Copa America 2011: 5 Reasons Why Uruguay Can Win the Cup

Like every four years for the last 50 years, Brazil and Argentina appear as the clear favorites to take the Copa America, but this edition may be a surprising one. Uruguay, maximum winner of this cup along with Argentina, takes the scene hoping to repeat the performance displayed in South Africa last year.

Their arguments seem convincing, and it would not be a surprise to see them beat the CONMEBOL giants and lift the trophy.

La Garra Charrua: Mentality

"La Garra Charrua" reappeared a year ago after decades in hiding. That mentality is what took the team to the semifinals of the World Cup. The feistiness and South American mentality we all know too well (like when Suarez slapped the ball against Ghana) is way more superior in this squad than with the other countries. By maintaining the team's base, the chemistry between players should prove as effective as last years'. 

Tabarez has already found a way to motivate his players, but only the next matches will tell if his formula provides the same results.

Firepower: Cavani, Forlan, Suarez, Abreu

Uruguay's best weapon today is, without a doubt, its offense. Whether Tabarez decides to play with two or three strikers, his attackers should cause panic among rival defenders.

Cavani arrives after having scored 26 goals in the Serie A and is Napoli's star man. Luis Suarez seems to have kept his form after his transfer to Liverpool.

Forlan is the biggest doubt after having a hideous season with Atletico De Madrid, however everyone knows that he can unleash the talent that earned him the golden boot in South Africa. Abreu will be sitting on the bench hoping for some minutes to prove his usefulness. His veteran status can also turn out to be vital in tough situations. 

Uruguay has in each of its world-class strikers, a different set of skills but the same lethality.

Defense: Leadership and Talent

Even though Uruguay doesn't feature really big names on their back four, Lugano's leadership combined with players like Caceres, Pereira, Victorino and Godin will make a strong back line. The back line is physically strong and impressively feisty which compensates any lack of speed.

If Lugano displays an equal or similar performance to the one last year, it won't necessarily matter if your name is Messi, Neymar or Falcao.

Several of the defenders have constant activity in their clubs, and if a substitution is needed, the difference should be minimal.

Home Advantage

Bordering Argentina can prove to be crucial. Even though Uruguay will play its first two games on the western edge of Argentina (San Juan and Mendoza), the distance their fans will have to travel is way less than those of other teams. 

The only match where they may be outnumbered is against Chile in Mendoza, but if they qualify as second place, the site is Santa Fe, pretty close to the Uruguayan border. Nevertheless, expect large amounts of Uruguayan fans in every city their team plays. 

Chile's fans may not have to move a lot for their game against Uruguay, but Mexico and Peru fans are at another level of distance. The Uruguayan squad will definitely feel at home in Argentina.

Oscar Tabarez: Continuation of a Process

From all of the participating countries, Uruguay is one of the few that keeps the same coach from a year ago in the World Cup. Many of the countries that didn't attend the World Cup will face the Copa America with a new coach. 

Coaches Sergio Batista and Mano Menezes will be in charge of the two favorite teams in the competition, but Tabarez already has a lead in working with his players. Uruguay knows what to expect. Brazil and Argentina...not so much.

In its group, Tabarez will face Mexico's assistant coach Tena, and Chile still misses Marcelo Bielsa. Markarian, in charge of Peru, might be his mightiest opponent in the group stage, but his team is definitely not match for the "Celeste" side.