The turmoil at the Copa America this summer has even been left without a home, but now there is football to look forward to.
Argentina and Colombia were initially supposed to be joint hosts for the final event, but both eventually saw it robbed of them, as social unrest and fears about the coronavirus led to chaos. But now, Brazil has stepped in to organize the tournament instead – although the pandemic situation there has also deteriorated.
Despite concerns off the field, there may be a great tournament in the future, and Sportsmail Take a closer look at 10 reasons to get excited before you start.
This summer’s Copa America will now take place in Brazil, but it has suffered from turmoil
Messi’s last chance to achieve glory with Argentina?
It has been a test season at club level for Lionel Messi and the eyes of the world will remain firmly on him as he now tries to win trophies with his country.
He will turn 34 during the Copa America, and this year’s event could prove to be his last chance to rule South America.
One of the big trophies with his country is the only honor he has eluded throughout his career, and Messi hopes to comfort those demons.
Despite having reached four finals with Argentina, in the Copa América in 2007, 2015, 2016 and the 2014 World Cup, Messi’s cup treasury far from Barcelona is bare.
By the time the next edition of this tournament comes along, Messi will be 37 and time will not really be his friend at that time.
This tournament, as well as the World Cup in Qatar next year, look like his last chances in securing his legacy.
Lionel Messi is finally hoping to win his first ever title with Argentina in this year’s final
Brazil seeks to defend its crown
For a while, Brazil’s players seemed ready to give up this year’s Copa America in protest of the decision to move it home.
It is now believed they will be playing as usual, so their quest to retain their title will begin against Venezuela on Sunday.
They grabbed the trophy in 2019 after beating Peru in the final in front of nearly 70,000 spectators in the Maracana.
This year, the blank backdrop will be a stark contrast if they ever get that far again – and the absence of fans has the potential to blow the tournament wide open.
The Brazilian national team is the favorite, though, and is hoping to add some much-needed color and sparkle to an event rightly followed by the backlash thus far.
Brazil is the holder of the Copa America and will be looking to keep the cup at home this summer
It’s live and free on the BBC
There may not be supporters in the stadium this year, but there will still be an audience watching millions on TV.
This is because the BBC broadcasts every match of the tournament, via iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
The selected matches will also be displayed via the red button.
Recent versions of the America’s Cup have been shown on Premier Sports, but the BBC will instead show 28 games completely free.
This year’s unforgettable Copa America matches will be broadcast for free on BBC
Aguero can turn tears into prizes
His club career may have been filled with many glittering titles, but Aguero’s performance for Argentina is no less than Messi’s.
He lost the World Cup Final and the Copa America twice, adding to the pain of finishing second in Manchester City’s Champions League loss to Chelsea.
Those last two mistakes in this tournament came against Chile, but he now has a chance to turn his depression into a success story.
Despite picking up injuries last season, Aguero was named to the Argentina squad, and he will be looking to hit the ground running before joining Barcelona.
And, having approached first prize in Porto, he will also want to avoid another big setback under the spotlight.
Sergio Aguero has also not won a title with Argentina and he will want to end that
International football returns to Rio
Rio de Janeiro hosted many memorable World Cup matches in 2014, and is home to the famous and sprawling Maracana.
It was also the venue for many lively parties during that tournament – everyone who traveled from all over the world felt right at home.
The passion for football that is rooted in the city has been well publicized, and that feeling will not wane in the absence of the roaring fans.
On July 10, the Maracana will host the final match, depending on which tournament will be played safely and the schedule.
The stadium will also host the opening match, which will see Brazil face Venezuela, at the start of this year’s edition.
Rio de Janeiro (pictured) and its passion for football will host some Copa America matches
Colombia is on its way to its second win ever
They no longer host the Copa América this year, but Colombia are hoping to move past the chaos and become an unexpected winner.
A strange storm has engulfed James Rodriguez – who has been left out of the squad despite looking fit enough to play a role.
The preparations were far from ideal, and their recent history shows that their last title win came back in 2001, when they beat Mexico in the final.
The only win since 1916 is a point toward a poorly accomplished team, and they will be determined to end their barren run.
Having finished third in 2016, the first time the tournament has been held outside of South America, Colombia proved they could go far if things came together.
Colombia hopes to overcome the chaos and become an unlikely winner of the tournament
Guerrero’s goal is a record 37
Ex-Bayern Munich player Paulo Guerrero is well aware that this may be his last Copa America adventure, and he has a lofty goal in his sights.
He has not played for Peru since 2019, but is still their all-time top scorer with 38 goals in 102 matches.
Guerrero was able to return to action with his club Internacional last month and is hoping for a chance to increase his score on the international stage.
That’s because his 14 goals in the Copa America left him with three record-breaking goals for Norberto Mendes and Zisinho, and four goals away from them.
These two guys scored their hardest during the 1940s and ’50s, and Guerrero is the only name in action that can finally, after all these years, improve on them.
Peru veteran Paulo Guerrero hopes to become the historic Copa America top scorer
Uruguay seeks to end a decade of hurt
They may be the most successful team in Copa America history, having won it 15 times, but Uruguay has not been nominated by many to lift the cup again this year.
It’s a very strong squad on paper – with Edinson Cavani, Jose Gimenez, Federico Valverde and Luis Suarez – and they look like they can move on.
It would be fair to say that they have not performed as expected since 2011, with two quarter-final exits and group stage knockouts after that.
Cavani will miss Uruguay’s clash with Venezuela, but he will be hoping to extend his impressive scoring brilliance at Manchester United into the tournament.
As for the rest of the group, there is plenty of depth to choose from and they will definitely believe they can end their decade of dread.
Luis Suarez hopes to inspire Uruguay to achieve their first Copa America win since 2011
Strongly Contested Groups
This year’s Copa America is getting more and more difficult to predict. There are two groups, both made up of five teams.
The first group includes defending champion and candidate Brazil, as well as Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
The second group includes Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Both groups are brimming with talent, and as a result there will be many nations hoping to reach the knockout punch.
Four teams from both groups will advance to the next round, with the fifth-placed country eliminated from the first hurdle.
It is very difficult to predict who will win the title this year as both groups are filled with talent
Recalcitrant Paraguay looks forward to shocking
Paraguay was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Brazil in 2019 but entered the tournament on a strong note.
They have enjoyed a good start to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, and have found themselves undefeated in their last eight matches.
It’s time for them to win the Copa America and, surprisingly or not, their first title came back in 1979.
Bolivia is waiting for them first, and Paraguay expects to at least get out of Group B, despite the quality of the team facing them.
Football behind closed doors has brought a lot of surprises before, of course, and Paraguay lifting this coveted trophy may be the best.
Paraguay hopes to shock and enter the tournament with a good run
