Posted on June 28 2011 by Caitlin Carver

Copa America 2011 Preview — Brazil bidding for a fifth title

The 0 Copa America is set to get underway in a mere few days and promises to bring the best of South American soccer to soccer fans worldwide in the month of July. Running from July -4, Copa America will showcase the delightfully skilful Brazilians, who are the defending champions; the supernatural Messi-inspired Argentineans; the talented Mexicans, who are flush off a sixth CONCACAF Gold Cup title; and the ambitious Uruguayans, who are after a memorable 00 World Cup run, amongst many others.

Defending champions Brazil are the team to beat in this tournament having won four titles in a row; therefore, the overriding question ahead of the 0 Copa America is: can anyone stop the Brazilians?

Brazil goes into the tournament as one of two favourites to win the trophy again. Their biggest threat for the title: a Messi-inspired Argentina.

Odds on powerhouse Brazil winning a fifth title are tighter than previously because two factors go that stand against them or, to put it another way, make it more difficult a) they will be without some of their star players such as Kaka, Felipe Melo, Luis Fabiano, Michel Bastos, Gilberto Silva, Nilmar, to name a few, and b) this year Argentina is hosting the Copa America, giving the host nation and overwhelming advantage.

Before Brazil can look ahead to Argentina it needs to navigate a successful path through Group action but let’s face it with Venezuela, Ecuador and Paraguay in Group B they should advance without a hitch.

Argentina suffered numerous disappointments in recent years in this competition; surprisingly so, given the talent and depth contained within their national team. Home advantage is going to be huge towards putting past disappointments behind, indeed; but then again, the players can’t simply bank on home advantage. One wonders whether the pressure and expectation placed on them will be too much. Argentina falls into Group A with Bolvia, dangerous floaters Costa Rica and Colombia.

Mexico is after beating the USA 4- in the Gold Cup final, a result that saw them surge in the FIFA rankings and bolstered their confidence ahead of this competition. Mexico is definitely a team to watch in this competition as it tries to shake things up in Group C. 

Falling into the same group as Mexico is Uruguay, a side that stunned the world in South Africa. Uruguay enjoyed a memorable run at the 00 World Cup wherein they reached the semi-finals before falling to the eventual champions Spain. As things currently stand, Group C appears to be wide open, shaped to be the most interesting group of the competition.

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