Ten to watch at the 2011 Copa América - in pictures
Edinson Cavani (Uruguay) We've avoided picking the likes of Lionel Messi, Robinho and Luis Suárez because they are already well known to most, if not all of you, dear readers. But this 21-year-old may already belong in that category too. If not, he will soon. During a preposterously good season for Napoli, which began with a brace on his first start, he showcased his formidable array of attributes, including strength, speed, a finely-honed killer instinct and monstrous shooting power off both feet. Thirty-three goals from 47 matches have led to all of the game's top clubs being linked with him for ridiculous figures. The trinity of him, Suárez and Diego Forlán can make any defence holey
Javier Pastore (Argentina) The riddle that Diego Maradona failed to resolve was how best to feed the attacking talent at Argentina's disposal. Pastore seems to have evolved into the solution. Javier Mascherano will provide the stage on which the 21-year-old, on the back of a superb season with Palermo, is expected to flourish. A supremely skilful playmaker with an eye for goal to boot. If 'El Flaco' ('The Skinny One') clicks, the chances of anyone beating Argentina are slim
Lucas Barrios (Paraguay) The striker will be on home turf in Argentina: he was born there but declared for Paraguay last year. It would probably be a bit of a stretch to suggest Argentina wish he were playing for them – they're not exactly short of attacking options – but Barrios would not look out of place in any team; powerful, mobile, direct and deft he can serve as target-man and finisher, as he demonstrated when top-scoring for Borussia Dortmund during their triumphant Bundesliga campaign
Arturo Vidal (Chile) Holding midfielder? Pah, what a limited role. Here is a player who showed throughout the last Bundesliga season that he has the dynamism and tenacity to destroy opponents' scheming and establish a platform for his own team but also the ambition and trickery to thrive on that there platform himself. The 24-year-old is a ferocious tackler and an incisive passer and does a mean line in timely surges into the box to finish off moves that he, in many cases, initiates. Arsenal and Manchester City are among the clubs hoping to prise him from Bayer Leverkusen
Neymar (Brazil) Virtually every scout on the planet seems to have checked out this prodigy over the last two years but Dunga's refusal to take him to the last World Cup means this is Neymar's chance to introduce himself to the world at a major international tournament – and just weeks after shooting his club, Santos, to victory in the Libertadores Cup. You will know him by his outrageous dribbling and surefire finishing, and may even find yourself joining the ranks of those who insist on referring to him as 'the new Pelé' or 'the next Ronaldinho' etc and so forth
Radamel Falcao (Colombia) Falcao was one of the outstanding players of the last European season, spearheading Porto’s swashbuckling success both at home and abroad, notably bagging a record haul of 17 goals in the Europa League. Two-footed, strong in the air and an instinctive mover and finisher, Falcao’s prolific form at Porto since arriving as a replacement for Lisandro López two years ago followed a similarly devastating spell at River Plate. However, he has so far struggled to reproduce his best at international level. This, then, is being billed as the tournament in which the 25-year-old will finally become as clinical for Colombia as he has been for his clubs. His ability to do that will, of course, depend on his team-mates’ ability to supply him with chances – with that in mind, the form of his somewhat erratic club-mate and compatriot, Fredy Guarín, will also be crucial
seems like it never ends
