Copa America Group C: looks foolish to write off ageing Uruguay's title chances

Chile

Defending champions Chile won the Copa America in 2015 and 2016 but they appear to be a team in decline and failed to qualify for Russia 2018.

Manchester United attacker Alexis Sanchez and Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal have been key parts of their success in recent years but both have questions to answer after failing to shine in club football this season.

Manager Reinaldo Rueda
Key man Alexis Sanchez

Ecuador

Ecuador have not reached the last four at a Copa America since hosting the tournament in 1993 and are not widely expected to go deep this summer.

They finished World Cup qualifying with six successive defeats and have not won a competitive match outside of Ecuador since defeating Venezuela 3-1 in November 2015.

Manager Hernan Dario Gomez
Key man Angel Mena

Japan

Nothing much was expected of Japan at last summer's World Cup but they had an excellent competition and looked on course to deliver the shock of the tournament until Belgium came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in Rostov.

Since then Japan reached the Asian Cup final – losing 3-1 to Qatar – and they have a decent chance of advancing beyond the group stage this summer.

Manager Hajime Moriyasu
Key man Shoya Nakajima

Uruguay

Veteran manager Oscar Tabarez turned 72 in March and some of his key players are getting long in the tooth but it would be foolish to write off Uruguay's Copa America chances.

Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are the wrong side of 30 but they are still scoring freely and the defence – anchored by Atletico Madrid duo Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez – will be difficult to breach.

Manager Oscar Tabarez
Key man Edinson Cavani

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