GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador, July 6: Dreary soccer, the absence of leading players and a final played In a half-empty stadium undermined the status of the Copa America, reports Reuter.

The tournament, supposedly the pride and Joy of the South American Football Confederation (CSF), was relegated to little more than a glorified training session by teams more interested in the South American World Cup qualifiers which begin later this month.

The continent’s giants, Brazil and Argentina, who beat Mexico 2-1 in Sundays final, admitted they had other priorities.

Argentina coach Alfio Basile said throughout hls-aim was to find the ideal team to face Colombia, Paraguay and Peru in Group A.

His Brazilian counterpart Carlos Alberto Parrcira said he would have been happier for his country not to take part at

Parreira, who already knows the team he would like to put out but rarely can because of club, commitments, left his best players at home to rest.

None of Uruguay's European-based players, several of whom have made a big impact on the Italian league this year, took part.

Colombia's top player Fustino Asprilla played two matches, Bolivia’s Irwin Sanchez, based with Portugal’s Boavista, played 30 minutes as a substitute and the" United States rested all but one of their exiles.

"It would be absurd for us to keep one squad together for four months to play the US Cup, the Copa America and the World Cup qualifiers. It would be impossible to keep the group united for so long," Parreira said.

Many want the competition to be held every four years instead of the current two.

"Our problems are not on the pitch, they are all to do with organisation." said Chile coach Arturo Salah." The tournaments in South America are archaic.

“I hope wc can change this. We need to achieve some unity amongst national team trainers to influence the ClSF."

In the circumstances, it was predictable that the soccer would be a let down.

Argentina won ithe competition with a modes t record of four draws, two wins and six goals scored. They won both their quarter-final and semifinal on penalties.

They won few frelcnds with their defensive tactics and often rough play.

T thought they would play another way. Argentina have been playing with just Batistuta in attack,’’ said former Peruvian international Teofilo Cubillas, now a leading television commentator.

"I though those days had ended when (former trainer) Carlos Bilardo left."

Brazil's reserves arrived tired after a marathon of domestic games and looked convincing only against Paraguay and for 45 minutes against Argentina.

Colombia never fulfilled their promise while hosts Ecuador, after four good performances against weak opposition, failed their first serious test against Mexico.

Guayaquil’s imposing monumental stadium with its 100,000 capacity, specially reformed for the tournament, quickly became a white elephant.

Organisers failed to more than half fill the ground for any game and Ecuador's semifinal elimination ended any hopes of a full house for the final.

Some blamed the flop on ticket prices which were equivalent to a week’s earnings for many Guayaquil residents.

'This stadium in Just too big." said Cubillas. "Only Elcuador could fill it."

"It is only half full and this is the final of the Copa America."

As the final whistle went; and Argentina's players leapt for Joy, dozens of workers ran on to the pitch to build a makeshift stage for the presentation of the trophy.

It was perhaps symbolic of the competition that it took them three attempts to correctly assemble the parts.