COPA AMERICA:A look back at the oldest intercontinental football tournament.

Time for little bit sports and now its the time for Football as 100th  Anniversary of Copa America is taking place in the USA.

As the Copa America Centenario comes about on 100 anniversary of the oldest intercontinental football tournament(older than the world cup itself ), let us take a look back at the tournament's glorious past.

The Copa América, formerly known as the South American Football Championship, is a men's international football tournament contested between the
national teams of CONMEBOL, determining the continental champion of South America. It is the oldest international continental football competition. The first Copa America was contested in Argentina in 1916 among the four major footballing teams in South America, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile, as the 'Campeonato Sudamericano de Football'.Uruguay would emerge triumphant in the very first edition and would go on to retain their title in the 2nd edition held in their own home soil. The Copa would subsequently be conducted every year till the inaugural world cup in 1930(except 1919) adding Paraguay, Bolivia, and Peru along the way. It is also worth noting that the governing body of football in South America, the CONMEBOL, was established only after the success of the first tournament in 1916.
After the first world cup was conducted in Uruguay in 1930, a subsequent altercation between Argentine and Uruguayan FAs saw the Copa being suspended till 1935 when it was held in Peru. Since then the tournament has been conducted in a more or less irregular manner until now. After eight years of absence from 19677-75, the event resumed in 1975 and officially acquired the name Copa América. The tournament then had no fixed venue, and all matches were played throughout the year in each country.

The competition reverted back to its old format, involving a host in 1987 and subsequently started the current format involving 12 teams in 1993. Since then 2 teams from around the world have been invited ever since in order to fill in for the 2 remaining slots after the 10 members of CONMEBOL were granted automatic qualification.

Till date, 44 such editions of the Copa have been held in which Uruguay and Argentina remain the most successful with 15 and 14 titles respectively. But most of the success of these two teams have come in the yesteryears, with Argentina failing to win since 1993 and Uruguay facing a 16-year trophy drought between 1995 and 2011. Chile one of the participants in the inaugural tournament managed their first Copa in the last concluded tournament which they hosted last year.

This year a special Centenario edition of the tournament is being held in the USA involving all the teams from the North and South America(ie the CONMEBOL & CONCACAF members.)

Over the years, the Copa has produced some memorable moments be it the initial power struggle between Uruguay and Argentina or the most followed present-day rivalry between Argentina and Brazil. The Copa also has produced surprise winners including the recent triumphs of Chile and Uruguay as well as the 2001 victory that Columbia managed in the tournament they hosted. The tournament has also thrown up surprising results such as the Honduras win over Brazil in the 2001 tournament and both Brazil and Argentina failing to make the semis in 2011, despite entering the tournaments as the favorites.

It is also worth noting that two of footballs greatest names, Pele and Diego Maradona, neither managed to win the Copa America during their careers. Argentina dominated the copas in the 50s and early 60s when Pele managed to inspire Brazil to its first three world cup triumphs and during Maradona golden period, Argentina was initially overpowered by Uruguay and Brazil and then the legend failed to take part in the Argentine teams that triumphed in '93 and '91.

Both don't have a Copa :)

It is also worth noting that Argentina made the finals in 27 of the 44 tournaments so far while Uruguay has appeared in the semis on 34 occasions. In recent years Brazil too has emerged successful with triumphs in both 2005 and 2007 bringing their tally to 8 titles.

Among individual honors yesteryear stars, Ziziinho of Brazil and Norberto Mendez of Argentina holds the record for maximum goals scored with 17 each, whereas among relatively recent players Gabriel Batistuta of Argentina has 13 keeping him tied in the 4th spot.

The present-day favorite Lionel Messi holds the record for most assists with 9. He also has the most man of the match awards with 6, but yet hasn't managed to win the famous trophy in the blue and white stripes of Argentina.

Going into the 2016 tournament, Argentina enter as favourites this June following the Brazilian decision to rest their top star Neymar in favour  of the Olympics that is to be held in Rio in August but still are expected to mount a firm challenge with the team including numerous stars such as Willian and also a rising gem in the youngster Gabriel dubbed 'Gabigol' by the Brazilian media. Holders Chile would also fancy their chances, led in attack by Arsenal winger Alexis Sanchez and boasting Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to lead the side.2011 victors Uruguay would also be in with a shout following the return of Luis Suarez, who missed the last edition through a FIFA ban and also boast the likes of Edinson Cavani and Diego Godin in their ranks.Peru, Paraguay, and Equador led by Manchester United's Antonio Valencia too are capable of springing a surprise , while the USA managed by the tactically astute Jurgen Klinsmann is bound to be a challenge for any side and despite missing their star striker Radamel Falcao, Columbia involving the 2014 world cup top scorer James Rodriguez is bound to be in with a shout.

2016 Copa America Centenario edition would be the largest till date and is bound to be an interesting watch for all football fans around the globe.
-GT