With the Copa América a little under five days away it's time to take a look at Group B which features Brazil, Paraguay, Ecuador and Venezuela.
BRAZIL
Having won four out of the last five Copa Américas, nothing would please the seleção more than to win it for the third time in a row on the home turf of their fiercest rival. Much was made of previous manager Dunga's defensive approach but it must be said that this squad probably has the best equipped defence in the whole competition. With the likes of Lúcio, David Luiz and Thiago Silva as choices for centrebacks you can't see them conceding too many goals. It is the other end of the pitch that may cause Menezes some headaches as there is a distinct lack of creativity and someone to strike fear in the opposition, someone of the ilk of Kaká and Ronaldinho spring to mind. Much of the attacking thrust from midfield will be on the relatively inexperienced shoulders of Paulo Henrique Ganso, Jadson and Lucas combining with the more experienced Elano and one wonders whether they are up for the task.
Player to watch
Current Santos player and Chelsea/Real Madrid target and he of the mohawk, Neymar could provide the x-factor that Brazil needs to make it three in a row. Having scored three goals in his five matches for the seleção, including two in that controversial game against Scotland, and having just helped his team win the Copa Libertadores this young man is not short on confidence. A good performance in this tournament will go a long way to setting him up for a stellar career in Europe, as long he does away with his habit of going to ground a little too easily.
PARAGUAY
Two time winners and perennial Copa América quarter-finalists, Paraguay will be again favoured to go deep in this tournament. Coming of their best ever World Cup performance la albiroja will be hoping that they can make the semi-finals of the Copa América for the first time in twenty years. Who knows maybe Larissa Riquelme can make another one of her promises if Paraguay goes all the way and then we will all be cheering for them. Paraguay are still under the tutelage of Gerardo Martino who originally said he wasn't going to continue in the job after the World Cup but was persuaded to stay in the job until after this tournament. He has controversially left out Óscar Cardozo in favour of Roque Santa Cruz, whose has only played ten matches in the last two seasons in the Premier League. Maybe he still holds a grudge for that missed penalty against Spain
Player to Watch
Lucas Barrios played a key part in his club side, Borussia Dortmund's Bundesliga crown last year and fans of la albiroja will be hoping that this form continues for the national team. The Argentinian born striker has been a prolific scorer at most of his club sides but only has had limited opportunities with national team, which have basically come after making his mark for the German giants. He only has five goals in fifteen appearances and will need to step up especially with the absence of the aforementioned Óscar Cardozo.
ECUADOR
Whilst having managed to qualify for two out of the last three World Cups, Ecuador's record at the Copa América is poor being one of only three CONMEBOL teams yet to lift the trophy. In recent times their best performance has been a quarter-final appearance in the 1997 tournament played at altitude in Bolivia. Like the hosts of that tournament la tri play better at altitude and will probably again struggle in the less rarefied atmosphere of Argentina. With only seven out of twenty-three man squad playing outside of Ecuador, coach Reinaldo Ruedo will be relying on his home based to get the job done with much expected from European based players Antonio Valencia, Felipe Caicedo and Cristian Noboa.
Player to Watch
The player with the most pressure on him come the Copa América will definitely have to be Ecuador's most recognised player, Antonio Valencia. The Manchester United winger, who was a revelation for his club side after returning from a broken leg, will again need to produce the goods if his team has any chance of progressing from this very difficult group.
VENZUELA
Like their Group B opponents Ecuador, Venezuela is yet to win a Copa América and in fact have only ever won two matches in the competition after they began competing in 1967. The second of those wins coming against Peru in the last tournament where they were hosts and got out of the group stage for the first time. Traditionally the whipping boys of South Américan football la vinotinto have taken great strides in recent years and under the tutelage of 38-year-old coach César Farias and his predominantly Venezuelan based side they will be hoping that they can repeat their efforts from four years ago. In a country, where football plays second fiddle to both baseball and the production of Miss World/Universe/International winners a good performance here will go a long way to getting their fans behind them for qualification for 2014 World Cup.
Player to watch
One of the few players in the squad to ply his trade outside of his home country 20-year-old Yohandry Orozco is definitely one to watch with his strike for the U20 side against Peru grabbing everyone's attention. Orozco made his move to Wolfsburg in Germany in the January transfer window but is yet find any game time as he gets used to life outside of his homeland. He has made eleven appearances for the national team but is yet to find the back of the net, a duck he should break come the Copa América.
