Venezuela take a step forward despite defeat

BARQUISIMETO, Venezuela, July 8 (Reuters) Venezuela took another stride forward at the Copa America even though they were beaten 4-1 by Uruguay in the quarter-finals yesterday.

The hosts got past the group stage for the first time since entering the tournament in 1967, yet with the whole country urging them on, their dream was to at least reach the semi-finals.

Instead, their run was ended yeasterday by the Uruguayans, who made their greater experience and physical presence felt to beat them 4-1, a somewhat flattering scoreline with two of the goals coming late on as Venezuela opened up.

The Copa had been seen as the perfect chance to capitalise on Venezuela's impressive progress over the last decade.

Until recently, football was the poor relation to basketball, baseball and beauty contests and the players were almost anonymous.

Nobody thought of selling replica shirts and even if they had, they would not have known what colour to produce as even the team's strip repeatedly changed.

Nowadays, the country's women may still be among the favourites to win Miss World every year, but national team players are earning lucrative advertising and sponsorship contracts while the team's distinctive Burgundy-coloured shirts are on sale everywhere.

Over the last two weeks, television has been dominated by soccer advertisements and baseball has been forced to take a back seat.

Days before the Copa started, the Venezuela federation announced it was increasing the first division from 10 to 18 teams for the 2007-08 season.

TOO LIGHTWEIGHT Coach Richard Paez has been the architect of the transformation.

The team had won only two World Cup qualifiers in 26 years before he took over in 2001, but have won 10 in five years under his command.

Venezuela only played their first official international match in 1938 -- 66 years after the first recognised international between England and Scotland -- and did not play outside of the American continent until 2003 when they lost 1-0 to Nigeria in Watford, just north of London.

Last year they won in Europe for the first time when they beat Austria 1-0.

Paez, who played in the team which lost 11-0 to Argentina in 1975, says he has instilled self-belief into the players.

The country has also begun exporting players abroad, notably midfielder Juan Arango who plays for Real Mallorca in Spain.

However, when it came to the crunch on Saturday, Venezuela appeared too lightweight against a team whose players are based mainly in the Spanish and Italian first divisions.

Arango, who had a generally poor tournament, again failed to make enough of an impact.

''Physically, we noted the difference against Uruguay,'' said Paez after the game. ''We have to work on this, starting at the clubs.

''But I take my hat off to my players. I'm proud that they took a step forward. We went out because we don't have the experience of playing 4, 5 or 6 games in a row.'' Reuters BJR DB2107