Performance of Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay football teams in Copa America

Peru football team had not a glorious history in FIFA World Cup though it maintained an image and impression in Copa America tournament. It had gone through a golden era taken from 1930-1982 to a dark age, as it did not qualify to FIFA World Cup for 7 times consistently! Peru is ranked on 49^th position by FIFA ranking. In a nut shell its performance in both Copa America and FIFA World Cup had been not so good.

It managed to secure this title only twice, 3^rd position as 6 times and 5 times as 4^th position.

So far Peru had shown an average performance in the tournament!!

Paraguay football team proved to be the dark horse in the world of Copa America and it showed great performance in FIFA World Cup 2010, and considered as an emerging team in the football world and is ranked on the 23^rd position by FIFA ranking. Paraguay football team appeared in Copa America football tournament for 33 times but secured the title only twice, while secured 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th position 5, 3 and 6 times respectively. Though its overall performance in Copa America had not been a powerful one yet it is considered as a favorite South American football team.

Uruguay football team is considered to be as famous and important team as Argentina in the world of Copa America football tournament, winning the title for 14 times, reaching the semis for 34 times, 6 times as runner-up, 9 times as second runner-up and 5 times at 4^th position. Uruguay had given good performance in the FIFA World Cup, and has always amazed the viewers with its charming and charismatic image in Copa America football tournament. Uruguay is ranked as 18^th best football team by FIFA ranking, with winning the World Cup for two times in the history.

Performance of Brazilian and Argentina football team in Copa America

Brazilian football team has glorious record in Copa America tournament history. Its the 3^rd best team in the tournament and ranked as 5^th best team by FIFA ranking winning the football World Cup for 5 times which to date is a record!!

The last decade in the World of Copa America was marked as the Era of Brazilian football team securing the title for 8 times and also the last time champs, 11 times as runner-up, 7 times as second runner-up and 3 times as 4^th position. Brazil has so far the best record, appearing in 387 matches and winning 315 of them. Like Argentina, Brazil also produced champions; let it be the invincible Pele or the dynamic duo of famous football player Ronaldo and Rivaldo or genius Zizinho all of them were simply unbeatable!!

Argentinean football team is one of the top ten teams of the world and ranked at the 10^th position by FIFA ranking. It is also a top football team in Copa America football tournament with Uruguay. It has a magnificent record in the history of Copa America with 38 appearances and winning the title for 14 times with 12 times as runner-up, 4 times as 3^rd position and twice at 4^th position. Argentina is one of those three countries which won the Copa America title consecutively for the three times!!

No one can simply forget the splendid back to back victory of 1991 and 1993 plotted by the master mind and genius couch Alfio Basile. Argentina had always brought real talent into lime light, from famous football player Diego Maradona to  absolute class Lionel Messi; Argentinean football players were always been first-class players of their era. The most brilliant player after Diego Maradona was considered as Gabriel Batistuta who holds a world record of making 56 goals!

That’s not all this team had not only gave marvelous performance in Copa America but also in every FIFA World Cup, securing the title twice.

Most Successful football teams and other records of Copa America football tournament

Argentina and Uruguay football teams are considered to be the most successful teams both holding the title of Copa America football tournament for 14 times. Uruguay has been in the most semis as top 4 with a total of 34 times while on the hand Argentinean football team has made its way to most of the finals as top 2 with a total of 26 times. Brazil is taken as an emerging team over the last 14 years and is also one of the top teams of the tournament.

The chart below shows top seven teams win their winning years.

1. Argentina	1921, 1925, 1927, 1929,1937, 1941, 1945,1946, 1947,1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993
2. Uruguay	1916, 1917, 1920, 1923,1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956,1959, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995
3. Brazil	1919, 1922, 1929, 1989, 1997,1999, 2004, 2007
4. Paraguay	1953, 1979
5. Peru	1939, 1975
6. Colombia	2001
7. Bolivia	1963

While Chile, Venezuela and Ecuador never won any title.

Copa America being the oldest football competition holds a series of records that was made in its 95 years history. Let it be 1987 Maranona’s win against Ecuador scoring two goals one after one or 1999 Martin Palermo getting Guinness world record for missing 3 in a row spot-kicks. Records have always been made in Copa America football tournament.

• One of the major records was the consecutive three time victory of Argentinean football team in 1945, 1946 and 1947 with the help of magnificent Argentine player Norberto Mendez who’s holding a record for making most goals in Copa America competition.
• Venezuela football strikers hold a record of 86 strikes in year 2007, which is to date, is a record!
• The Brazilian football team holds the record for winning not only the Copa America football tournament but also FIFA World Cup the very same year!
• It was truly the decade of Brazilian football team which secured the winning position in 4 out of 5 tournaments played in last decade.
• This is not all for the Brazil, the ever famous Brazilian football player Pele scored 8 goals in 6 matches in 1959 tournament, the year when Copa America happened twice!!

South American football Championship: Format and rules of Copa America

The Copa America football tournament includes 26 matches, divided as 18 group matches, 4 quarter finals, 2 semis, one finale and one for the third place. Twelve football teams are divided up in 3 pools or groups of 4 teams each namely A, B and C and the division is completely systematic based on FIFA world ranking.

There are two rounds or stages to be played in the event:

1. Group stage
2. Knock-Out stage

In group stages 3 points are allotted for a win, 1 for draw and none for lost. While in knock-out stage the match is decided by the penalty shoot out but this year the committee has decided to go on 30 minute extra time like any other football tournament.

The criteria at which any football team advance in quarter finals is composed of the following simple rules:

• The team with the highest points, highest goal difference and with greatest number of goals will qualify for the quarter finals
• Further if two teams rounded up at the same position then their gained points in all matches with goal difference and number of goals are compared and the organizing committee tells the final verdict. This is how 8 out of 12 teams pass for the Quarter finals.

South American football championship: Copa America

Okay so we are done with UEFA football Champions league and Spanish La Liga, now its time for another big event it the world of football. Copa America formerly known as South American Championship has just started and its fever is on its hype.

About Copa America, commenced by Argentina in 1916, is one of the much awaited tournaments by the football fans all over the world. It comprises of 10 South American top football teams namely Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. It also includes two invitees, this year Mexico and Costa Rica is going to be those two. Organized by CONMEBOL which is governing body of South American football, this is going to be the 43^rd event.

Over all it has been successful 43 years with amazingly only few ups and downs which only stopped the event to take place on annual basis to every 2 years then after 3 and then after 4 years.

This year’s (2011) event is hosted by Argentina hosting it for the 9th time, which will get off the ground on July 1 till July 24, and it’s surely going to be full action packed 18 days for any football lover!

Football fans from all across the globe love South American football and they enjoy this tournament.

South American Football: Copa America 2011

The most coveted tournament for the national teams hailing from the football-obsessed region of South America, Copa America 2011 will be the 43^rd tournament of this kind. Stretching from the 1^st of July to the 24^th of July, South American football fans are in for some wonderful displays of their most celebrated sport, together with the usual drama and rumours that attach to any major tournament.

Adorned in their national colours of blue and yellow, the Brazilian football team will set foot on the field hoping to defend their last year’s title and hence extend their winning streak.
Will Brazil be able to hold firm to its Copa America title for another year following a dismal exit at last year’s World Cup hosted by South Africa?
Well, the Brazilians do have a strong midfield arrangement in the form of Lucio, Maicon, Thiago Silva and Alves. The midfield and forward attack also appears promising with Jonas spearheading the attack as Forward. Brazil’s most valuable asset Kaka will however not be showcasing his talent at this year’s Copa America, and that will definitely come as a blow to an otherwise seemingly stable and balanced Brazilian side.
The two other teams most likely to showcase excellent performances and grab the trophy are Argentinean football team and Uruguay. Both countries share the honour of clenching the title 14 times, which remains the most for any nation.
This year, Argentina have an immense advantage in the form of home ground. Added to that is the seemingly unstoppable Messi that Argentina cherish as their most valuable asset, and rightly so.
Uruguay also have showcased immense potential in the past; two times world champions and semifinalists in the last World Cup, Urugay may be well on its way to giving Brazil an upset this year.
Hence, it remains to be seen who will be crowned victor on the 24^th of July 2011 at the Copa America 2011 final; yet, it appears fairly certain that unless a dark horse emerges, this year’s tournament will provide glory to either Brazil, Argentina or Uruguay.