On the back of strong World Cup showings in South Africa for Chile and Uruguay, there are high expectations for both teams. Peru will be hoping to show massive improvement on any recent international outing and curiously Mexico, an invited nation but no stranger to the competition, will be fielding their U22 side in this Copa America.
Uruguay to Continue on a High
Unless there is just some sort of bizarre implosion in coach Óscar Tabárez’s camp it is difficult to see beyond Uruguay, with the obvious “dark horse” and “outsider” tag, qualifying top of Group C. Ranked No.7 in the World and basing their team around the maturity of the captain Diego Lugano, the lethal striking prowess of Diego Forlan and the mercurial talent of Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, Uruguay will be hoping to add to their record tally of 14 titles as champions of this competition.
Uruguay’s last title in this competition came in 1995 after which came a dip in fortunes, but we can safely say that things are back on track and if everything ticks, this nation has a good record against Peru and Chile and should feel comfortable against the relative inexperience of the Mexicans.
Here’s hoping that the young Ajax midfielder, Nicolas Lodeiro can keep his calm and make his mark in this tournament just as he did in the playoff games versus Costa Rica that took Uruguay to South Africa.
Chile Without Bielsa
With Marcelo Bielsa resigning as the coach of the Chilean national side after a considerably successful tenure in charge, the Chilean FA appointed another Argentine in Claudio Borghi. Inexperienced at this level and perhaps prone to being overly defensive there is a very real fear that Borghi may not possess the tactical nous to adapt a thoroughly attacking side to his far more defensive template.
To criticize Borghi alone would be to overlook the capabilities of the team he has inherited though, and with the likes of Matias Fernandez and Humberto Suazo this team is strong. Chile, lest we forget, has never lifted the Copa America, an unfortunate record the nation shares with Ecuador and Venezuela and the country is crying out for this blot on their footballing annals to be erased.
Is the Peru side Improving?
One desperately hopes so. Having finished last in the South American Qualifiers for South Africa 2010 there has been a great deal of soul-searching within the Peru camp and a lot of questions have been asked of their senior players such as Francisco Pizarro, Jefferson Farfan and Paolo Guerrero.
The highly qualified Uruguayan coach Sergio Markarián has stepped into the fold and has been charged with lifting Peruvian football out of the doldrums. Markarián will be expected to put in a respectable showing in the Copa America and of course lead the side to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, something they have failed to do since 1982.
While there is now plenty of belief, Peru’s record versus Uruguay is not great and the traditional rivalry with Chile (geo-political reasons surrounding the country’s southern border) are certain to make an appearance. Peru last won the tournament in 1975 and going the full distance this time around would be on a wing and a prayer.
Mexico Brings its U22 Team
Luis Fernando Tena, Mexico’s U22 team coach has been making a song and dance about the fact that his young players are not to be scoffed at in this Copa America. And he has a point; the vast majority is Mexico-based, knows one another and recently held the Colombian national side to a goalless draw in a friendly in Pereira, Colombia.
The team will be anchored by the veteran Rafael Marquez, formerly of Barcelona and now of Morelia, Mexico and will give youngsters the chance to test their wits and skills against seasoned international professionals. This is a chance for the likes of Giovanni Dos Santos to step up and justify a further call up to the senior squad.
Richard McColl - I am a freelance writer from deepest darkest London but for the past 10 years or so I have been maintaining my extended "writing break" in ...
