What To Make Of 2011 Copa America Draw

The 2010 World Cup may have been built up as Africa's time to shine on home soil, but despite the championship going to Spain, a European country, the other big story was South America's continued prosperity in World Cups not on European soil. Five South American countries qualified for the World Cup and all five advanced from the group stages with Uruguay advancing to the semifinals and each quarterfinal including at least one South American team. Now that the World Cup is in the past, we look forward to the next major international tournament and sorry CONCACAF and your Gold Cup, but the next major tournament is CONMEBOL's Copa America, the championship tournament for South America.

From July 1-24 of 2011 the 10 South American teams and two guest countries, Mexico and Japan, will play in matches all around Argentina in search of a champion. In 2007 Brazil came away with their eighth Copa America title, but Argentina holds the record for most Copa America titles with 14 and will benefit from a rowdy home crowd in every match.

Group A consists of Argentina, Colombia, Japan and Bolivia in a group that makes Argentina the heavy favorite. Bolovia does not have the talent to compete with the upper tier of teams and will leave Colombia and Japan to battle for the second place and the automatic berth in the quarterfinals that comes with it instead of dropping to third and hoping that they are one of the two best third place teams in the tournament. With Falcao leading the line and the ageless one, Ivan Cordoba, the Colombians have a formidable squad, but Keisuke Honda, who will be a breakout star when he makes his move to a big club in January or the summer, gives Japan a chance.

In group B it is Brazil, Paraguay, Ecuador and Venezuela, but unlike in group A, the favorite isn't so far ahead of any challengers. Brazil will undoubtedly be the favorite, as they usually are, but Paraguay are a talented squad that won their group at the previous World Cup. Roque Santa Cruz may be the most well known player on the Paraguayan squad to most because of his exploits in the English Premier League, but he can't sniff the field for Manchester City and the fact is the Oscar Cardozo is Paraguay's top striker who is primed to go off in Copa America. Below them, Educador should outpace Venezuela for third place if Antonio Valencia completes his return from an ankle injury, as is expected.

Rounding out the groups is group C, which is the most compelling of the trio. Uruguay were the darlings of the 2010 World Cup after the team representing a mere 3.5 million people advanced to the semifinals thanks to breathtaking play by Diego Forlan, who was named the tournament's best player. While Forlan was undoubtedly spectacular, his brilliance overshadowed what is a very talented team with the Eredivisie's top striker and man of handball versus Ghana fame, Luis Suarez, joining Forlan up top. Edinson Cavani gives Uruguay another top attacking player and Diego Lugano is a rock in the defense among other very good players. Uruguay will be favored to win group C, but they face a mighty challenge.

Chile, Mexico and Peru will also be in group C and the only sure thing is you can rule Peru, arguably South America's worst team, out. Chile advanced to the round of 16 in South Africa only to be outed by Brazil, but under manager Marcelo Bielsa, the Chileans have been a joy to watch with attacking football led by Humberto Suazo. They will have to not only deal with Uruguay, but Mexico as well, who has been very successful in their many Copa America appearances. Twice Mexico has finished runners up at Copa America and three other times they finished in third place, including in the 2007 Copa America. With a new manager and some new blood, as well as having to play a week after the end of the Gold Cup, Mexico will be somewhat of a mystery, but the talent to go through from the group and win in the knockout stage is there.

No tournament in the world combines the top teams and exciting football of Copa America. Brazil and Argentina are always two of the top teams in the world and the star power of Lionel Messi, Dani Alves, Carlos Tevez, Alexandre Pato, Angel di Maria and a host of other are all worth tuning in for alone, but the rest of the continent, as well as Mexio and Japan will make for a fantastic month of football. Plus, now that the draw has happened, we know there will be some tasty match-ups as well from the get-go.