Battle for the South American Crown: Who Will Win the 2015 Copa America?
In the early hours of Friday morning, the oldest international football tournament in the world will kick off when hosts Chile take on Ecuador in the opening match of the 2015 Copa America.
Twelve teams will play 44 matches in nine stadiums across eight cities with the winner of the tournament qualifying for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, now an annual precursor to the biggest show on the planet, the FIFA World Cup. (Argentina Look to Light Up Copa America)
Starting in 1916 and considered one of the most widely viewed sporting events in the world, the 2015 edition is expected to showcase to the world the talents of two of the biggest footballing stars on the planet at the moment, Lionel Messi of Argentina and Brazilian Neymar. (Neymar Leads Resurgent Brazil at Copa America)
But the tournaments long history has shown time and time again that being the best player on the planet is no guarantee that you will lead your country to victory in the final.
The favorites
1. Argentina
© AFP
Argentina, currently ranked third in FIFA's World Rankings are the bookmakers' favorite to win. With a sixth coach in charge in the last 11 years continuity is not something the Albiceleste are really familiar with.
It's also been 22 years since they last lifted the trophy courtesy Gabriel Batistuta's double strike in a 2-1 win against Mexico in 1993. In between they suffered back-to-back losses in the 2004 and 2007 finals, both to arch rivals Brazil. (Messi Aims to Fill Trophy Void at Copa America)
However what Argentina do have is the best player in the world at the moment in Lionel Messi. He's scored 45 goals in 97 international games, but he's never really showed his Barcelona form in the colors of Argentina. There have been moments of brilliance like we saw at last year's FIFA World Cup in Brazil and if he is to replace Diego Maradona as his country's greatest footballer, then there's no better time to start than in a tournament his country has won 14 times.
The supporting cast for the two time World Champions isn't too bad either with Carlos Tevez finally back after a three year absence.
And there's also Sergio Aguerro, Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain, Javier Pastore, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Javier Mascherano and Pablo Zabaleta.
Gerardo Martino, the man in charge has won five of his seven games in charge since taking over in August last year. He now has the perfect opportunity to restore his reputation that took a bit of a beating from his failure to bring any silverware to Catalan Giants FC Barcelona in 2013-2014
Argentina are in Group B where they will take on Uruguay, Paraguay and Copa America debutantes Jamaica
2. Brazil
© AP
Brazil, the bookmakers second favorite are currently ranked fifth in the World. Under new coach Dunga, the Selecao are unbeaten under their former World Cup winning Captain in nine games since back-to-back losses at last year's FIFA World Cup including a 7-1 thrashing to eventually World Cup winners Germany in the semi-final. In those nine games, they've scored 20 goals and conceded just two.
But Brazil's relationship with the Copa America has been a rather strange one. They won their first title in 1919 and managed another two wins till 1949 with all three coming on home soil. Surprisingly during the time they were dominating World Football with three World titles in the space of 12 years, they never managed to win the Copa America even once. It actually took them 40 years to go from title number three to title number four which ironically was also on home soil. Since then however, they have been the most successful side in the competition winning five of the last 10 titles.
Neymar will once again lead the attack, just like he did at last year's World Cup. But the supporting cast has changed a fair bit. David Luiz is unfortunately still around. But there has been an injection of fresh blood in the form of Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho, Hoffenheim's Roberto Firmino and Shakhtar Donetsk's Douglas Costa.
The once forgotten Robinho whose been a Copa America winner in 2007 is back as well and looking to add to his 96 international caps.
Dunga, who twice won the Copa America as a player, is back for his second spell in charge of the five time World Champions. His first spell had ended in a quarter-final loss to Holland at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. But by then he had led them to an 8th Copa America title in 2007, the last time they lifted the trophy.
The 51-year-old wasn't a popular choice for manager and his future as coach will largely depend on where his side finish in the tournament. Remember, finishing second in Brazil is as good as finishing last for the football crazy country
Brazil will have to negotiate a rather tricky Group C involving themselves, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela
3. Chile
Hosts Chile, ranked 19th in FIFA's rankings, will start as third favorites even though they've never won the tournament. 2015 will be the seventh time they will play hosts and they have done rather well when the tournament has been played in their backyard, finishing in the top four every time. (Alexis Sanchez Ready to Fire Chile to Copa America Glory)
Their hopes lie largely on the shoulders of Juventus' Arturo Vidal and Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez, two players who come into the tournament with a solid season of European Football behind them.
Vidal, a tough tackling mid-fielder scored eight goals in 45 games for the Italian Giants who did the double of Serie A and Coppa Italia for only the third time in their history and first since 1995, while forward Alexis Sanchez returns home on the back of great first season with English Premier League side Arsenal where he scored 25 goals in 52 games, helping his side lift a record breaking 12th FA Cup.
Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will be another one to watch. Chile's most capped international was one of the stars of the 2014 World Cup where his performances earned him transfer from Real Sociedad to FC Barcelona, winning a treble in his first season and the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for the keeper with the best goals-to-game ratio.
Jorge Sampaoli, the man who led them to the Round of 16 twelve months ago at the World Cup is still very much in charge, but he's managed to win just five of his 10 games since that defeat to Brazil.
Nineteen times in the history of the Copa America has the host nation gone on to win the trophy, but it's only been done twice since 1989. So clearly, history may not be on Chile's side.
The hosts have a relatively easy Group A to negotiate along with Mexico, Ecuador and Bolivia.
4. Colombia
© AFP
Colombia, the only team to break the hegemony of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil at the Copa America in the last 25 years start as fourth favorites, coincidentally they are currently fourth in the FIFA World Rankings.
Their only title till date came in 2001 as hosts when Argentina withdrew from the competition citing security concerns.
Since last year's quarter-final exit at World Cup to Brazil, the Colombians have lost just once in eight games, a 1-0 loss to Brazil in Miami.
Having missed last year's World Cup with an injury Radamel Falcao will be keen to show the footballing world that he's still among the best strikers in the World despite managing just four goals in 26 games in an ill-fated spell at Manchester United. Colombia's record goal-scorer who scored twice at the 2011 edition will be hoping to prove to future suitors that he still has what it takes to play at the top level.
Then there's Jackson Martinez, another Colombian sharp-shooter whose looking to increase his market value with some scintillating performances. At 23, the FC Porto striker has scored 10 goals in 31 internationals and comes to Chile on the back of 32 goals in 41 games for the Portuguese side.
James Rodriguez, Golden Boot winner at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and for many the player of that tournament will once again be the one to watch especially if the Colombians start to celebrate goals just like they did 12 months ago in Brazil.
Jose Pekerman, the man in charge of Los Cafeteros or the Coffee Makers since 2012 and having extended his contract till 2018 is still considered by many as one of the best international coaches in the World having led Argentine to three FIFA U-20 World Cup titles.
Colombia will cross paths once again with old nemesis Brazil in Group C along with Peru and Venezuela.
5. Uruguay
© AFP
Defending Champions Uruguay will start as fifth among the favorites despite a FIFA World Ranking of eigth. They are the most successful team in the history of the tournament with 15 titles and their clash against Group B favorites Argentina on 16th June will be the 181st international between the two sides, the most between two countries.
But if La Celeste are to win back-to-back titles for only the third time in their history, they will have to do it without their two key players from four years ago.
Diego Forlan, who scored twice in the 3-0 win against Paraguay in the final in Buenos Aires, announced his retirement from international football in March this year, while his partner-in-crime Luis Suarez, who scored four goals in Argentina and won the Player of the Tournament is serving a nine match international ban for his biting incident at last year's World Cup.
They still have solidity at the back in the form of skipper Diego Godin and goal keeper Fernando Muslera and scoring goals shouldn't be a problem for Edinson Cavani. But the experience and 'bite' that Suarez would have brought will certainly be missed.
Oscar Tabarez, the man in charge and the longest serving international coach at the tournament given that he's been in charge of Uruguay since 2006 will have his task cut out if his side are to win back-to-back titles for the first time since the 1920s.
Apart from Argentina, Uruguay will also play 2011 runners-up Paraguay and Reggae Boyz Jamaica.