Copa America commands questions, from host Argentina to Venezuela

The world's oldest continental tournament, the Copa America has ensured its continued relevance by finding a perfect slot in the global calendar.

It is now held every four years and kicks off a new cycle of competitive games in South America. After a year of bedding in new coaches and playing lucrative friendlies, the Copa is primarily a warm up for the next series of World Cup qualifiers, which kick off in October. It is for this reason that the 10 South American countries (though not the two invitees from CONCACAF) are as near full strength as possible for the tournament that gets under way in Argentina on Friday.

Of course, they would all love to hold the trophy aloft in Buenos Aires on July 24, but for all the coaches the priority is to prepare their teams for future battles. These are some of the storylines to look for from the South American nations in the Copa -- and maybe beyond.
Group A

1. Can Argentina defend? With Banega playing the Xavi role and linking up with Messi, coach Sergio Batista's imitation Buenos Aires Barcelona will play some sparkling stuff,This page list rubber hose products with details & specifications. and there are plenty of attacking options on the bench if the need arises to chase the game.Use bluray burner to burn video to BD DVD on blu ray burner disc.

But there are problems at the other end of the field. Unlike Barcelona, Argentina are unlikely to be able to press for 90 minutes. As the recent friendly against the U.S. highlighted, once the game is dragged back into their half, defects start to appear. The center backs are shaky, and the goalkeeping position is a worry. There night not be too many defensive alarms during the group phase, but the rear guard will surely be tested if Argentina are to win the title.Customized imprinted and promotional usb flash drives.

2. Is there hope for Bolivia? Not much, on the face of it. Bolivia has become the weakest team on the continent, and its playing catch up after being late to appoint its new coach, Gustavo Quinteros. The squad looks thin and certainly lacking in physicality.

But Bolivia does have some players who look useful on the counter-attack -- Arce is a lively support striker, Campos an attacking midfielder who strikes the ball well, and Martins Moreno, if lacking in express pace, an interesting center forward. They can take some heart from the displays of Oriente Petrolero in this year's Libertadores -- the best Bolivian side in the competition for some time, formed by Quinteros and supplying a number of players to the national squad. More importantly, it is in the same group as Costa Rica -- frequently one win can be enough to make the quarterfinals, which Bolivia would see as a triumph.

3. Can Colombia score? A dearth of goals has been a Colombian problem for some time, and this season it has been on target just nine times in 11 games.Polycore zentai are manufactured as a single sheet, The attacking resources exist for Colombia to do far better -- Falcao Garcia, Martinez,Free DIY Wholesale pet supplies Resource! Rodallega and Gutierrez are a dangerous group of strikers.

The question comes down to how its plays. An intense debate has opened up about the success of Falcao Garcia with Porto -- where his dynamism and front-to-goal aggression make him a big success. In Colombia's slower build up, his back-to-goal limitations are exposed. Kicking off against Costa Rica's experimental young team gives it a chance to pick up momentum, and a semifinal place is well within its grasp. But the most crucial question for coach Hernan Dario Gomez is to emerge from the Copa with a convincing collective idea that gets the best out of the players at his disposal.

Sole witness a no-show at Solyndra's federal hearing

A congressional subcommittee investigating a $535 million loan guarantee to a politically connected California solar panel maker sought answers Friday from the Office of Management and Budget¡ªbut the sole witness didn't show up.

The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on oversight and investigations has pressed for internal documents from OMB that could shed light on the loan guarantee for Solyndra Inc. The guarantee, the first issued by the Obama administration, was announced with fanfare in March 2009. Yet questions surfaced as the California firm laid off workers and canceled a planned initial public offering after it had secured the government's backing.

Solyndra's prime financial backers include Obama bundler George Kaiser,The newest Ipod nano 5th is incontrovertibly a step up from last year's model, an Oklahoma oil billionaire. iWatch News and ABC reported in May the Obama administration bypassed steps meant to protect taxpayers as it hurried to approve the energy loan guarantee.

Subcomittee Chairman Cliff Stearns, R-Fla.dstti , says OMB has refused to turn over internal emails written as the government weighed whether to grant the financial support to a company then just four years old. Jeffrey Zients, OMB's deputy director, was asked to testify at Friday's hearing.

Zients wrote to the committee that his schedule precluded his appearance, and Democrats contended the hearing was little more than political theater.

OMB's absence could signal increased tensions between the Obama administration and the Republican House,Detailed information on the causes of dstti, which is aggressively investigating the stimulus-funded loan guarantee to Solyndra.

Stearns said that if the budget office refuses to comply in the coming weeks, he might seek a subpoena to force disclosure.uy sculpture direct from us at low prices

The subcommittee is investigating whether the Energy Department and budget office diligently vetted the loan, and the internal documents could reveal whether the budget office had reservations.A glass bottle is a bottle created from glass. The Department of Energy said the loan guarantee will pay off, and Solyndra said politics played no role in its award and that its finances have strengthened.

Republicans on the subcommittee were frustrated by Zients' absence.

"We're a little puzzled why after two months, they're still reluctant to give the information," said Stearns."At this point, we're just saying, ¡®What is the reluctance to give the documents to a committee that has the jurisdiction?' ¡­We have every right to ask for them. And what's the delay? Why is there a delay?"

OMB suggested the delay was due to poor communication between the subcommittee and the budget office. In a letter to Stearns, OMB said it couldn't turn Zients' schedule around fast enough to accommodate Congress.

"I am delighted to appear before your subcommittee to discuss this matter," Zients wrote Stearns."We were, however, only provided with an unusually short notice of less than four days and unfortunately I had a scheduling conflict on Friday."

Rep. Diana DeGette,Shop a wide selection of billabong outlet products in the evo shop. D-Colo., called the hearing a"profound waste of time."

"Rather than schedule the hearing for one of the dozen days Mr. Zients is available, the majority has called members here to question an empty chair," she said.

Stearns said the budget office had plenty of time, and that he told OMB someone other than Zients could attend.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said the government has to be particularly vigilant amid tough economic times."Our consumers want answers. We need answers to these questions," said Blackburn."The president, the administration shouldn't be choosing winners and losers."