enough to hold the legions of Paraguay's new die hard fans.

While this victory isn't the last step in fulfilling the prayers of these new bandwagon fans, it is close.