While most teams get to keep their crown for four years, Chile’s maiden triumph in the Copa America in 2015 will last only for a year as the Copa America celebrates its 100th anniversary with a tournament in the USA featuring 16 teams.
With the tournament taking place in North America, the chance of a couple of upset victories for teams from the continent shouldn’t be ruled out. But as far as the tournament goes, the contenders will largely be the usual suspects.
Here are the 5 teams who will be the strongest contenders for Copa America 2016.
5) Brazil
The loss of Neymar, who will be representing Brazil in the Olympics is certainly a huge blow to Brazil’s chances of winning their ninth Copa America but the return of the prodigal son, Kaka is a huge boost, especially after an impressive season at Orlando City in the MLS. With Philippe Coutinho, Willian and Lucas Moura also occupying the attacking midfield positions, they certainly won’t be short of creative players.
While it is true that they have struggled to find a striker to adequately lead the line, not for the lack of trying, they still have Hulk and Santos striker Gabriel, who is in good form. The addition of Lucas gives them pace on the flanks while Kaka provides them with an experienced head in attacking midfield.
The lack of a true goalscorer might come back to haunt Brazil but the fact that they have plenty of attacking midfielders who can chip in with goals should help them but Dunga’s defensive tactics and preference for two defensive midfielders means they are unlikely to be especially creative.
Although Brazil are usually not renowned for their defence, in Marquinhos and Miranda form a fantastic centre-back pairing and they have good full backs in Dani Alves and Filípe Luís and behind them is the keeper with the most number of penalty saves in La Liga history, Diego Alves. And they will rely on tight defence to give them a chance against teams with much better attacks than theirs.
4) Colombia
Colombia might not be the most fashionable side in the tournament but Los Cafeteros shouldn’t be taken lightly. They have a strong spine to their side and all they need is for a few things to go their way like it did for Chile in the last tournament and they will be in line for their second Copa America title.
In David Ospina, Cristián Zapata, Juan Cuadrado, James Rodriguez and Carlos Bacca, they have the nucleus of a side that has little weakness. While it is true that their central midfielders are neither especially flashy or great defensively, they still have a potent attack and a strong defence that can help them go deep into the tournament.
While they disappointed in last year’s tournament, their recent form coming into the Copa America Centenario is impressive as they beat Bolivia and Ecuador in March’s World Cup qualifying matches. With a settled side and one of the world’s finest attackers in James, they will be looking to make a few upsets in the tournament.
3) Uruguay
With arguably the second-best attack in the tournament behind Argentina, Uruguay certainly have more than enough firepower to claim their 16th Copa America title but they will need to have their wits about them if they have to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their first Copa America title in USA.
Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani up front ensures that they won’t struggle for goals in the tournament and the presence of Atletico Madrid’s central defensive duo, Jose Giménez and Diego Godín ensures they have a solid platform to build on as well.
The real problem for Uruguay isn’t up front or in defence but in midfield where they have plenty of destroyers but not too many creators. The likes of Arévalo Rios and Matías Corujo provide them plenty of graft but apart from Middlesbrough’s Gastón Ramírez, they don’t have that many creative players who can carve open the opposition. And that is what is likely to hold them back against the likes of Chile, who have an impressive midfield.
2) Chile
As the defending champions of the Copa America, there will be plenty of pressure on Chile to perform and with the most settled side of all the teams, they will be hoping to retain the crown they claimed by beating Argentina in Chile.
In goal is arguably the best keeper in the tournament and in front of him is a defence who know exactly what their duties are. While it is true that the defence is a year older, they are also more experienced and have all the attributes to contain any attack.
Midfield is where the battle is won as far as La Roja are concerned and with Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal forming an integral part of it, they have a stable platform to build devastating attacks. While they don’t have the same firepower up front as their opponents in their opening game of the tournament, Argentina, they have street-smart strikers, who are a handful on their day.
1) Argentina
For some time now, Argentina have had the best attack in the world, yet they have failed to claim a major trophy since Copa America 1993. Only Uruguay have won more Copa Americas than La Albiceleste and they came closer than they have ever come of late in 2015 when they lost to Chile in the final.
With the best squad in the tournament and the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Ángel Di María and Gonzalo Higuaín, they won’t be short of goals or entertainment but that has never really been the problem for Argentina.
Instead it is the defence that has always been their Achilles’ Heel and will again be their weakest link in the upcoming tournament where they will go in as firm favourites despite their trophy-less run for 23 years. But with Sergio Romero as their first-choice goalkeeper and the likes of Ramiro Funes Mori, Jonathan Maidana and Gabriel Mercado in defence, they will need be on their game if they are to claim the title.
