2011 Copa America: Power Rankings and Preview

The Confederations Cup is often considered the warm up for the World Cup. If this is true than The Gold Cup would be its equivalent in the Americas with Copa America being the big dance.

It was cute to watch these North American teams attempt to create a compelling and exciting football by having the best team dominate every game they play and their closest competitor disappoint horribly. But now it is time for them to step aside and let the big boys take the stage.

The Copa America is arguably the best football tournament outside of the World Cup. The talent pool that is constantly in this tournament features the best player in the game. Mix that with the fairly level playing field, legendary rivalries, and fanatic supporters and you get an atmosphere that you can't find any where else.

The 43rd edition of this tournament is hosted by Argentina and kicks off Friday. The nation will look to put behind them the destructive riots that took place after famed club River Plate were relegated. The final which is scheduled to take place in the teams stadium will be able to erase that dark day and replace it with one of glory for a whole nation.

12 teams from two confederations are taking part in this years competition. As usual, all the sides are growing closer and closer to the same level making it all the more difficult to find a clear favorite, but here is the rankings of all 12 as I see them.

12. Costa Rica

Group A

Schedule:

7/2 vs. Colombia

7/7 vs. Bolivia

7/11 vs. Argentina

Costa Rica is a late addition for the tournament. They have stepped in to assume the spot of Japan who was originally scheduled to be one of the two teams from a different conference. But after the devastating earthquakes in early May, the team was forced to pull out.

Costa Rica is coming off an unimpressive quarterfinal finish in the Gold Cup and it is not going to get any easier. Playing in the same group as the hosts is always a tall order, but who they play will not matter if they don't reverse the poor run of form they had last month.

With that said this is also a much different team from the one fielded in June. It is a very young team with only three players over the age of 25. Perhaps the youth can inject some vitality into the lackluster squad

Outside of Argentina, this group is one that second place is not out of the realm of possibility for them. Playing Colombia first is a good draw as they are probably the second best team in the group. Fresh and rested legs of the Costa Ricans could steal a point and put the rest of the tournament in their own hands.

Goals were hard to come by for the Ticos in June. With the exception of their game against Cuba, they scored only one goal in each game. The Copa America is always an exciting tournament to watch because goals are the lifelines for many South American countries. If Costa Rica wants a chance they will need to be able to hang with the potent offenses of their oppositions.

11. Ecuador

Group B

Schedule

7/3 vs. Paraguay

7/9 vs. Venezuela

7/13 vs. Brazil

Ecuador is always an interesting team to look at. Their record can be quite deceptive if you don't look closely and realize their home games are heavily skewed to their advantage. Their home field in Quito sits over 9,000 feet above sea level. The high altitude drains down opponents and makes even the best teams in the world look weary (evident by their 2010 World Cup qualification results).

But at sea level in Argentina they are far from comfortable. Their away record is dismal winless in their last eight games.

It does not help either that they are paired with tournament favorites Brazil and a Paraguay side on the rise.

The one bright spot on this squad is in Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia. The man who was brought to Old Trafford to replace C. Ronaldo has not quite lived up to that standard yet, but he has made head way. You can expect him to be the main playmaker of the team and be very involved in the attack.

If there is one thing he learned while playing under Sir Alex Ferguson it is how to always find a way to win when the odds are against you. He will have to use that strategy to help his side progress to the knockout round.

10. Bolivia

Group A

Schedule

7/1 vs. Argentina

7/7 vs. Costa Rica

7/10 vs. Colombia

Bolivia has had some of the least international success of any South American team in the tournament. They are coming into Argentina on a very poor run of form going 0-2-4 in recent competitions, tying Paraguay and lowly Guatemala.

The road does not get any easier for them as they open up against the hosts in La Plata amongst a crowd of tens of thousands of fans. However, this is a largely veteran squad with over 300 caps between them. They should be accustomed to pressure and know how to react.

But despite those 300 plus caps they have only 21 goals all together, which really begs the question of where the goals will come from.

Shakhtar forward Marcelo Martins will have to be relied on to get them. In 22 matches the 24 year old has eight goals. If he can continue to put them in the back of the net, they may be able to salvage some points against Costa Rica and Colombia and back their way into the knockout round.

Most likely the Green Ones will end their first game already looking at a mountain to climb.

9. Mexico

Group C

Schedule

7/4 vs. Chile

7/8 vs. Peru

7/12 vs. Uruguay

Less than a week ago Mexico blew by the US with fast swift attacking football to win the 2011 Gold Cup. They looked like a team on a mission for not only that trophy, but to prove they are a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Luckily for their South American opponents that team will not be at Copa America.

El Tri will be fielding a U-22 side plus five older players to get ready for next summers Olympics. Even then this is not the strongest team they could have. A scandal after a friendly match against Ecuador left eight players suspended for six months including the tournament.

The players have since been replaced, but the quality has not.

However, the Gold Cup star Giovanni Dos Santos still remains on the squad. His performance throughout the CONCACAF tournament earned him a world wide respect and lifted him to iconic status in his country.

This time he will have a little more difficulty navigating the field against these teams than he did against the US and others. But don't expect that to stop him from being great.

It was always a long-shot for this Mexico U-22 team to perform well in the tournament, but without the best that the age group has to offer, it has become almost impossible.

8. Venezuela

Group B

Schedule

7/3 vs. Brazil

7/9 vs. Ecuador

7/13 vs. Paraguay

Venezuela has only impressed once in this tournament when they hosted it in 2007. That year they placed first in their group and sixth overall. Before that they had never placed better than eleventh.

Coming into Argentina they have been on a fairly good run of form. Their last four games has seen them go 2-1-1 with that one loss coming to Spain. They beat and tied Mexico in that span as well. The same Mexican team that dismantled the USA.

They too are fielding a side with loads of experience in this tournament and with the national team in general. Goals will not be an issue as they have multiple players with double digit totals.

There real weakness will be in the back. They often perform poorly against sides that play with creativity and persistent movement, not good considering their competition. Their first game against Brazil will see the very best in the world and doing exactly that.

Veteran defender Jose Manuel Rey will be capitol for them to advance. At 36 the most capped player in the countries history will have to keep that back line organized and keep shots at a minimum.

But similar to Bolivia, bad luck has them playing a front runner making their chances at advancing unlikely from the start.

7. Peru

Group C

Schedule

7/4 vs. Uruguay

7/8 vs. Mexico

7/12 vs. Chile

Peru is a side that has championship pedigree in their history, but only marginal success recently. The past four Copa Americas have seen them get out of their group only to be eliminated immediately. This year getting out of the group may be a feat in itself.

If there were a group of death in this years tournament this one would be it. It may not have the most impressive talent, but definitely the most closely matched. Unfortunately for Peru they seem to be the early bottom feeders.

But they are riding a seven game unbeaten streak into the contest. This good form sets up nicely playing Paraguay first. If they can continue to be at their best they could steal a point from the Sky Blues putting them in a good spot for the rest of the games.

Most of the veterans on the squad play on big teams in Europe or Argentina. the familiarity that these guys will have with high stakes competition will be invaluable in helping the youngsters cope with what should be three difficult, but winnable games.

Striker Jose Paolo Guerrero will need to add to his total of 10 goals for his country in order to help them upset the group. The 27 year old has become and integral part of the recent success of the German side Hamburg. His unselfish style for a forward has made him as much of a threat to set up a goal as he is to score one.

It is difficult to measure a team that is so similar to the ones that they will be playing. But lack of big name talent may just be too much for them to overcome.

6. Paraguay

Group B

Schedule

7/3 vs. Ecuador

7/9 vs. Brazil

7/13 vs. Venezuela

In South Africa last summer Paraguay got to the quarterfinals and finished a respectable eighth place overall. However, their success in South America has not been there. They have not advanced passed the quarterfinals in the past two decades, but are looking to turn that around this year.

They may be wary going into the tournament with relatively poor form. Two wins over  Romania and Bolivia out of seven games is not exactly what you like to see just before a major competition. They did however, not have a complete squad for those games as their top players were with their clubs in Europe.

The squad itself is one built on experience. With players playing their club ball all over the world, they will have to hope that experience can help them come together on the pitch without many games together.

Quick attacking play can be a problem for them and they often give up goals in bunches. They will have to keep their composure and play through the adversity of being scored on to progress. In a group with Brazil, you can expect to be scored on at least once or twice too.

Keeper and team captain Justo Villar will have to be the leader of the squad. At age 34 no one has more caps than him and his defender Paulo da Silva shares that with him. Both are going to have to keep that defense organized against opponents.

Paraguay should advance out of the group, but it is not a definite. If this was to come down to goal differential, their play against teams as creative as Brazil could hurt them. They will have to be at their best in all games to ensure passage to the next round.

5. Colombia

Group A

Schedule

7/2 vs. Costa Rica

7/6 vs. Argentina

7/10 vs. Bolivia

Colombia has had a mixed history of success and failure. The early 1990s saw their best days. By the later half of the decade they began to slip. But currently to look at Colombia is to see a team back on their way up.

They have had mixed results coming into the tournament, but many of the games lacked their better players who were in season in Europe.

Many of those players are in their mid-twenties and playing at the top of their game. This includes Porto strike Radamel Falcao. The 25 year old has only seven goals for his country, but went on a tear last season scoring 34 goals.

There are two reasons you can expect him to play well this tournament. First, he will want to prove that he can be not only a valuable asset for his club, but country as well. And second, he is currently being sought after by Chlesea. It is no mistake that he has not signed yet. He has a big tournament he can expect his pay check to be bumped up a few zeros.

Colombia has gotten a little luck in the draw. There is no reason they should not comfortably advance pass the group and possibly make a run deeper in the competition depending on who they face.

4. Chile

Group C

Schedule

7/4 vs. Mexico

7/8 vs. Uruguay

7/12 vs. Peru

Chile has been lurking around the powers of South America for a few years now. More and more of their players are heading to Europe at a young age and finding success. This Copa America is their chance to make a move.

They have never won the tournament, and have not been impressive of late. But since the last Copa America they have become a team that is feared by many who play them. In the past year and a half they have had only four losses and 14 wins out of 21 games.

With an experienced squad that is largely based overseas, they now have the talent and pedigree to make a real run to their first trophy.

For all the offensive fire power they have in the likes of Alexis Sanchez, it is really their defense that has seen them to their recent form. Central Defender Pablo Contreras is largely responsible for this. The versatile defender brings 15 years of experience to that back line and made them into one of the best defensive sides in South America.

Chile is in a tough group, but one that is winnable. Their most difficult game will be against Uruguay, but if they are able to stop their attack they should win the group. That would put them in a good position to make a run all the way to the final.

3. Uruguay

Group C

Schedule

7/4 vs. Peru

7/8 vs. Chile

7/12 vs Mexico

Uruguay has an interesting history. Dominating the early days of the World Cup and South America competitions, they would begin to fall off in sixties and not really become a threat until now.

Last summer they were predicted to perform well in South Africa and they answered their critics with a fourth place finish. Back on their home continent they are going into the Copa America expecting to win it.

The form of Uruguay lately has not been impressive, but it can be excused on a side that all but five of their players play overseas. That is a testament to the kind of product coming out of the country of late. They have truly inspired a generation to recapture the glory of their early footballing days.

That generation includes Liverpool striker Luis Suarez. The 24 year old became an instant hit with the fans, helping the Anfield loyal save some of its decency after another tough season. He has been a machine in putting away goals and will hope to add to his total of 17 for his country in Argentina.

They are predicted to go deep, but must sure up the back line if they will. They have been shaky giving up way too many goals to sides that they should not be.

They are the heavy favorites in the group, but that does not mean they can rest for a moment. All of these teams in group C are capable of putting up goals and Uruguay will have to be aware of that and not let up.

Capturing the Copa America now would be beneficial to them in more ways than one. It would establish them back as a world power and relax them as they look forward to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

2. Argentina

Group B

Schedule

7/1 vs. Bolivia

7/6 vs. Colombia

7/11 vs. Costa Rica

It has been 18 long years since Argentina won the Copa America. They have finished second the past two. Now that it is on their home soil they will feel that it is theirs for the taking.

It really does not matter what Argentina's recent form is because they always show up for Copa America. The team takes too much pride in playing for this cup that they refuse to do anything but their best. And it helps when you have a talent laden squad like this.

Messi, Tevez, Zanetti, Cambiasso. That's the short-short list of stars on this squad. They have some of the most recognizable faces in all of the game and combined have as many trophies for their clubs that you would find on any other national team.

They play an interesting mix of smooth swift offense and a hard tackling high pressured defense. It can confuse and bewilder opponents into submitting to their will before the game even begins.

The slight knock on this team may be on their back line. While solid, they are known for occasionally giving up a weak goal. In a tournament like this there is no room for such mistakes.

There is a certain amount of pride you show playing on your home soil. The Argentinians show this pride wherever they play, but they may play for this cup harder than they ever had before. For a team comprised totally of superstars, they are a humble bunch that play unselfishly and only for the win.

1. Brazil

Group B

Schedule

7/3 vs. Venezuela

7/9 vs. Paraguay

7/13 vs. Ecuador

Any fan of the game would understand why Brazil would be No. 1. Every competition they are in, they could be argued as the No. 1 seed. There is not much more to say about it.

The most successful country in the history of the game will look to win their ninth Copa America and there is no reason why they shouldn't.

They have a well mixed team of proven veterans who have done everything from win World Cups to Champions League's. They also have a whole pack of youth that will one day assume the reins of this great tradition.

At age 33 center back Lucio is the oldest player on the team. In his long and incredible career, he has risen to the ranks of being one of the best defenders in the world. He will be responsible for a side whose only weakness is in their eagerness to score, the back line may be spread.

Unlike their rivals, Brazil plays with an ease that almost is unfair. But you can imagine that the only wanting to win this title more than Argentina is Brazil. To win on your rivals soil is the sweetest victory there is.

How would you rank the 12 teams of the 2011 Copa America?