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Today, fourteen South American sides, along with two American invitees descend on Venezuela for the 42nd Copa America. Nine stadiums, mainly situated in the north of the country, play host to the tournament for the first time; running through to the final on July 15.
The teams are split into three groups of four, with the top two teams from each group joined by the best two third place teams in the quarter finals.

Group A
The first group houses the hosts Venezuela, hoping the reach the second stage of the tournament for the first time in their history. Despite their previous record in the competition, optimism is high within the country, with Juan Arango of RCD Mallorca in Spain the man carrying much of the nation’s weight on his shoulders.

They will open their campaign against Bolivia; current favourites to prop up Group A. Even with former star player Erwin Sanchez as their coach, there is a distinct lack of quality throughout their side which will see them succumb to the inevitable first round exit that has characterised their last three Copa America campaigns.

Fourteen time winners Uruguay will be most pundits’ choice to top Group A. Having reached at least the semi-final stage in the last three competitions and boasting such well known players as Alvaro Recoba, Diego Forlan and Carlos Diogo, they are certain to progress to the quarter finals this time around.

Uruguay open the competition on June 26, against the consistent performers from Peru, who have reached the quarter final stage for three tournaments running. They boast a solid team, propped up by their first class striking partnership of Hamburg’s Jose Paolo Guerrero and new Chelsea recruit Claudio Pizarro, which always guarantees them goals, however many they may concede at the other end.

Likely order: Uruguay, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia

Group B
Tournament second favourites Brazil will expect to top the second group. They will have to do so, however, without the presence of three of their four pronged attack from last years World Cup. In the absence of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka, Robinho will be partnered in attack by CSKA Moscow striker Wagner Love, with his former Santos teammate Diego, and new Manchester United recruit Anderson providing the creative input from midfield.

Brazil’s first opponents will be Mexico, who will be looking to build on their impressive showing in last years World Cup. Having performed strongly in the lead up to the tournament they come into it in good form and would hope to at least make the quarter-finals.

Their chances of doing so may however rest on the form of Chile, who have undergone somewhat of a resurgence over the last year or so. Several impressive friendly results, including a recent draw with Argentina seem to put them in good stead for an excellent showing in Venezuela, orchestrated by Villarreal’s January recruit Matias Fernandez.

Ecuador surprised many at last year’s World Cup by reaching the second round, but a similar performance in the Copa America seems unlikely. Although they still have the nucleus of that side, they are without their all time top scorer Agustin Delgado and have struggled to find a similar calibre scorer to replace him.

Likely order: Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Ecuador