The 2015 Copa America was supposed to be a spectacle of the brilliance and creative imagination South American football has to offer. Instead, the world witnessed a tournament marred by controversy and drama. Some of the best players on the planet donned their national colours in pursuit of silverware for their respective homelands. Argentina wanted to put its defeat in the 2014 World Cup behind it, Brazil wanted to move on from its nightmare suffered at the hands of Germany last year, Colombia wanted to prove it can mix it with the best in the world, Uruguay was out to prove it could be successful without Luis Suarez, while hosts Chile desperately wanted to end a 99-year trophyless hoodoo that's haunted the Chilean football community. Let's see how they all went, shall we?

Suarez' third biting offence

Uruguay's title defence was over before it officially began. The incident involving Suarez and Giorgio Chiellini in last year's World Cup group stage ended Suarez' World Cup campaign and his hopes of defending the Copa America title he won in 2011. It was Suarez' third biting offence after altercations with Branislav Ivanovic while playing for Liverpool in the EPL and an earlier one during his stint in the Netherlands with Ajax. It crushed Uruguayans' hopes and dreams, because without their star player, La Celeste struggle tremendously.

Vidal's Grand Theft Auto moment

A drunk driving incident involving Chilean star Arturo Vidal could've cost him his position in the national team, could've put him in prison ... and could've taken his life. One of the players who held the hopes and dreams of La Roja nearly blew it before he had a chance to grace the football pitch. Vidal was ruled to be eligible to play in the tournament, but was handed a severe driving penalty and fine. Had it been a Socceroo involved in an incident like this during the Asian Cup, would he have been allowed to play on?

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOx4FKX8yh4[/embed]

Professionals getting starstruck?

It is very difficult for some people to stay calm when they're in the company of one of the most recognisable faces on the planet. Jamaican forward Deshorn Brown didn't care that he was on international duty as he took the opportunity to have a photo with the great Lionel Messi on the field. Brown, who currently plies his trade for Norwegian side Valerenga Fotball, obviously doesn't get many chances like this ...

Poor Edinson Cavani: the innocent man who got caught in the fire

Edinson Cavani was not in the best of form heading into the Copa America. After already being burdened with the pressure of leading Uruguay to what was hopefully another Copa America title after Suarez' suspension, his personal life was hit hard. His father Luis Cavani was taken into custody after a motor vehicle incident involving him led to a 19-year-old motorcyclist's death. More pressure was added onto Edinson Cavani after he controversially labelled the Jamaican national team as "African". It only got worse from there, as the bad dream he was living turned into a nightmare. In the quarter final between host nation Chile and Uruguay, Cavani was shone a red card after striking Chilean defender Gonzalo Jara in the face. After what at first seemed like an idiotic brain snap by the Uruguayan talisman, his actions were quickly defended by football fans around the world. What officials missed that led to Cavani's sending off was that Jara had inserted his finger into the Uruguayan's backside after he mocked him about his father. Uruguay went onto to lose the game, furious with what transpired, while Jara copped a suspension, ruling him out for the remainder of the tournament. He's now public enemy number one throughout the world. But not in Chile ...

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_A_P0L92DQ[/embed]

Maybe Arsenal should've "Čeched" the players they have

Colombian keeper David Ospina put on one of the greatest goalkeeping displays in modern football in the quarter-final against Argentina. The Colombian side was pressured immensely by their South American rivals, but it was Ospina who kept on frustrating his opponents. The Arsenal keeper not only dove left, right and centre, but sometimes it seemed like he could fly or that he had stretching powers like Mrs. Incredible. It was a performance that would've made goalkeeping greats such as Lev Yashin and Gordon Banks proud. Unfortunately the dream performance was ended by Carlos Tevez' winning spot kick in the shootout. Even though he was on the losing side, his performance must've been a wake up call for his club manager Arsene Wenger, who just signed Chelsea legend Petr Cech to star in between the sticks and replace the Colombian captain.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7q-uPhu92U[/embed]

Joga Bonito has either died or left the beaches of Rio

After Brazil was thumped by the Germans on home soil last year in the World Cup semi-final, manager Luiz Felipe Scolari resigned after his side was punished for having a very offensive mindset. His replacement, former World Cup-winning captain Dunga, brought a defensive approach to the national team. In his second stint in charge of La Seleção, Dunga was given the tough task of taking Brazil back to the top. His squad suffered injuries before the Copa and his bemusing team selections ultimately led to Brazil's early exit. For a team that heavily relied on the influence of captain and star player Neymar, things were made more difficult for the Brazilians after he was sent off and heavily suspended after an altercation with the referee in their 1-0 loss to Colombia in the group stage. Phrases like,"boring, horrendous, confusing and "why would you do that?" suit the English national side more than the Brazilians, yet those comments were completely justified when summarising Dunga's men. Everything for Brazil just kept getting worse and worse after they were again knocked out by Paraguay on penalties in the quarter-final; a Paraguayan side that has completely flopped since its brave run to the quarter-finals at the 2010 World Cup and their runner-up finish at the 2011 Copa America. Thiago Silva's volleyball spike ultimately led Brazil to another defeat, as well as more misery.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH9KlZ1A-UU[/embed]

How things can change in a split second

Young footballers dream of saving their national side from the brink of defeat. With over 15 minutes to go Derlis González had the chance to slot in a penalty that would square Paraguay with Brazil in the quarter-final. He slotted home the spot-kick and sent his country into delirium. The vital equaliser helped lead Paraguay to later defeat Brazil on spot kicks. Not only did the 21-year-old score the vital equaliser, he later went on to score the winning penalty in the shootout. What seemed like a dream for Derlis González quickly turned for the worse; what he didn't know was that after he scored his first spot-kick, his family was back home celebrating. But their celebrations were dealt a heavy blow after González' uncle suffered a fatal heart-attack that ultimately led to his death. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion for the young man had quickly turned into a horrific episode, and it got worse from there as his brave and respected efforts to play on only led to a 6-1 hammering by Argentina in the following semi-final.

Messi the magician

Lionel Messi is viewed by most as not only the best player in the world, but also as the best player of this current generation. With many doubting his abilities on the international stage, "the Little Pea" silenced many as he put on one of his best displays ever as a professional footballer. He helped his team to a 6-1 thumping win over Paraguay. Even though he didn't get onto the score sheet, his contribution of five goals was crucial and spectacular. His famous quick feet and superb agility even led to two Paraguayan defenders running into each other as they tried to chase him, reminding many of the last South American maestro before him, Kaká, who did the same to Manchester United in 2007.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBX-TIMYGfM[/embed]

Which wizard put a curse on Argentina?

After losing back-to-back finals in corresponding years, La Albiceleste have now lost the last six senior international finals they've appeared in since their 1993 Copa America victory in Ecuador (losing the 2014 World Cup final; 2004, 2007 and 2015 Copa America finals; 1995 and 2005 Confederations Cup finals). This defeat raises many questions in the debate of who is the greatest Argentinean no. 10 of all - the Argentine captain or Diego Maradona? If Gonzalo Higuain had put away the golden opportunities presented to him in both the World Cup final and the Copa America final, would there even be a debate? Whilst Messi and his team-mates licked their wounds, the victors Chile sent the country into delirious celebrations after Sánchez' cheeky penalty kick awarded La Roja the title. The host nation was able to break a 99-year hoodoo that haunted them for so long. They can now finally add a piece of silverware in what was once an old, dusty and empty trophy cabinet.