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Top teams face Copa America pressure

Colombian players Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, right front, and David Ferreira, left front, stretch during a practice session in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on Friday. Colombia will face Argentina tomorrow. PHOTO: EPA

With all 12 teams having played, the biggest surprise at the Copa America has been the disappointing displays by three of the top four in the last tournament -- defending champion Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia.

All three were relishing Friday's rest day before the second rotation of group matches resumed.

Brazil, the five-time world champion, has the most to prove going into its second Group B match today against Chile in Maturin after it was stunned 2-0 by depleted guest Mexico on Wednesday.

Brazil also lost a group match in 2004 in Peru, but by then it had already qualified for the quarter-finals. This time, it looks nothing like the side that squeezed through the South American championship three years ago, winning for the third time in four Copas.

Its confidence was dealt another blow when forward Fred, whom coach Dunga considered an important bench player, broke his foot in a practice game and was sidelined for the rest of the tournament.

Uruguay, tied for Argentina for the most Copa titles with 14, was scheduled to play a Group A match yesterday against rival Bolivia in San Cristobal.

Uruguay, third in 2004, started badly on Tuesday in a 3-0 pasting from Peru at Merida and has to rebound quickly.

Coach Oscar Tabarez regarded the match scheduled for yesterday as a championship final.

"Winning is the only outcome that helps us," he said on Friday.

Colombia won its group in 2004 and ended up fourth overall in defense of its title, but was embarrassed on Thursday in a stunning 5-0 defeat to Paraguay in Group C. The result was all the more surprising as Colombia was fearless after winning five of its seven warmup matches and drawing one.

The Colombians have little time to regroup as they face Argentina tomorrow in Maracaibo.

Argentina was the only tournament favorite to handily win its opening match, doing so against a second-string US 4-1 on Thursday. The Albiceleste have loaded up with European-based talent to end a 14-year title drought at the Copa.

Two-goal scorer Hernan Crespo and teammates spent Friday relaxing near their hotel pool, smiling for the cameras and lapping up the attention lavished on them by fans.

Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Paraguay and Chile have a chance to all but guarantee quarterfinals berth with second victories.
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