Copa America 2011: 5 Reasons to Watch the Summer's Best Football Tournament

This summer's best soccer tournament is underway, but it's in Argentina, not Germany.

While the Women's Wold Cup in Germany has been garnering most of the media attention here in the United States (probably because the US has a chance at winning the tournament), some of the best male soccer players in the world have gathered in Argentina for the 43rd Copa America.

The Copa America is the basically the World Cup of South America. It features the 10 teams of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) plus two special invitees (Mexico and Costa Rica, this year). 

Just like in the World Cup, the twelve teams play round-robin style in groups, and then move on to a single-elimination knockout round.

If everything plays out to perfection, Brazil and Argentina will meet for the championship on July 24th in Buenos Aires, but there are bound to be some surprises along the way.

Here are 10 reasons you should watch the tournament play out. 

It's FREE to Watch

Thanks to the magic of the Internet age, you can watch the entire Copa America live from anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Simply go to the Copa America YouTube channel and the live matches will start streaming for you automatically. When there isn't a live match going on, you can watch highlights.

The live matches include English commentary, so you won't even have to deal with occasional "Goooooooooaaaaaaal!!" calls.  

Future Stars on Display

Three of the most talked-about young stars in the game are playing in the Copa America.

The Brazilian team sports 19 year-old Neymar and 21 year-old Ganso, and the Chilean team features 22 year-old Alexis Sanchez.

Prevailing rumors at the moment have Neymar playing for Real Madrid next year, with Sanchez ticketed for FC Barcelona and Ganso moving to AC Milan eventually.

With his ridiculous Mohawk hairdo, everyone wants to know if Neymar is the next Brazilian great, or another Robinho-esque headcase. Watch him and make up your own mind.

Great Atmosphere

Forget vuvuzelas. The Argentinian fans cheer, sing, play music and occasionally riot—but at least you won't get a headache watching the games.

The games are being played at eight stadiums around Argentina, many of which have long soccer traditions. 

Plus, it's winter in Argentina right now. The pace of play shouldn't suffer from stifling heat as happens at some summer tournaments. 

Brazil Brought Its "A" Team

In the past, Brazil has sent youth teams to some international tournaments, giving their senior players a rest, but depriving us of watching and over analyzing joga bonito's latest incarnation.

This year, Brazil went with a mix of youth and experience that probably represents their "A" team. Young attacking phenoms Neymar and Ganso mix with experienced defenders like Inter Milan's Maicon and Barcelona's Danny Alves.  

Brazil's performance in their first match against Venezuela left something to be desired, but at least they featured an incredible collection of hairdos. 

Lionel Messi on Home Soil

One storyline sits at the heart of this tournament. Lionel Messi, the best player in the world, will take the field for his country, on his home soil.

Messi has been something of a disappointment to Argentinians. For whatever reason, the perception is that he hasn't matched the brilliance he displays for his club—FC Barcelona—when he plays for Argentina.

The Copa America represents Messi's best shot to turn that perception around. Argentina has a new coach, as Sergio Batista has replaced the bumbling Diego Maradona. Batista has vowed to build this team around Messi, and attempt to replicate the Barcelona system that suits him so well.

If Messi can lead his team to the Copa America title on Argentine soil, he'll become even more of a national hero than he already is. If he fails, the whispers about his struggles with the Albiceleste will grow louder.