Argentina and Brazil make it to the Copa America quarterfinals

Forced to win their last game of the group stage to avoid a deceiving elimination, both teams won their respective games with authority.

Seeing Brazil and Argentina qualified to the 2011 Copa America quarter finals is far from being a surprise. But what is really surprising is how they got there, because despite being the favorites to clinch title these two national teams suffered more than expected to be part of the eight finalists. Both of them secured their classification until the last game of the group stage, and now a new tou
ament begins for them.

If Brazil and Argentina had a hard time during the first two games of the group stage it was due to the low performance from their stars: Neymar and Lionel Messi respectively. Called to be the sensations of the tou
ament, both players were rather being the blank of all critics. But we all know what separates thesep layers from the rest: their capacity to stand up in key games and lead their team to victory.

After being upset in their debut against Bolivia with a draw to one, and frustrated by Colombia in game two with another tie (0-0), the hosts needed to defeat Costa Rica if they wanted to avoid a humiliating early elimination.

In those first two games the host Argentina used a tactic scheme where Messi barely had contact with the ball, and the team really accused this. Coach Sergio Checho Batista knew that in order for his team to perform to its full potential he needed more involved from Messi, and the only way to do so was by making some variations in the starting 11.

Batista did drastic changes and replaced his starting front line composed by Carlos Tevez, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Messi with Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Kun Aguero and Angel Di Maria. Messi was then pushed to the midfield to have more contact with the ball and the result of these adjustments was a 3-0 win over Costa Rica with two assists from him.

In one of the oldest rivalries in the continent the hosts will face Uruguay in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Early that day Colombia will also play Peru for a spot in the semifinals.

Later on Sunday the defending champions Brazil have a tough game against Paraguay, followed by Chile versus the surprising Venezuela.

For Brazil and Paraguay it will be the rematch of their group phase confrontation, which ended up 2-2 and forced the defending champions to defeat Ecuador on Wednesday to qualify.

With two goals from Alexandre Pato and two from Neymar Brazil earned their way to the quarterfinals by defeating Ecuador 4-2, showing signs of the team that everybody was expecting to see: one with a demolishing attack.

Despite not showing all of their potential in the group phase, Brazil and Argentina are still considered as favorites; specially know that the knock out rounds begin with Neymar and Messi hungry for glory.

While Brazil will try to clinch its third title in a row, Argentina will try to win their first one since 1993, and prevent their archrivals from celebrating in their homeland. Let the quarterfinals begin!