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As with previous tournaments the 2007 Copa America has suffered from withdrawals of key
players. Brazil, for instance, will be without Kaka and Ronaldinho, whilst dark horses USA
decided to concentrate on the CONCACAF Gold Cup and named a much weaker squad to
Venezuela. With this in mind it's hard to look beyond Argentina when trying to find
potential winners. No withdrawals from Alfio Basile's squad means it's a who's who
of footballing talent.
Group A looks like it will be the closest run group, and hosts Venezuela will not have a better
chance of getting through to the quarter finals that this, and although Peru and Uruguay
have some decent attackers, it should still be pretty close.
Group B has the most quality. Brazil and Mexico could both challenge for the title, whilst
Chile and Ecuador will both prove trick opponents.
Argentina should stroll through Group C, but with the USA's squad missing the majority of its
stars, Paraguay have a great chance of finishing as runners up.
And remember, the two best 3rd placed teams from the group stages also make it through
to the quarter finals.
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| Group A |
| Venezuela |
| Uruguay |
| Peru |
| Bolivia |
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| Group B |
| Brazil |
| Chile |
| Mexico |
| Ecuador |
|
| Group C |
| Argentina |
| Paraguay |
| Colombia |
USA
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| Venezeula |
 |
| Population: |
26.5 million |
| Nickname: |
La Vinotinto (The Red Wine One) |
| FIFA Ranking: |
70 |
| Past Achievements: |
Copa America: 13 apps (first 1967), never past 1st round.
World Cup: never qualified. |
| Biggest win: |
Venezuela 6-0 Puerto Rico |
| Biggest defeat: |
Argentina 11-0 Venezuela |
| MD's Players to watch: |
Juan Arango (striker, Real Mallorca)
Jose Manual Rey (defender, AEK Larnaca)
Ricardo Paez (midfield, Mineros)
|
| Overview: |
The whipping boys of South American football in the 60s, 70s and 80s, and normally more
bothered about their baseball, but as late they've transformed into a relatively
competitive team. Mallorca's Arango is their best chance of a goal or two, and maybe home
advantage will see them break their 1st round hoodoo.
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| midfielddynamo Odds: |
50-1 |
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| Uruguay |
 |
| Population: |
3.5 million |
| Nickname: |
Los Charruas (People of Uruguay), La Celeste (The Sky Blue) |
| FIFA Ranking: |
23 |
| Past Achievements: |
Copa America: apps 39 (first 1916), winners 14 times.
World Cup: winners 2 times 1930/50
Olympics: 2 Golds 1924/28. |
| Biggest win: |
Uruguay 9-0 Bolivia |
| Biggest defeat: |
Uruguay 0-6 Argentina |
| MD's Players to watch: |
Pablo Garcia (midfield, Celta Vigo)
Diego Forlan (striker, Villareal)
Alvaro Recoba (striker, Internazionale)
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| Overview: |
A great history, but recent years have been a bit barren - they've not won the Copa for 12
years, and their world cup form has been pretty woeful. They should get through the group as
winners as the attacking pedigree of Garcia, Recoba and Forlan should prove too strong for
their group opponents, but they probably dont have enough in the locker to open up the
better teams.
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| midfielddynamo Odds: |
14-1 |
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| Peru |
 |
| Population: |
28.5 million |
| Nickname: |
La blanquirroja (the white and red one) |
| FIFA Ranking: |
71 |
| Past Achievements: |
Copa America: apps 27 (first 1927) winners 2 times.
World Cup: apps 4, best Quarter-finalists 1970. |
| Biggest win: |
Peru 9-0 Bolivia |
| Biggest defeat: |
Peru 0-7 Brazil |
| MD's Players to watch: |
Jefferson Farfan (striker, PSV)
Claudio Pizarro (striker, Chelsea)
Paulo Guerrero (striker, Hamburg)
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| Overview: |
Some great attacking options with Farfan, Pizarro, Guerreo and Solano but they lack
defensive qualities to succeed past the next stage. They've had 6 managers since 2000,
not exactly good for stability, and need to starting building for future, starting with
a decent performance at this Copa.
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| midfielddynamo Odds: |
30-1 |
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| Bolivia |
 |
| Population: |
9.0 million |
| Nickname: |
La Verde (The Green One) |
| FIFA Ranking: |
97 |
| Past Achievements: |
Copa America: apps 22 (first 1926), winners 1963. World Cup: apps 3. Never past 1st round. |
| Biggest win: |
Bolivia 7-0 Venezuela, Bolivia 9-2 Haiti |
| Biggest defeat: |
Peru 9-0 Bolivia, Brazil 10-1 Bolivia |
| MD's Players to watch: |
Juan Carlos Arce (striker, Corinthians)
Juan Manuel Pena (defender, Villareal)
Joselito Vaca (midfield, Blooming)
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| Overview: |
With the majority of the squad playing in Bolivia there's not too much experience of this
level of international competition. And despite some decent technical players have they
got the fire power to get through group ? We doubt it. In recent years Bolivia have tended
to try and bolster up their defensive side to quash the opposition goal threat, at the
expense of their attack. It will be interesting to see if one of our Copa heroes, coach
Erwin 'Platini' Sanchez, a fine attacking player in his day, will adopt a style more
in tune with his playing days.
But don't old your breath.
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| midfielddynamo Odds: |
50-1 |
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| Brazil |
 |
| Population: |
188.0 million |
| Nickname: |
A Selecao (The Selection) |
| FIFA Ranking: |
3 |
| Past Achievements: |
Copa America: apps 31 (first 1916), winners 7 times.
World Cup: apps 18, winners 5 times.
Olympics: silver 1984/88, bronze 1996 |
| Biggest win: |
Brazil 14-0 Nicaragua |
| Biggest defeat: |
Uruguay 6-0 Brazil |
| MD's Players to watch: |
Diego (midfield, Werder Bremen)
Daniel Alves (right back, Sevilla)
Robinho (striker, Real Madrid)
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| Overview: |
With many big stars staying away, due to alleged fatigue, Dunga has picked a mixture of
youth and experience. Still a strong squad, and technically more European than samba, but
with the likes of Diego, Daniel Alves and Robinho it should still be able to entertain
when need be. One of the favourites as always, and the loss of Ronaldinho and Kaka may
work in their favour as their fringe players should be hungry to show their worth.
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| midfielddynamo Odds: |
4-1 |
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| Chile |
 |
| Population: |
16.5 million |
| Nickname: |
La Roja (The Red One) |
| FIFA Ranking: |
53 |
| Past Achievements: |
Copa America: apps 34 (first 1916), runners-up 4 times.
World Cup: apps 7, best 3rd place 1962. |
| Biggest win: |
Chile 7-0 Venezuela |
| Biggest defeat: |
Brazil 7-0 Chile |
| MD's Players to watch: |
Matias Fernandez (midfield/forward, Villareal)
Jorge Vargas (defender, Red Bull Salzburg)
Pablo Contreras (defender, Celta Vigo)
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| Overview: |
With a very youthful team (over 90% didn't play in the last Copa), Chile will find it hard
to get through a group containing Brazil and Mexico. The team is built to qualify for the 2010
World Cup, and with quality players such as Claudio Maldonado and Jorge 'the wizard'
Valdivia likely to be missing, coach Nelson Acosta is likely to field a defensive team that
play on the counter, relying on 2006 South American Footballer of the Year Matias Fernandez
and Liverpool's Mark Gonzalez to cause the opposition some problems.
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| midfielddynamo Odds: |
30-1 |
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| Mexico |
 |
| Population: |
108.5 million |
| Nickname: |
El Tri (El Tricolor) |
| FIFA Ranking: |
26 |
| Past Achievements: |
Copa America: apps 6 (first 1993), runners-up 2 times 1993/2001.
World Cup: apps 13, best quarter-finals 1970/86.
CONCACAF winners 4 times.
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| Biggest win: |
Mexico 13-0 Bahamas |
| Biggest defeat: |
England 8-0 Mexico |
| MD's Players to watch: |
Rafael Marquez (defender, Barcelona)
Andres Guardado (winger, Atlas)
Cuauhtemoc Blanco (midfield/striker, Chicago Fire)
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| Overview: |
Quite an aging team, but one that during its peak was ranked 4th in the world. Maybe
the 2007 Copa could be its swansong for many. A good 2007 so far, beating group rivals
Ecuador 4-2 in March, although they were disappointed to lose the final of the 2007
CONCACAF Gold Cup to the USA, a tournament coach Hugo Sanchez was predicting they'd win.
A team full of decent attacking options, with wonderkid Andres Guardado and young Olympiakos
striker Nery Castillo supported by that wily old fox Cuauhtemoc Blanco, now 34 but still
dangerous. With those sort of players they're always good for a few goals, and a good bet
for the semi finals, but tired legs may be their downfall as the tournament progresses.
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| midfielddynamo Odds: |
9-1 |
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| Ecuador |
 |
| Population: |
13.5 million |
| Nickname: |
La Tri (The Tricolor) |
| FIFA Ranking: |
30 |
| Past Achievements: |
Copa America: apps 23 (first 1939), best 4th place. World Cup: apps 2, best 2nd round 2006.
|
| Biggest win: |
Ecuador 6-0 Peru |
| Biggest defeat: |
Argentina 12-0 Ecuador |
| MD's Players to watch: |
Ulises de la Cruz (defender, Reading)
Antonio Valencia (midfield, Villareal)
Edison Mendez (midfield, PSV)
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| Overview: |
In days gone by Ecuador were an easy touch, but since the millenium things have changed,
and the world's 30th best team (according to FIFA) are now capable of giving the
established footballing powers a game. Coach Luis Suarez is tactically quite negative,
with a more defensive unit who rely on soaking up pressure and countering. They really need
to win the opener against Chile to have any chance of qualifying and then hope that they
can frustate the attacking flair of Brazil and Mexico.
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| midfielddynamo Odds: |
25-1 |
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| Argentina |
 |
| Population: |
40.5 million |
| Nickname: |
Albicelestes ("White and Sky blue") |
| FIFA Ranking: |
5 |
| Past Achievements: |
Copa America: apps 37 (first 1916), winners 14 times.
World Cup: apps 14, winners 2 times.
Olympics: Gold 2004, Silver 1928/96 |
| Biggest win: |
Argentina 12-0 Ecuador |
| Biggest defeat: |
Czechoslavakia 6-1 Argentina, Uruguay 5-0 Argentina, Argentina 0-5 Columbia |
| MD's Players to watch: |
Lionel Messi (striker, Barcelona)
Carlos Tevez (striker, West Ham)
Juan Roman Riquelme (midfield, Boca Juniors)
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| Overview: |
A squad with lots of experience and even more talent for a tournament that they intend to
take very seriously. Goals can come from literally anywhere, with Crespo, Tevez and Messi
already known to the world, but with Diego Milito and Boca star Rodrigo Palacio also
capable of joining them. And behind them is a midfield to die for, an array of talent
again featuring the rejuvenated Juan Roman Riquelme and Juan Sebastian Veron. Alfio Basile's
biggest task is surely going to be keeping everyone happy.
Strong Favourites. And rightly so in our opinion.
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| midfielddynamo Odds: |
3-1F |
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| Paraguay |
 |
| Population: |
6.5 million |
| Nickname: |
La Albirroja (White and red) |
| FIFA Ranking: |
35 |
| Past Achievements: |
Copa America: apps 32 (first 1930), winners 2 times.
World Cup: apps 7, best 2nd round. |
| Biggest win: |
Paraguay 7-0 Bolivia |
| Biggest defeat: |
Argentina 8-0 Paraguay |
| MD's Players to watch: |
Roque Santa Cruz (striker, Bayern Munich)
Salvador Cabanas (striker, Club America)
Oscar Cardozo (striker, Benfica)
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| Overview: |
A resilient team, and Argentinian coach Gerardo Martino has instilled a never say die
attitude to their game. Expect them to flood the midfield against
Argentina to try and nullify their attacking options. They have some useful players of their
own up front and with the USA sending a depleted squad they are in with a great shout of getting
through the group, although it will be a big surprise if they progress any further.
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| midfielddynamo Odds: |
20-1 |
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| Colombia |
 |
| Population: |
41.0 million |
| Nickname: |
Los Cafeteros (the coffee makers) |
| FIFA Ranking: |
31 |
| Past Achievements: |
Copa America: apps 17 (first 1945), winners once.
World Cup: apps 4, best round 2. |
| Biggest win: |
Argentina 0-5 Colombia |
| Biggest defeat: |
Yugoslavia 5-0 Colombia |
| MD's Players to watch: |
Ivan Cordoba (defender, Internazionale)
John Viafara (midfield, Southampton)
David Ferreira (midfield, Atletico Paranaense)
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| Overview: |
With the glory years of Valderamma, Rincon and co now well behind them, Colombia have a lot of
catching up to do. Having not qualified for last 2 World Cups, much of the same will
continue in this competition. Their main hopes were pinned on Juan Pablo Angel
netting some much needed goals, but with him missing you wonder where the goals
will come from.
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| midfielddynamo Odds: |
50-1 |
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| USA |
 |
| Population: |
301.0 million |
| Nickname: |
Yanks, Nats, The Stars & Stripes |
| FIFA Ranking: |
16 |
| Past Achievements: |
Copa America: apps 2 (first 1993), best finish 4th place.
World Cup: apps 8, best semi-finals. |
| Biggest win: |
USA 8-1 Cayman Islands, USA 7-0 El Salvador, USA 7-0 Barbados. |
| Biggest defeat: |
Norway 11-0 USA |
| MD's Players to watch: |
Jonathan Bornstein (defender, Chivas USA)
Taylor Twellman (striker, New England Revolution )
Lee Nguyen (midfield, PSV)
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| Overview: |
Invitee and possible party pooper, coach Bob Bradley has created a very well organized unit,
as shown in the CONCACAF Gold Cup victory over Mexico. However, with that tournament
having only just finished as the Copa prepares to start, Bradley is sending a much less
experienced squad down to Venezuela, and a possible dark-horse for the Copa America
will now consider the tournament a great success if they could reach the semi-finals.
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| midfielddynamo Odds: |
25-1 |
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