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What is Copa América?
- The Copa América is the worlds oldest international football association competition between national teams. The first tournament, won by Uruguay against hosts Argentina, began in 1916, even before FIFA organised its first official tournament at the 1924 Summer Olympics. The ten teams from the CONMEBOL confederation participate without the need of qualifiers. They also invite two teams from other confederations to bring the total of participating nations to twelve.
When and where?
- The tournament will begin in July 1st in La Plata at 21:45 PM local time, and the final will be held on July 24th on Primera Nacional B River Plates stadium, Estadio Monumental.
Format
- The first stage are divided into three groups of four, where each team plays one match against the other and is awarded points three for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a defeat. The winners and runner-ups of each group advance automatically to the quarterfinals, and the two best third-placed teams follow them. In case of a tie between teams the tie-breaker criteria are:
1. Greater number of points in all group matches
2. Goal difference in all group matches
3. Greater number of goals scored in all group matches
4. Head-to-head results
5. Drawing of lots by the CONMEBOL Organising Committee
Group A
Argentina
FIFA World Ranking: 5th
Best Performance: Champions (1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1942, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993)
The favourite to win the tournament. Not only do they have the most individual stars of the competition (including the world's current best player), playing on their local turf means they will find support wherever they go and their rivals will meet disdain and hatred. The major national team hasnt won anything since the 1993 Copa América, so now is their best chance in almost twenty years to remind the world why they are a world power. If they have a weakness it is that Checho Batista hasn't been able to make the defencive portion of the team coalesce in recent friendlies.
Player to look out for: Lionel Messi
Colombia
FIFA World Ranking: 50th
Best Performance: Champions (2001)
Colombia hasnt been the same since the days of Carlos Valderrama, and they havent been able to attend a World Cup since 1998. Will they be able to crown themselves glorious again like they did in 2001? Bolillo Gómez has been using a 4-1-4-1 formation , seemingly fit for Falcaos introduction. It should be enough to help them dominate Costa Rica and Bolivia.
Player to look out for: Radamel Falcao
Costa Rica
FIFA World Ranking: 56th
Best Performance: QuarterFinals (1997, 2001, 2004)
Costa Rica enters the competition as an invitee from CONCACAF after Japan declined due to the recent earthquake, so they are required to field an under-23 team reinforced with five older players. The team that was fielded in the Gold Cup will more than likely reappear here, as most of the players are under the age limit. Their lineup may look like an accident (similar to their invitation to the tournament), but they are going through a renewal process with players eager to shake off the poor image they gave in the CONCACAF tournament.
Player to look out for: Bryan Ruiz
Bolivia
FIFA World Ranking: 102nd
Best Performance: Champions (1963)
Bolivia is generally considered to be the worst team in CONMEBOL, but lets not forget that they trashed Argentina 6-1 during the last World Cup qualifiers. There is not a lot of youth in the team, however, and that may play against them when facing much more energetic sides. Will they be able to upset them again? They will have to deal with the opening match pressure as well.
Player to look out for: Marcelo Martins
Group B
Brazil
FIFA World Ranking: 3rd
Best Performance: Champions (1919, 1922, 1949, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007)
Brazil will always be a favourite no matter what the tournament is; they are a country-wide La Masia. Out of the last five Copas América, Brazil has won four, only beaten in 2001 by a surprising performance by Honduras in the quarterfinals. They are under a process of renovation with sights on the 2014 World Cup, featuring rising stars like Ganso and Neymar. The approach is double-edged Brazils coach, Mano Menezes, has been under heavy criticism as they recently tied against Netherlands in Brazil and won only 1-0 against Rumania.
Player to look out for: Neymar
Paraguay
FIFA World Ranking: 23rd
Best Performance: Champions (1953, 1979)
Paraguays play in the World Cup (and Larissa Riquelmes attributes) captivated many, and they were close to kicking Spain out during the quarter-finals. Coach Tata Martino has had problems to name a main squad until very close to the tournament, but they seem to have an accessible group barring Brazil. Their attack comprises people like Lucas Barrios and Roque Santa Cruz, but lets remember that Martinos teams work according to the rival. They might not have the flashiest football, but they are willing to do the dirty work when necessary.
Player to look out for: Lucas Barrios
Ecuador
Best Performance: Fourth Place (1959, 1993)
FIFA World Ranking: 64th
Ecuador reaches Copa América with a experienced team including Luis Antonio Valencia, Cristián Novoa, Michael Arroyo, and Christian Benítez. However, of the twelve preparation matches disputed previous to Copa América, they were only able to attain two victories. Worst of all, coach Reinaldo Rueda was not able to name a convocation list until close to the tournament, speaking of problems in important portions of the field a situation that has not be helped by constant injury losses to players like Jaime Ayobí.
Player to look out for: Luis Antonio Valencia
Venezuela
FIFA World Ranking: 68th
Best Performance: Quarterfinals (2007), Second Round (1967)
Venezuela has grown up. As Bolivia has taken their place as the ugly duckling of CONMEBOL, la Vinotinto has put up some good performances in recent years, almost reaching a World Cup spot in the last qualifiers. They finished fifth in the last Copa América, and they have also tried to remain competitive by facing stronger sides like Spain, Paraguay, and Mexico u-23. On the other hand, they have to open the tournament versus Brazil, so that may work against them in the beginning.
Player to look out for: Juan Arango
Group C
Uruguay
FIFA World Ranking: 7th
Best Performance: Champions (1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1959, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995)
La Celestes fourth place in the World Cup surprised many including themselves. Add to that Peñarol getting to the final of Copa Libertadores after a long time and we can see that Uruguayan football strives to return to that place they historically own. They have one of the best attacking fronts in the tournament, comprising Diego Forlán, Luis Suárez, and Édinson Cavani, being only surpassed by Argentina and Brazil and maybe even rivaling them. Their downfall may be the weak lower half of the field, including a shaky goalie in the body of Fernando Muslera. Do not underestimate them, however: if someone can impede the Argentina vs Brazil final, it is them.
Player to look out for: Édinson Cavani
Chile
FIFA World Ranking: 13th
Best Performance: Runners-Up (1955, 1956, 1979, 1987)
Chile finished second during the last World Cup qualifiers, and could have gone farther in South Africa had they not face Spain and Brazil one after another. Many people think that Chiles luck is over now that Marcelo Bielsa has left the country, but their players have shown that they can stand up to the task in some recent friendlies against teams like Portugal under Claudio Borghis tenure, who fielded many of the teams players under Colo-Colo. Count on them to be the dark horse of the tournament.
Player to look out for: Alexis Sánchez
Mexico
FIFA World Ranking: 28th
Best Performance: Runners-Up (1993, 2001)
Mexico has gone to the semi-finals of every Copa América it has been invited to except two and have even reached the final twice. They have been a constant surprise, probably because of their underdog status. This time its going to be different, as CONCACAF has mandated that they field a u-23 team whose real purpose is the 2012 London Olympics. Add to that a very difficult group and players who are wearing la verde for the first time ever. Do not expect much from el Tri under this situation at best they might be able to grab a third-place spot through the so-called operación murciélago, defending heavily and relying on counters sent towards Dos Santos.
Player to look out for: Giovani dos Santos
Peru
FIFA World Ranking: 54th
Best Performance: Champions (1939, 1975)
Another underperformer, they have had some decent results since Sergio Markarián took over coaching duties. The task will not be easy, since the renovation process has been very slow, and the players have had some discipline issues in the last year. La blanquirroja has played ten friendlies since the World Cup, winning four, drawing five, and losing one. Not only that, but they have suffered some meaningful losses including captain Claudio Pizarro, Jefferson la foquita Farfán, and Juan Vargas. We will see if that kind of defence manages to hold the attacking threat of Uruguay.
Player to look out for: Carlos Zambrano
Where can I watch it?
- For the first time ever, you will be able to watch Copa América LIVE on yootoob!
- Canada: Score
- Australia: Setanta Sports
- It's also on Univisión on the USA, but you will have to listen to Spanish.
The Youtube channel on Copa América has put up some highlights from the last tournament, so don't forget to check out some of the quality football the competition promises for us.
