Venezuela

Page by: Andrew Cho. Written Apr. 2016

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“La Vinotinto”

Current FIFA Rank: 74

Copa America Record: Fourth Place in Argentina 2011

Manager: Rafael Dudamel

History

If soccer became the hegemonic sport in Mexico and Uruguay, baseball ruled in Venezuela. Some historians argue that those nations under United States influence became baseball nations, while those under England preferred soccer (Nadel 206). Soccer never had as big a following in Venezuela, and as a result the game has been extremely slow to develop, both domestically and internationally. Venezuela is the only South American nation to have never made it to the World Cup tournament (Rainbow, 2011).

Despite this, soccer has risen in popularity in the nation and the national team’s rank reflects part of that rise. After the new millennium, Venezuela rose as high as mid-thirties in 2013. La Vinotinto’s improving performance increased interest in Venezuelans alike, especially after hosting the 2007 Copa America (Rainbow, 2011). La Vinotinto had a good run in 2007. Its next goal is to make the World Cup.

Player to Watch

Salomon Rondon (26)

  Photo from Wikipedia. Labeled for reuse. 

  • Club: West Bromwich Albion
  • National Caps: 47
  • Goals: 14

The West Brom striker is just the second Venezuelan to play in the Premier League and signed with a club record fee (Premier League, 2015). As of the last week of April, Rondon has scored 7 goals out of 30 English games he has played for West Brom and leads The Throstles in goals scored this season as their top striker. He has had fair success in international play, scoring 14 goals in 47 caps for La Vinotinto. To read more about Rondon, please visit this Soccer Politics page, written by Timothy Nyangacha.

Chants:

In 2007, Venezuela won its first and second Copa America games in 40 years and in doing so qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time. People in the Venezuelan streets started to wear soccer shirts in addition to baseball shirts. They even adapted one of their baseball chants called “Home Run!” Instead in soccer at free kicks and corners, fans chanted “Un Gol!” (Downie, 2007).

National Narrative:

Last winter, fifteen members of Venezuela’s national team threatened to boycott the team unless top Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) officials resign and manager Noel Sanvicente is replaced (Draper, 2015).

After much negotiations and talks between the players and FVF, former Venezuelan goalkeeper Rafael Dudamel was named as the new coach on April 1st, replacing the unpopular Sanvicente. Sanvicente’s record was five losses and one draw with Venezuela, and this has put Venezuela in last place in CONMEBOL for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers (ESPN FC, 2016).

The players, however, are more concerned with the actions of the heads of FVF. They disagree with the way players were treated and handled during the current World Cup qualifiers. Last year, then FVF president Rafael Esquivel was prosecuted for corruption and bribery (Draper, 2015).

Draper in his sports article discusses an important narrative to present day Venezuelan soccer and political climate. The country is in economic turmoil partially caused by plunging oil prices, and the government remains very unpopular. In a climate such as this, Draper argues sport can be a necessary distraction. A good performance in this summer’s Copa America may help unite the country in an otherwise divided nation.

 

Works Cited:

Downie, Andrew. “Venezuela’s vino tinto earns respect in ‘the country of baseball.” The Christian Science Monitor. 12 Jul. 2007. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0712/p04s01-woam.html.

Draper, Kevin. “Most of the Venezuelan National Soccer Team Threatens to Quit.” Screamer. Deadspin. 1 Dec. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. http://screamer.deadspin.com/most-of-the-venezuelan-national-team-threatens-to-quit-1745613319.

Rainbow, Jamie. “Venezuelan football: brief history.” World Soccer. 4 Jul. 2011. Web 26 Apr. 2016. http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/venezuelan-football-a-brief-history-329585.

“West Brom pay record fee to sign striker Rondon.” Premier League. 10 Aug. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2016. http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-16/aug/100815-news-in-brief.html.

“Venezuela name Rafael Dudamel to coach national team.” ESPN FC. 1 Apr. 2016. Web. 26 Apr. 2016. http://www.espnfc.com/venezuela/story/2841318/venezuela-name-rafael-dudamel-to-coach-national-team.

 

How to Cite this Page:

“Venezuela” Written by Andrew Cho (26 April 2016), Copa America Centenario 2016, Soccer Politics Blog, Duke University http://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/tournament-guides/copa-america-centenario-2016-guide/copa-america-centenario-2016-team-guide/jamaica-group-c/ (accessed on (date))