The Copa America Centenario kicks off when USA take on Colombia in a few hours, and the 2016 edition of the South American football extravaganza promises to be a blockbuster tournament, with sides like Argentina heavily favoured to win.
Here are our expert’s picks, noting the finalists, the winners and the Golden Boot winner:
Rohith Nair
Finalists:
Argentina have what it takes to go all the way this time. Finalists at the World Cup and last year's Copa America, they have taken this tournament very seriously and are hungry for a trophy, naming a strong squad, especially in attack. They will reach the quarter-finals easily where they could face Mexico or Uruguay. Beat either of them and the trophy is virtually theirs.
Golden Boot:
With Neymar absent for Brazil and Luis Suarez's injury possibly ruling him out for the group stages, one can't bet against Lionel Messi scooping the Golden Boot. The three forwards have set and broken goalscoring records in the past two seasons and Messi will be key to Argentina's success.
Amartojit Basu
Finalists:
Argentina seem to have the most going on up front and what seems to be forgotten is that Sergio Aguero, due to his stop-start season for Manchester City is probably the most well rested big name on this team. He will probably come off the bench in the group stages but make the forward role his own by the time the knockouts roll around. He will single-handedly destroy Brazil in the final. This Copa will have its Aguerooooo moment.
Brazil will decimate their way through an easy group and are too talented to lose in the knockouts till they meet the Argentinian juggernaut. Coutinho to star for them, as he tries to show Klopp that he is the star the Liverpool team should be built around.
Golden Boot:
Two words. Sergio Aguero. He will be chomping at the bit to score a few after a down season with Manchester City. The man is one of the best forwards in the world and will use this tournament to remind the world just that. Need I say more. Kun for the win.
Vinay Sundar
Finalists:
With a squad as talented as theirs, Argentina are definitely the favourites and should, ideally, walk this tournament. However, as a team, they are very dependent on Lionel Messi, and with the Barcelona man currently standing trial for tax evasion, it has to be seen how focused he is. I would go with Brazil to be the team that wins the tournament.
A solid defence and workmanlike midfield will help players like Coutinho and Willian showcase their attacking talent. Their second era under Dunga hasn't gone well so far, but an experimental team under a defensive manager will do well in this tournament, and will play with a chip on their shoulders, eager to prove that they can achieve success without their talisman, Neymar.
Golden Boot:
The Golden Boot winner generally comes from the team that makes the finals, but with Brazil missing Neymar, Sergio Aguero will be the pick for plundering in the most goals, especially given that Argentina face the likes of Bolivia and Panama in the group stages.
Khushwant Ramesh
Finalists:
It’s only been one year since the last Copa America, and teams like Brazil and Uruguay have weakened further. Thus, it’s quite likely that Chile and Argentina will make the finals yet again, although the Albiceleste will probably win out over La Roja since Chile don’t have the cushion of home advantage this time around.
Leo Messi is incredibly hungry to break his international duck and should inspire what is the best squad in the tournament in terms of individual quality.
Golden Boot:
Given all the stars in the tournament, the Golden Boot could be one by anyone of the numerous superstars. Alexis Sanchez is my pick, since the Arsenal star ended the club season on a high note and will be hungry to finish a disappointing season on a high. Chile have built their side around Sanchez, unlike most of his competitors who feature other stars as well, which ought to enable Sanchez to thrive, in comparison.
Sunaadh Sagar
Finalists:
One look at the Copa America bracket, and it’s clear that Argentina face an easy path to the finals, with only Colombia bringing any possible challenge to the Albiceleste. However, I’m going for Argentina’s hoodoo with Messi to continue yet again. Brazil, Chile and Uruguay are the other contenders and I’m plumping for Luis Suarez’s side to be the other finalists and eventual winners.
The Charruas have fantastic options like Godin & Jimenez in defence with Suarez and Cavani in attack – cup competitions favour the extreme ends of the pitch, and I’m opting for a hungry Suarez, who Uruguay might miss in the group stages, to win his first major international trophy and deny his Barcelona teammate.
Golden Boot:
This is a bit of a surprise pick, but I’m opting for Brazilian striker, Jonas, to pick up the golden boot. While there are doubts about the Selecao going far, the Benfica man should plunder in the goals against the likes of Haiti, Peru and Ecuador in the group stages.
Ashwin Hanagudu
Finalists:
My pick for the tournament is going to be Argentina purely based on their attacking strength. Also, although they have last year’s Copa champions Chile in their group, if they do top their group, they will most likely end up meeting Mexico in the quarterfinals. Blessed with abundant attacking talent, the Albiceleste have sent out an almost full-strength squad and they will be hopeful of going one step better this year.
Their opponent in the finals will most likely be Brazil. Although Carlos Dunga’s side have not been at their best in the recent past, they seem to be a shrewd pick considering the fact that they might face only Uruguay among the established sides en route to the final.
Golden Boot:
My pick for the golden boot is Brazil’s in form Benfica striker Jonas Goncalves Oliviera. The Selecao will be facing Haiti and Peru in the group stage and Jonas will have plenty of opportunities to score a bucket-load of goals.
Srihari
Finalists:
Given that the tournament is happening in the USA, where matches will largely be played in places where the temperature is on the higher side, teams with a solid defence and good stamina are likely to dominate.
Stamina and solid defence are two things that Chile stand for. Given that Chile have been able to hold onto their title for just one year, aside from the two or four years that is usually the case, they will want to retain the title they won at home. And that is why they are my picks for the tournament, if they aren't as flashy as the likes of Argentina.
Although Uruguay don't have a lot of creativity in midfield, their solid defence, based on two Atletico Madrid centre-backs and arguably the best striker in the tournament in Luis Suarez, they can surprise a few.
Golden Boot:
As far as the Copa America goes, Peru's Paolo Guerrero has been the byword for consistency. He has a hat-trick in each of the last two tournaments and has at least four goals in those two editions.
With 10 goals to his name already, the 32-year-old is hunting down the Copa America leading goal scorer, who has 17 goals, in addition to becoming Peru’s all-time leading goal-scorer. While it might be difficult for him to score the goals to get that record, if he keeps up his consistency, he can certainly claim the Golden Boot, especially with Peru playing Haiti in the group stage.
Rohit Viswanathan
Finalists:
I am going for a rematch of the 2015 final between Chile and Argentina and I am going for Chile to defend their title once again. Chile are a well-balanced team and their superstars like Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal will be looking to step up on the big stage again. Although Argentina are blessed with abundant attacking talent, they always seem to choke in the finals and I think Lionel Messi and co will suffer heartbreak once again in the finals.
Golden Boot:
My pick for the golden boot is 5 time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi. The Argentine superstar has had another stunning season for Barcelona, and I back him to be among the goals once again.
Vignesh Ananthasubramanian
Finalists:
Though I want Colombia to win the Copa America for James Rodriguez, I feel that Argentina will run away with the trophy. After losing in the finals to Chile in the last edition, Argentina has a squad that is capable of going all the way.
Golden Boot:
With the likes of Leo Messi, who according to me is the favourite to win the Golden boot, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel di Maria etc., Argentina probably has the best attack in the tournament and that makes them a strong contender to win the Copa America.
Davis James
Finalists:
Although most people would not rate them as high, I believe that Uruguay have the ability to go all the way and win the Copa America Centenario. Even though Uruguay might miss the services of their star striker Luis Suarez early on in the tournament, La Celeste could get through the group stages unscathed. Along with Uruguay making the finals, I am going with another dark horse as the finalist in defending champions, Chile. Although they lost their last two friendlies, Chile will be a completely different side once the tournament starts.
Golden Boot:
With Uruguay predicted to win the Copa America, I am going with world’s best forward currently, Luis Suarez, as the golden boot winner. There is a possibility that he might miss Uruguay’s first match against Mexico. However, this means that we can expect the Barcelona forward to make merry in the matches against Venezuela and Jamaica.
