Copa America: Setting the Quarterfinals

The group stage of the 2007 Copa America comes to a close tonight with Argentina facing Paraguay and the United States taking on Colombia. Little is at stake in either game with Argentina and Paraguay already assured of spots in the quarterfinals and the United States and Colombia already assured of a quick trip home.

If there is a winner in the Argentina and Paraguay match they will go on to face Peru in the next round. If the game ends in a tie, Paraguay will finish first in the group and face Peru. The second place finisher will take on Mexico. The thought of a rematch of the scintillating Argentina-Mexico World Cup second round game last year is enough to make my mouth water. Well, that and the fact that I forgot to eat lunch today.

The other Copa America quarterfinal matches are already set. The hosts Venezuela will take on Uruguay on July 7, while Chile and Brazil will also square off on that day. The winners from those two matches will meet in the semifinals which means that if they both go through Brazil and Argentina would meet in the final.

There is a lot of football to be played between now and then of course and if there is one thing we have learned from the Copa America over the years it is that the competition rarely goes as expected.