Argentina, Brazil again favourites

LIMA, Peru (AP) - Now it's South America's turn.

With the European Championship crowning Greece as its surprise continental champion, South America begins its tournament on Tuesday (Wednesday in Brunei) to determine the region's best.

The 88-year-old Copa America features 10 teams from the region plus invited guests Mexico and Costa Rica. It's quite possible a rank outsider could copy Greece and claim the bragging rights in a region where soccer passions run deep.

For now, however, the pre-tournament favourites are usual suspects Argentina and Brazil. But both teams will be devoid of their top stars, allowing a strong chance for surprise at soccer's oldest tournament.

World Cup champion Brazil will be without its three "R"s - Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, and Ronaldinho - who have chosen to rest after gruelling European seasons.

Instead, midfielders Alex and Kleberson will lead a youngster-filled Brazil squad, testing players and strategies with an eye toward the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.

"Our principal objective will be watching players for the future," said coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. "But in the process, we are obviously also looking to win."

Brazil leads the South American qualifying race, on hiatus until September, with 13 points after seven games, and holds a one-point edge over Argentina. Chile and Paraguay are tied for third. For Argentina, however, the stakes are high at this year's Copa.

The Argentines are coming off several disappointing showings and pressure is mounting on coach Marcelo Bielsa, who is largely discredited by fans angry over the team's inconsistency.

Many charge he has shown little creativity in piecing together a team loaded with some of the game's top talent, and some fans are openly calling for his resignation.

Hoping for a turnaround, Bielsa has drafted several players from the team's 2002 World Cup squad. While top stars Hernan Crespo, Pablo Aimar, and Walter Samuel are staying home, opting to recuperate from their seasons in Europe, Argentina probably has the strongest squad in the tournament. But nothing less than the title is likely to ease the deepening malaise in Buenos Aires.

Putting a fresh touch on old favourites has also been the challenge for Peru, which has renovated stadiums in seven cities, adding 57,500 seats as it hosts the Copa America for the first time since 1957.

Organisers have overcome threats by airport workers, and a dispute with the owners of the country's largest and most modern arena, Monumental Stadium. The 80,000-seat stadium was set to host the final on July 25, but was dropped in May after a co-owner tried to condition its use.

Instead, the tournament will open and close at Lima's 45,000-seat Nacional Stadium, built for the 1953 Copa.

The opening ceremony will be held between Tuesday's opening Group A games, Colombia-Venezuela, and Peru-Bolivia. Defending champion Colombia is in rebuilding mode, and vulnerable to an improved Venezuela, hoping to win its first Copa match since 1967.

Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda has said he doesn't expect a repeat of the team's 2001 championship won at home. He's instead aiming for a good performance to give a boost to his bedraggled team, currently seventh in World Cup qualifying.

Peru hopes Nolberto Solano, who plays for England's Aston Villa, and striker Claudio Pizzaro of Germany's Bayern Munich can harness the home field advantage to lift Peru to its third title.

Peru should easily emerge from Group A, the weakest of the three groupings. Mexico will have one of the few veteran squads in the tournament.

Defender Claudio Suarez, Jared Borgetti, a prolific goal-scorer and fan favourite, along with forward Francisco Valencia and goalkeeper Oscar Perez will form the core of a Mexican team laden with thirtysomethings.

 -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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