10 Players Who Are Playing for Their Copa America Places in the Rest of 2014/15
The Copa America, bringing together South America's best players from across the world's top divisions, kicks off in less than six months. A lot of familiar faces are already gearing up to lead their countries; barring injuries, the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Alexis Sanchez and James Rodriguez will all be key figures.
But there are plenty of players out there less certain of the role they will be performing. The biggest nations in the region boast an enviable depth of talent, meaning that few stars are guaranteed a place. One sure-fire way of boosting their chances will be to make the most of the first half of 2015, before the Chile tournament begins.
The following 10 footballers will have to show all their skills in the coming months, if they wish to convince their coaches that they deserve a place in the upcoming South American fiesta.
10. Willy Caballero
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Few who had watched Willy Caballero's giant performances for Malaga over the past years could understand why the Argentine had been consistently overlooked for a place in the national team. At 33, one could even be forgiven for thinking his time had passed; until Gerardo Martino finally opened the Albiceleste doors for him shortly after taking over.
While Caballero is still waiting for that debut, the fact that he deputised for Sergio Romero against Croatia and Portugal during 2014 is encouraging. Less encouraging are the two league appearances under his belt for Manchester City this season. More game time is essential to convince Martino he is the man to take the gloves for the Copa America.
9. Hulk
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As a striker with real physical presence in the penalty area, Hulk possesses an attribute not common amongst many Brazilian forwards. Perhaps for this reason the bulky Zenit St. Petersburg player has racked up 41 caps for his national team, despite averaging less than one goal every four games in the famous yellow shirt.
A barren last two years for the Selecao, however, have pushed him further out from coach Dunga's plans. The trainer has not included Hulk in a squad since September, making the coming months vital for him to regain confidence within the Brazil ranks.
8. Gaston Ramirez
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From Diego Forlan's undisputed successor in the Uruguay first team, to an also-ran at the foot of the Premier League with Hull City. There is no doubt that the last two years of Gaston Ramirez's professional career have been little short of an unmitigated disaster.
But the delicate left-footed playmaker who looked so strong for Bologna is still there, even if his confidence is at an all-time low. Ramirez can still play a key part in Uruguay's Copa America campaign, but he will need a much better end to the 2014/15 season to prove his doubters wrong.
7. Lucas Moura
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Back in 2011's South American Youth Championship a fair few observers, this writer among them, thought that despite Neymar's brilliant nine-goal haul the real star of the show was diminutive Sao Paulo forward Lucas. But while the former has already established himself as the backbone of the national team, progress has been slower for his team-mate.
After shining in fits and starts during his first two years in Paris, the rapid winger has become a far more mature, assured performer in 2014/15. But places are extremely competitive in the Brazil setup, and Lucas will have to give his all for PSG to make sure he lines up in Chile alongside Neymar in Dunga's first-choice line-up.
6. Angelo Henriquez
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At just 20 years of age, Angelo Henriquez should have many Copas America ahead of him. But the striker has already featured five times in the full Chile setup, and he has an excellent chance of making Jorge Sampaoli's squad as La Roja fight for the title on home soil.
A loan move to Dinamo Zagreb has finally seen Henriquez rediscover the form he showed as a teenager with Universidad de Chile, after failing to break into the Manchester United first team. If he can add to the impressive tally of 15 goals in 17 appearances with the Croatian giants, a place in Sampaoli's plans should be certain for the promising youngster.
5. Javier Pastore
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Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Javier Pastore has never truly delivered on he showed first as a teenager with Huracan, and later having made the move over to Sicily representing Palermo. A paltry 16 caps for Argentina at the age of 25, with not a single goal, demonstrate how El Flaco's international career has never quite managed to take off.
In 2015, however, the story may change. Gerardo Martino included Pastore in his plans at the end of last year after barely featuring under Alejandro Sabella. For PSG, meanwhile, the Argentine has finally started to play a meaningful role.
The next six months will be crucial for the player, currently on the fringes of the Albiceleste setup. Success in France and Europe could just convince Martino that he is the man to give Argentina that creative edge in the midfield.
4. Fredy Guarin
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Strong in the tackle and equipped with great pace and a fearsome shot, it is hard to see where things have gone wrong for Fredy Guarin. The Inter midfielder was one of the best in the world in his position until recently, but since 2013 his form has seen a notable downturn.
Moved around the pitch by successive Nerazzurri administrations, Guarin looks unsure and low on confidence. This nervousness has translated into less playing time in the international sphere; at the 2014 World Cup, he started just two of Colombia's games and failed to impress against Brazil in a quarter-final defeat.
The 28-year-old destroyer must raise his game for Inter to prove himself a worthy option for Jose Pekerman's team, and the underachieving Italians would also benefit from the Guarin of old making a return to San Siro.
3. Robinho
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Brazil coach Dunga is well known as a proponent of the fine arts of defensive excellence. While he may be able to brick up the Selecao net, however, finding the men who can smash them in at the other end is another story altogether.
The last squad featured just one striker of recognised international class, Barcelona wizard Neymar. Behind him were two Shakhtar Donetsk players with just four caps between them. Hulk, as mentioned earlier in the article, is an option, but Robinho could also push his way back in the fold.
The former Milan star has always shown his best side for Brazil, boasting an impressive 27 goals in 95 international games, often out on the wing. But the odds are against him. Currently with first club Santos, Robinho will have to wait until May for the Brasileirao to begin. Until then, the comparatively unimportant Sao Paulo state championship is his only forum to wow the demanding Dunga.
2. Jackson Martinez
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Colombian hitman Jackson Martinez has proved a brilliant replacement for countryman Radamel Falcao in Porto. The striker has taken the Primeira Liga's top-scorer gong two seasons running, and with 14 goals already from 17 games he appears well on the way to making it a hat-trick in Portugal.
But as strange as it may sound, Martinez may need even more to win a place in the Colombia squad. Jose Pekerman has the luxury of a host of great strikers, and this time around Falcao himself should be fit after his heartbreaking withdrawal from the World Cup.
With just 10 goals in 35 international appearances, the Porto man's Cafetero record is far from outstanding. A great second half of 2014/15 will be necessary, if he wishes to see off the challenge of Teo Gutierrez, Luis Muriel, Carlos Bacca and the rest of Colombia's hopefuls.
1. Carlos Tevez
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Returning Carlos Tevez to the Argentina fold was a big call for coach Gerardo Martino, just months into his tenure. The Juventus striker had been frozen out by predecessor and World Cup finalist Alejandro Sabella, but Martino reintroduced him to the Albiceleste and he received his first run-out as a substitute against Croatia in 2014.
As Serie A's top scorer and a striker of proven international pedigree, picking Tevez would appear to be a straightforward choice. But Argentina are blessed with a wealth of striking options, meaning even at this stage his place is far from a given.
To fight off the likes of Mauro Icardi, Luciano Vietto and Paulo Dybala, to name just a few young pretenders, Carlitos will have to be just as good in the second part of the current season as he has been so far.
