Colombia, Chile main challengers in Copa America

Posted Friday, July 15, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

SANTA FE, Argentina (AP)—Colombia and Chile look like the main challengers to co-favorites Brazil and Argentina as the Copa America enters the quarterfinals.

Colombia, which has not played in the World Cup since 1998, has shown off a so-called “Golden Generation” of new players led by striker Radamel Falcao. The Porto forward scored twice in group play, leading Colombia to first place in Group A ahead of Argentina.

Chile, despite a new coach in Claudio Borghi, is playing just like it did a year ago in the World Cup when it reached the second round. Chile was probably the best team in the group stage, but now the two South American giants are lurking.

Colombia and Chile will be favorites in the weekend quarterfinals. Colombia faces Peru on Saturday and Chile plays Venezuela on Sunday. If they win they are likely to find Brazil and Argentina in the semifinals. Argentina faces Uruguay on Saturday and Brazil has Paraguay on Sunday.

“This generation is going through a good phase,” Colombia forward Hugo Rodallega said. “We are excited and want to change the recent fortunes of the national team.”

Most of this team was on the 2005 squad that won the Under-20 South American championship.

“People have faith in us, in this generation,” midfielder Abel Aguilar said. “Before we came here they were confident, and now little by little we are giving back. Most of us have known each other for years.”

Colombia’s main worry may be scoring goals with only three in the first three matches, and none in a 0-0 draw with Argentina in group play.

Colombia’s star is Falcao, who is expected to move from Porto to Chelsea and follow coach Andre Villas-Boas, who has taken over at the London club.

Chile’s main man is Alexis Sanchez. His current club Udinese and Barcelona have been in talks, with Sanchez expected to land with the European champion.

Borghi took over as coach earlier in the year for Marcelo Bielsa, who was very popular and credited with turning around Chile, which hadn’t been in the World Cup since ’98.

Chile has also had problems scoring with only four goals—two against a weak Mexico.

“We’ve never had this (favorites tag), and now that we have it we have to take advantage,” said Borghi, who took the Chile job after an unsuccessful stint at Argentine club Boca Juniors. “It doesn’t weigh on me being a candidate. When this team plays, it looks like a candidate to win it.”

The surprise so far has been Venezuela, the only member of the South American confederation that has never reached the World Cup finals. Venezuela stunned Paraguay with two goals in the final five minutes on Wednesday for a 3-3 draw.

Uruguay and Paraguay have disappointed.

Uruguay, with Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, has not looked like the semifinalist it was in last year’s World Cup. But facing Argentina could change that.

“This is a special match that you can really feel; people are excited,” Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said. “Definitely, Argentina stands in the way of our goal of being champions.”

Argentina and Uruguay have each won the title 14 times. Brazil has won eight, but has won four of the last five including the last two in finals against Argentina.

Paraguay reached the second round of the World Cup a year ago, but may have trouble rebounding from conceding the late draw with Venezuela.

“We can’t explain this,” Paraguay striker Lucas Barrios said after the shock. “In five minutes they scored two goals. We leave with a sour taste in our mouth.”

Peru has done well just to survive, playing the tournament without top forwards Jefferson Farfan and Claudio Pizarro.