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Chile and Brazil are two of the teams in action in the Copa America.

Copa América kicks off in Chile

Copa América kicks off in Chile

Premier League badge.

South America's most prestigious international tournament kicks off on the 11th of June. For the next three weeks, 12 nations will be in Chile fighting to become Copa America Champions 2015. This year's competition has the biggest group of English-based players ever and three-quarters of the teams have Premier League players. In this article, we take a closer look at the Copa America and some of the players who will be there.

Who plays in the Copa America?

The Copa America is the oldest continental tournament in world football and was first played in 1916, when only four teams (Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile) took part. This year's competition has 12 teams. Traditionally, all of the teams have come from South America, but the South American Football Association often invite countries from other regions to take part. In this year's competition, Mexico and Jamaica have been invited and will play with 10 of the biggest nations in South American football.  

Who is the most successful team?

Brazil have won the trophy 8 times and Argentina have won it 14 times, but surprisingly it's Uruguay who have won the trophy the most times. Uruguay are the competition holders, as they beat Argentina 3-0 in the 2011 final to win the competition for a record 15th time. It will be more difficult for them this time, their star player, ex-Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, is suspended.

Who will win group A?

Group A
Chile
Mexico
Ecuador
Bolivia

 

Chile are the favourites in Group A.Chile are the hosts and many people's dark horse to win the trophy for the first time. With Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez in Chile's attack, fresh from a fantastic first Premier League season, they have a player who can make a difference. With the home crowd behind them, Chile will be expected to finish top of this group. If Chile are the favourites, it will be close to see which team finishes second and third (the 2 best third-placed teams also qualify for the quarter finals). Manchester United's Antonio Valencia will miss the competition because of an ankle injury, but his namesake, West Ham's Enner Valencia, will hope to score the goals to help Ecuador qualify.

Who's going to win Group B?

Group B
Argentina
Uruguay
Paraguay
Jamaica

 

Argentina got to the World Cup Final last year.Argentina are many people's favourites to win the tournament, so they must be favourites to finish top of this group. Argentina have chosen 7 Premier League players and will hope that Manchester Utd's Angel Di Maria and Tottenham's Erik Lamela can provide the assists for Manchester City's Sergio Aguero to score the goals. At the same time, Argentinian fans will hope that Man City's Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis will keep clean sheets at the back. The rest of the group may be chasing second place. Two Premier League centre-backs, Everton's Antolin Alcaraz and Sunderland's Sebastian Coates, may have a difficult time against Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero. Jamaica are the underdogs in the group and are playing in the competition for the first time.

Who will win Group C?

Group C
Brazil
Colombia
Peru
Venezuela

 

Can Falcao help Colombia beat Brazil?Brazil are probably the favourites in this group, but Colombia are sure to challenge at the top of the table. Brazil will be looking to bounce back from the humiliation of the 7-1 defeat to Germany in last year's World Cup. Colombia, however, will be looking for revenge after Brazil beat them in the quarter-finals last year. With Radamel Falcao back in the Colombia team, and looking to forget a disappointing season with Manchester Utd, maybe Colombia can beat Brazil in a competitive match for the first time in over 20 years! Peru and Venezuela are the underdogs in this group, but they will be looking to spring a suprise in the first round of matches, when Peru play Brazil and Venezuela play Colombia.

West Ham's Enner Valencia and Ecuador will hope to cause a shock at the Copa America.
 

What did you understand?


In this activity, look at some of the vocabulary from the text and see if you can match the words to their definitions.
Match the words to their definitions.

Listen to Jack and Rich talking about their predictions about the Copa America.
Test your listening.

If you want some practise activities to check your comprehension or listen to more podcasts, check out our listening section.

Arsenal's David Ospina will be in goal for Colombia.
 

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What do you think?

What are your predictions for the Copa America?

Will Chile win the trophy for the first time? Will Argentina win to equal Uruguay's record of 15 wins?

Who is going to be the player of the tournament?

Leave a message in the comments section below.

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Comments

hsn's picture
hsn
14/05/2022
TR
5555
points

Phrases
My name is common in the muslim countries so it's not difficult to find a namesake person.
Note
As far as I know except a few of them national teams that have many players who plays abroad usually aren't successful in the tournaments like this .


hsn's picture
hsn
14/05/2022 16:33
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5555

Phrases
My name is common in the muslim countries so it's not difficult to find a namesake person.
Note
As far as I know except a few of them national teams that have many players who plays abroad usually aren't successful in the tournaments like this .

Gabriel Amaral's picture
Gabriel Amaral
25/03/2021
BR
1512
points

My predictions at that range was Brazil and Argentina as favourites. But Chile won the trophy for the first time. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, from Chile, was nominated the best player of the tournament.


Gabriel Amaral's picture
Gabriel Amaral
25/03/2021 16:52
Brazil
Arsenal
1512

My predictions at that range was Brazil and Argentina as favourites. But Chile won the trophy for the first time. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, from Chile, was nominated the best player of the tournament.

raugarr
23/09/2020
MX
99
points

I thought that Argentina could win the Copa and I think that Arturo’s Vidal performance was so good. He was the MVP’s tournament.


raugarr
23/09/2020 03:58
Mexico
Liverpool
99

I thought that Argentina could win the Copa and I think that Arturo’s Vidal performance was so good. He was the MVP’s tournament.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
07/07/2020
TR
6536
points

Always the predictions are for Brazil and Argentina.
Chile won it on penalties as far as I remember and it was an exceptional tournament for Alexis Sanchez and his teammates.
Alexis Sanchez as I predicted as he was on fire.


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
07/07/2020 13:27
Turkey
Manchester United
6536

Always the predictions are for Brazil and Argentina.
Chile won it on penalties as far as I remember and it was an exceptional tournament for Alexis Sanchez and his teammates.
Alexis Sanchez as I predicted as he was on fire.

Izabela
01/07/2020
BR
1505
points

Ok


Izabela
01/07/2020 03:06
Brazil
Newcastle United
1505

Ok

jjosebadillo's picture
jjosebadillo
27/11/2019
MX
435
points

Yes he can


jjosebadillo's picture
jjosebadillo
27/11/2019 18:59
Mexico
Wolverhampton Wanderers
435

Yes he can

josegsalass's picture
josegsalass
22/11/2019
VE
581
points

This tournament has also finished. There's no need to make predictions.


josegsalass's picture
josegsalass
22/11/2019 22:22
Venezuela
Liverpool
581

This tournament has also finished. There's no need to make predictions.

Arsenal Cris
11/11/2016
VN
372
points

Chile won


Arsenal Cris
11/11/2016 12:03
Vietnam
Hull City AFC
372

Chile won

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
02/07/2016
GH
4779
points

Chile won it for the first time and repeated it the 2nd time


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
02/07/2016 11:55
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

Chile won it for the first time and repeated it the 2nd time

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
02/07/2016
GH
4779
points

Chile won the competition


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
02/07/2016 11:54
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

Chile won the competition

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
08/03/2016
PS
3705
points

Sorry i meant Uraguay not Chili.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
08/03/2016 11:35
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

Sorry i meant Uraguay not Chili.

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
05/03/2016
PS
3705
points

In 2011 Chili won Paraguay 3-0 not Argentina.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
05/03/2016 13:37
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

In 2011 Chili won Paraguay 3-0 not Argentina.

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
05/03/2016
PS
3705
points

Chilie deserved the cup they played pretty well.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
05/03/2016 13:35
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

Chilie deserved the cup they played pretty well.

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
13/12/2015
ME
3557
points

Chile made a breakthrough on the Mondial in Brazil. And on the Copa America they can show only the very best. Fans go crazy and the choreographies are amazing as always. I love this competition.


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
13/12/2015 19:41
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

Chile made a breakthrough on the Mondial in Brazil. And on the Copa America they can show only the very best. Fans go crazy and the choreographies are amazing as always. I love this competition.

MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
22/11/2015
RW
2320
points

Sanchez was the player of tournament


MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
22/11/2015 12:11
Rwanda
Arsenal
2320

Sanchez was the player of tournament

almirpereira's picture
almirpereira
28/10/2015
BR
1339
points

WOW


almirpereira's picture
almirpereira
28/10/2015 23:34
Brazil
Chelsea
1339

WOW

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
27/10/2015
ME
3557
points

Uruguay, small country- big players!


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
27/10/2015 00:00
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

Uruguay, small country- big players!

almirpereira's picture
almirpereira
18/10/2015
BR
1339
points

I believe in Argentine or Chile.


almirpereira's picture
almirpereira
18/10/2015 02:26
Brazil
Chelsea
1339

I believe in Argentine or Chile.

Salloum's picture
Salloum
28/09/2015
SY
1308
points

Yes Chile


Salloum's picture
Salloum
28/09/2015 02:18
Syria
Manchester United
1308

Yes Chile

MasterSilver500's picture
MasterSilver500
22/09/2015
VN
437
points

Let's go!


MasterSilver500's picture
MasterSilver500
22/09/2015 14:21
Vietnam
Manchester United
437

Let's go!

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1Alex_from_Ukraine6570
2mobeckham6536
3hsn5555
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4779
6Liubomyr4417
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia74670
2Ukraine33833
3Spain29384
4Serbia27426
5Brazil23388
6Albania20578
7Vietnam20437
8Turkey20093
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United146566
2Liverpool111201
3Chelsea90102
4Arsenal86318
5Manchester City58708
6Tottenham Hotspur19407
7Newcastle United10560
8West Ham United7652
9AFC Bournemouth4915
10Everton4533

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

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Tips

Recording Vocabulary

How do you keep a record of new vocabulary? There are some great apps you can use on your computer, tablet or smartphone. Here are a couple of suggestions:

  • Evernote is a fantastic tool for storing and categorising vocabulary.
  • Anki is another great tool - you can use it to create flash cards and then test yourself.