SANTIAGO: Hosts Chile will kick off the 44th edition of the Copa America today aiming to end one of the longest-running and most embarrassing records in South American football.
In 36 attempts spanning 99 years, Chile have never won the continent’s top competition. They have finished runners-up four times and in third place on a further five occasions.
It is a statistic that rankles with Chileans. Even Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru -- hardly footballing powerhouses -- have at least one Copa trophy to their name.
“It’s a big challenge for us all,” captain and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo said on Tuesday ahead of their opener against Ecuador in Santiago’s national stadium.
“But in the Copa America, the real pressure is on the teams that have lifted the trophy most often.”
Those teams include Brazil and Argentina, who will start the three-week tournament as favourites.
Dunga’s Brazil have won their last nine matches and will make it 10 if they beat Honduras in Porto Alegre on Wednesday in their final warm-up game before they head to Chile.
They have conceded just two goals in those games and beaten Argentina, Chile, Colombia and France. Although all friendlies, the results have gone some way to erasing the traumatic memory of their 7-1 humiliation by Germany at last year’s World Cup.
They have conceded just two goals in those games and beaten Argentina, Chile, Colombia and France. Although all friendlies, the results have gone some way to erasing the traumatic memory of their 7-1 humiliation by Germany at last year’s World Cup.
Neymar will spearhead Brazil’s attack after helping Barcelona win the treble and, although left back Marcelo and midfielder Luiz Gustavo have withdrawn through injury, they boast a formidable squad anchored by Paris Saint Germain team mates David Luiz and Thiago Silva.
The Brazilians open their campaign against Peru in the southern city of Temuco on Sunday before moving north to Santiago for a mouth-watering clash with Colombia -- a repeat of last year’s stormy World Cup quarter-final.
If the groups turn out as expected, Brazil will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, the absence of Luis Suarez is casting a shadow over Uruguay’s Copa America preparations but the reigning champions are in defiant mood as they attempt to defend their crown without the suspended Barcelona star.
Suarez remains sidelined from international football as he serves the final few games of his ban for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder at the World Cup last year.
The 28-year-old’s suspension deprives Uruguay of one of the most potent attackers in world football, a talismanic presence who has repeatedly ridden to the rescue of La Celeste, whether it be by fair means or foul.
Uruguay captain Diego Godin acknowledged that Suarez was a “fundamental” part of the national team, but has urged the squad to “forget” the striker as they prepare to face Group B rivals Argentina, Paraguay and Jamaica.
“I’m not going to lie, the absence of Luis is important,” Godin said. “He’s a leader both on and off the field and he has been in spectacular form.”
Nevertheless Godin believes Uruguay’s habit of punching above their weight -- they have won more Copa America titles than any other side -- gives them grounds for confidence in Chile.
“We’re in good form, we’ve got a great team and a great squad. We’re confident,” Godin said.
Much has changed since Uruguay showed that their run to the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup was no fluke by going on to win the 2011 Copa America in Argentina.
One of the heroes of 2011, veteran striker Diego Forlan, retired in March. Former captain Diego Lugano is also gone, having not been selected since the World Cup last year.
Coach Oscar Tabarez has also been given another headache with the injury to Juventus defender Martin Caceres.
Tabarez believes that Group B rivals Argentina will represent the strongest opposition in Chile.
“Argentina are potentially in the best shape,” said Tabarez, who masterminded Uruguay’s quarter-final upset of their neighbours four years ago.
Uruguay’s other first round opponents are Paraguay and Jamaica, who along with Mexico are one of two teams from the CONCACAF region invited to participate in this year’s tournament. With Suarez banned and Forlan retired, Uruguay will look to Paris Saint-Germain star Edinson Cavani to provide the goalscoring threat in attack.
Cavani heads to Chile after a treble-winning season in France, relaxed about the prospect of shouldering the attacking burden of his team.
The wiry 28-year-old striker said he had discussed the Copa America with Suarez when the two teammates’ paths crossed in the Champions League earlier this year.
“We talked about it after the match,” Cavani said.
“I told him - ‘Great, now Edi will have to do it all’. And we laughed -- that’s the only thing you can do.
“These things happen in football and it’s just turned out that I’m going to have to take responsibility.”
AFP
