With Falcao, Yepes & Armero - Colombia is no longer a dark horse, it is a real Copa America contender - 7M sport

With Falcao, Yepes & Armero - Colombia is no longer a dark horse, it is a real Copa America contender



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Posted Saturday, July 16, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

It was a Copa America group stage full of difficulty and discomfort for the traditional giants of South America, even if, in the end, the names of the eight teams who battled through to the quarterfinals were more or less predictable. Argentina and Brazil were both held to draws by the unheralded football nations of Bolivia and Venezuela respectively, before reasserting their form in time to make the knockout stages with relative ease.

The team which, more than any other, raised an eyebrow at the top of the pile was Colombia. A nation with little to shout about in the last 10 years on the pitch, the Cafeteros have been drilled expertly by coach Hernan Dario Gomez and finished top of Group A, pushing the hosts Argentina into second. Furthermore, with seven points earned, no team out-performed them in the first round. The Colombians now have an excellent chance of making the semifinals for the first time since 2004.

In truth, the only surprise should be pundits' surprise at Colombia's excellent form. It certainly was not to this writer, who was vindicated in naming Falcao and co dark horses for the tournament back in June. Things have moved forward at a startling pace since then, however; is it no longer a dark horse, but a serious challenger for the 2011 Copa America.

It is easy to see from where this new-found strength emanates. The power and stability of this team comes straight from the back and a four-man defensive line with serious claims to be
considered the best in the tournament. The formidable partnership of Mario Yepes and Luis Perea, 67 years and 138 caps shared between them, allows the younger, dynamic full-back duo of Pablo Armero and Camilo Zuniga outside them to get forward at leisure.

Behind them Luis 'Neco' Martinez has done his country proud. The Once Caldas shot-stopper is ensuring that the absence of David Ospina through injury has gone almost unnoticed. The Cafeteros' defense is the only one yet to see a goal slip past so far in the competition, and the smart money is on a repeat showing against Peru this Saturday in the last eight.



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