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The Copa America Centenario has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride. During the group stage, we have seen the fall of two national teams who were considered top challengers for the title, and we've witnessed the rise of a pair that many people wouldn’t have put their money on to win it all before the tournament started.
Tops:
Argentina
Arguably the only team to live up to its pre-tournament expectations, Argentina seems to be on track to finally win a major title.
La Albiceleste finished the group stage of the competition with both the best offense and the best defense of the tournament, scoring 10 goals in total while only conceding one.
Much of that offensive effectiveness has to deal with the balance of Tata Martino’s group when attacking the opposition.
So far, Argentina had eight different players scoring goals in the Copa America Centenario. The only player who scored more than once is the tournament’s top scorer, Lionel Messi, who tallied a hat-trick in their second match.
However, despite their offensive mastery, the Argentinians will face one of the toughest, and most surprising, opponents they could in their first knockout game. Next for Messi and company is the only squad that managed to match Argentina's defensive prowess in the group stage: Venezuela.
Venezuela
A win is a win no matter how many times you score. That had to be the motto for this Venezuela squad during the group stage.
Three matches, three goals and seven points. La Vinotinto did its homework and earned a place in the tops section of this ranking.
Not for the fact that they held their own against an entertaining Mexico side, or did their job against Jamaica, but because they were the wild card in sending Uruguay home early.
Effective counters and a rock-solid defense were the keys for what might’ve been the best string of games anyone has ever seen Venezuela play.
Add that to the fact they will have an opportunity to stun Lionel Messi and the favorite Argentina in their first knockout game, and people might not be as surprised if they see a historical upset at Gillette Stadium Saturday.
Mexico
Arguably the most exciting squad to watch in the Copa America so far, Mexico has proven it has the tools to go all the way in the tournament.
By no means should Juan Carlos Osorio’s team be considered the favorites to win the whole thing. And yet, judging by the involving and efficient brand of soccer they’ve been playing you couldn’t blame Mexico fans for putting their money on a title.
They struggled to score against Venezuela in their final group stage match, but whenever a squad gets to stamp a first place spot with a beauty like Jesus Corona’s goal, it's hard not to believe there’s more magic still to come.
Flop:
Brazil
For the second time in 100 years, the Selecao bid goodbye to the Copa America still in the first round. Sure, Peru had a little hand on the win that sealed Dunga’s fate as a failed national team manager, but Brazil also had a little help from the referees in their first match against Ecuador.
Call it poetic justice or not, this result was just the icing on a cake that has been cooking up since the country was eliminated from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Since then, Brazilian soccer history has been nothing but a long and painful nightmare.
Two Copa America knockouts at the hands of Paraguay, the legendary 7-1 World Cup loss to Germany at home, and finally the first group stage elimination in the Copa America since 1987.
The Selecao already has the name of its next manager, former Corinthians' boss Tite, who will have a tough job turning this Neymar-dependent group around.
