Copa America 2016 Analysis: Brazil & Uruguay's Failures Among Suprises & Disappointments of Group Stage
Every major tournament is filled with a plethora of surprises and the Copa America is no different. This year's group stage has already given viewers a number of shockers with some teams disappointing, some thriving and some players stepping up to the plate. Here is a look at some of the biggest shockers so far.
Brazil & Uruguay Implode
Some Uruguay as a favorite to win it all, thanks to having Luis Suarez leading the line. Of course Suarez never got to play a minute due to injury, but his team never helped stand a chance at helping out, losing its first two games and crashing out of the group stage at the offset. The biggest shocker of all? It was far from a tough group, featuring Mexico, Venezuela and Jamaica as its biggest contestants. Also worth blasting is the performance of Edinson Cavani who simply choked in big moments as the leader of Uruguay's offense.
Brazil was probably a bigger flop as the Selecao continues its dark period in international soccer. Once touted as a shoe-in for the second round and beyond, Brazil has now gone two straight tournaments struggling at the initial hurdles and faltering quickly.
Venezuela thrives
Venezuela entered the tournament as arguably the worst of the worst in South America. And yet the team collected seven points from three matches, six more than it had in six CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers to date and more than such South American countries as Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile and Bolivia; only Peru and Argentina managed a stronger showing at the tournament thus far. Throw in the fact that Venezuela has only conceded one goal and you have one hell of a surprise.
Peru wins its group
Peru continues to be a contender in this tournament, winning its group and making it to the quarterfinals for the third straight Copa America. Peru made it through on controversy, but few will forget that this team had done its heavy lifting in the previous two matches, both wins over Ecuador and Haiti on its way to securing nine full points. In the process the team only conceded two goals across three matches.
Colombia blows group position
Colombia was expected to win Group A and after two solid wins to start the tournament looked poised for it. Blowing it in the final game was not a big shocker; every team is subject to a bad game.
It was the fact that coach Jose Pekerman opted for fielding a B-team to get a draw. And the plan backfired atrociously with the team losing 3-2 in a game where it needed just one goal to secure first place. Of course facing Peru and then either Chile or Mexico might be admittedly better than taking on Ecuador and Argentina back to back.
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