♦ Copa America ♦ 2016 ♦ !Chile beat Argentina on penalties to win Copa América!!

brazil n chile n colombia

 

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GOALKEEPER

Internacional’s Alisson Becker was handed his chance with the national team in October after Dunga ran out of patience with the previously immovable Jefferson and looks set to remain Brazil’s No.1.

The 23-year-old made his international debut in the 3-1 victory over Venzuela in World Cup qualifying after Jefferson failed to impress his coach in the 2-0 defeat to Chile days previously.

He remained for the next four qualifiers, and despite keeping just one clean sheet in his five caps to date, the reportedly Roma-bound man impressed, particularly in the 2-2 draw with Paraguay last time out.

He will be under pressure from Valencia’s Diego Alves, who has returned to the squad following a serious knee injury. It’s possible Alisson would never have got his chance were Diego Alves fit, but the Inter man has taken it with both hands and is currently the Selecao’s undisputed No.1.

DEFENDERS

For the back four it will be business as usual, with one exception: David Luiz has been dropped from the squad completely and will be replaced by Shandong Luneng’s Gil in central defence.

David Luiz is the second most-used defender under Dunga (13) and has captained the side twice. However, a red card against Argentina in November was quickly followed by a yellow in March’s qualifier with Uruguay, which earned him a second suspension in two international breaks.

Coupled with his struggles to contain Luis Suarez in the latter, Dunga appears to have lost patience and will turn to former Corinthians’ man Gil. He will be joined my Miranda, who has been a pillar of consistency and played all 22 matches under the current coach. The Inter man should captain the side.

Atletico Madrid’s in-form Filipe Luis will remain at left-back and Barcelona’s Dani Alves is set to retain his place on the right. Olympic prospects Douglas Santos and Fabinho will provide cover for the full-backs.

MIDFIELD

In midfield, Corinthians man Elias should return. He formed a strong partnership with Luiz Gustavo at the base of the midfield prior to an injury and was often preferred over Fernandinho.

The biggest plus in the last two rounds of qualifiers has been the emergence of Elias’ former club-mate Renato Augusto. His decision to go to China was criticised by local media but the smart-passing playmaker has been arguably Brazil’s best player over the last four matches, scoring twice.

He will be charged with filling the creative void left by Neymar. As will Willian, touted by many as being Brazil’s most consistent performer since World Cup 2014. The Chelsea man has grown into a senior role with the team Dunga’s arrival, his tireless work ethic now complemented by a willingness to take responsibility on the ball.

Willian will likely start wide right of an attacking midfield charged with supporting a lone striker. Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho replaced the injured Douglas Costa against Panama in Brazil's final warm-up match and now looks set to retain his place.

A major tactical shift under the current coach, however, is to have his front men constantly on the move, so they could well interchange throughout games.

Lucas Lima was handed the no.10 shirt by Dunga but is current second-choice. Casemiro arrives following a hugely impressive second-half to the season with Real Madrid but faces a battle to make the first team.

FORWARD

Centre-forward has been an issue ever since World Cup 2014, with local commentators suggesting Brazil are suffering a lack of top talent in the role. Dunga attempted to circumnavigate the issue by introducing a false No.9 but is yet to find anyone to convince him entirely.

The likes of Diego Tardelli, Luiz Adriano, Robinho, Roberto Firmino and Jonas have all come and gone.

Thirty-six-year-old Ricardo Oliveira is enjoying something of an Indian summer in international football and was favourite to start in USA, though he was forced to withdraw through injury.

His replacement, Benfica's Jonas is now favourite after being given the no.9 shirt and scoring against Panama. He could offer an interesting solution as looks a perfect fit as a false no.9 who can also offer a penalty-area threat.

Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa is another interesting alternative. He is another set to join Neymar at the Rio games. The 19-year-scored on an impressive debut this week and is now very much in contention to see some game-time at Copa America.

He has been in fine form for his club, however, and could well be the future of the Selecao. Hulk will provide further competition after coming off the bench against Panama as Dunga shifted to a 4-4-2.

PREDICTED XI
Dunga should have his side line up in a variation of 4-3-3, which can morph into a 4-1-4-1, 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1.

 

Argentina

GOALKEEPERS (3): Mariano Andújar (Estudiantes La Plata, ARG), Nahuel Guzmán (Tigres UANL, MEX), Sergio Romero (Manchester United, ENG)

DEFENDERS (7): Victor Cuesta (Independiente, ARG), Ramiro Funes Mori (Everton, ENG), Jonathan Maidana (River Plate, ARG), Gabriel Mercado (River Plate, ARG), Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City, ENG), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United, ENG), Facundo Roncaglia (Fiorentina, ITA)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Éver Banega (Sevilla, ESP), Lucas Biglia (Lazio, ITA), Augusto Fernández (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Matías Kranevitter (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona, ESP), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, ESP), Javier Pastore (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA)

FORWARDS (6): Sergio Agüero (Manchester City, ENG), Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli, ITA), Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur, ENG), Ángel Di María (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Nicolás Gaitán (Benfica, POR), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Hebeir China Fortune, CHN)

 

Brazil
GOALKEEPERS (3): Alisson (Internacional, BRA), Diego Alves (Valencia, ESP), Ederson (Benfica, POR)

DEFENDERS (8): Dani Alves (Barcelona, ESP), Rodrigo Caio (São Paulo, BRA), Fabinho (Monaco, FRA), Gil (Shandong Luneng, CHN), Filípe Luís (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Miranda (Inter Milan, ITA), Douglas (Atlético Mineiro, BRA)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan, CHN), Casemiro (Real Madrid, ESP), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool, ENG), Elias (Corinthians, BRA), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg, GER), Kaka (Orlando City SC), Lucas Lima (Santos, BRA), Rafinha (Barcelona, ESP), Willian (Chelsea, ENG)

FORWARDS (3): Gabriel (Santos, BRA), Hulk (Zenit St. Petersburg, RUS), Jonas (Benfica, POR)

 

Chile
GOALKEEPERS (3):Claudio Bravo (Barcelona, ESP), Johnny Herrera (Universidad de Chile, CHI), Christopher Toselli (Universidad Católica, CHI)

DEFENDERS (7): Jean Beausejour (Colo-Colo, CHI), José Pedro Fuenzalida (Universidad Católica, CHI), Mauricio Isla (Marseille, FRA), Gonzalo Jara (Universidad de Chile, CHI), Gary Medel (Inter Milan, ITA), Eugenio Mena (São Paulo, BRA), Enzo Roco (Espanyol, ESP)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Charles Aránguiz (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Marcelo Díaz (Celta de Vigo, ESP), Matías Fernández (Fiorentina, ITA), Pedro Pablo Hernández (Celta de Vigo, ESP), Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich, GER), Erick Pulgar (Bologna, ITA), Francisco Silva (Chiapas, MEX)

FORWARDS (6): Nicolás Castillo (Universidad Católica, CHI), Fabián Orellana (Celta de Vigo, ESP), Maurico Pinilla (Atalanta, ITA), Edson Puch (LDU Quito, ECU), Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal, ENG), Eduardo Vargas (Hoffenheim, GER)

 

Mexico
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jesús Corona (Cruz Azul, MEX), Guillermo Ochoa (Málaga, ESP), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca, MEX)

DEFENDERS (9): Paúl Aguilar (Club América, MEX), Néstor Araujo (Santos Laguna, MEX), Yasser Corona (Querétaro, MEX), Héctor Moreno (PSV, NED), Miguel Layún (Porto, POR), Rafael Márquez (Atlas, MEX), Jesús Molina (Santos Laguna, MEX), Diego Reyes (Real Sociedad, ESP), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres UANL, MEX)

MIDFIELDERS (4): Jesús Dueñas (Tigres UANL, MEX), Andrés Guardado (PSV, NED), Héctor Herrera (Porto, POR), Carlos Peña (Guadalajara, MEX)

FORWARDS (7): Javier Aquino (Tigres UANL, MEX), Jesús Corona (Porto, POR), Jürgen Damm (Tigres UANL, MEX), Javier Hernández (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Raúl Jiménez (Benfica, POR), Hirving Lozano (Pachuca, MEX), Oribe Peralta (Club América, MEX)

 

Uruguay
GOALKEEPERS (3): Martín Campaña (Independiente, ARG), Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray, TUR), Martín Silva (Vasco da Gama, BRA)

DEFENDERS (6): Jorge Fucile (Nacional, URU), Jose Giménez (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Diego Godín, (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Maximiliano Pereira (Porto, POR), Gastón Silva (Torino, ITA), Mauricio Victorino (Nacional, URU)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Egidio Arévalo Rios (Atlas, MEX), Matías Corujo (Universidad de Chile, CHI), Álvaro González (Atlas, MEX), Alvaro Pereira (Getafe, ESP), Gastón Ramírez (Middlesbrough, ENG), Cristian Rodríguez (Independiente, ARG), Carlos Sánchez (Monterrey, MEX), Matías Vecino (Fiorentina, ITA)

FORWARDS (6): Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-German, FRA), Abel Hernández (Hull City, ENG), Nicolás Lodeiro (Boca Juniors, ARG), Diego Rolán (Bordeaux, FRA), Cristhian Stuani (Middlesbrough, ENG), Luis Suárez (Barcelona, ESP)

 

Colombia
GOALKEEPERS (3): Cristian Bonilla (Atlético Nacional, COL), David Ospina (Arsenal, ENG), Róbinson Zapata (Santa Fe, COL)

DEFENDERS (8): Felipe Aguilar (Atlético Nacional, COL), Santiago Arias (PSV, NED), Farid Díaz (Atlético Nacional, COL), Frank Fabra (Boca Juniors, ARG), Stefan Medina (Pachuca, MEX), Jeison Murillo (Inter Milan, ITA), Yerry Mina (Santa Fe, COL), Cristián Zapata (AC Milan, ITA)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Edwin Cardona (Monterrey, MEX), Guillermo Celis (Junior, COL), Juan Cuadrado (Juventus, ITA), Sebastián Pérez (Atlético Nacional, COL), Andrés Felipe Roa (Deportivo Cali, COL), James Rodríguez (Real Madrid, ESP), Carlos Sánchez (Aston Villa, ENG), Daniel Torres (Independiente Medellín, COL)

FORWARDS (4): Carlos Bacca (AC Milan, ITA), Roger Martínez (Racing Club, ARG), Marlos Moreno (Atlético Nacional, COL), Dayro Moreno (Club Tijuana, MEX)