July 4 (Reuters) - History is at stake for both Venezuela and Canada when they meet on Friday in Arlington, Texas, in the second Copa America quarter-final.
Long considered one of the minnows of South American football, Venezuela would guarantee tying their best Copa America showing by advancing past Canada, ensuring they at least match their fourth-place finish in 2011.
"We know that we have to motivate ourselves a little bit more than maybe how we motivated ourselves for the group phase," Venezuela manager Fernando Batista said, through an interpreter.
"Because we are very close to surpassing the best performance historically of Venezuela in Copa America. We know it's important."
Venezuela won all three of their Group B matches but perhaps rode their luck a bit in the process, aided by Enner Valencia's early red card in a 2-1 win over Ecuador and Orbelin Pineda's penalty miss in a 1-0 win over Mexico.
In their first Copa America appearance, Canada also got some breaks in their path to the quarter-finals, defeating Peru 1-0 and drawing Chile 0-0 in matches in which both opponents received red cards.
Canada's one goal, scored via Jonathan David, is the fewest among teams that advanced and they will be without winger Tajon Buchanan, who suffered a broken tibia in training following the Chile draw that clinched the second-place finish in Group A.
"There's so much room for improvement," manager Jesse Marsch said after the Chile draw.
"But I have to say the overall mentality and commitment to try to be the team that we want to become has been at the highest level I've seen of any team I've worked with.
"That part I've really enjoyed. I'm proud of them, but more so, I'm happy for them." (Reporting by Field Level Media; Editing by Peter Rutherford )
WhatsApp Image 2023 10 17 At 1.19.35 AM 2 683x1024 Beautiful%2Bfabric%2Bfolding%2Baccordion%2Bdoors%2Binstalled%2Bin%2Ban%2Barc%2Bcountry.JPG5f440e3ba4c4874d5e327fba Mega Fabric Door.JPG02 39d29a7e4b48e45cd6f1a0d302cb4af8 53177A9B 5DAC 4C8B B2E7 827BA0B5F401 768x513 Designer Fabricated Doors 1000x1000 0CC3BA37 A619 4BE5 A5C3 0C515B72A15C 5f440e3bb711004a161820cd IMG 4456 P 1080 5e1ba0c2c95a73a8da7869b1 PP MEGA FABIRC DOORS 1 98e1ccb2 3 1 1024x698 3 200x300 5 Ruhsd2 4 1024x683 Luminia F82 Image 3 66956 Model WD MAXDoor 000016 000398 6 768x1151 Fabric Doors 1618037330 5785659 DSC 0821 Hqdefault Bifold Open Page 1 Fufdhsd1 High Speed Fabric Fold Up Doors 1534932814 4219459 A86C0A6F 5E57 4CD1 8249 E9160C71E391 768x512 D3DD148D 5F57 453C AB44 1B5419819786
