Argentina's Lionel Messi will make his Copa America debut in Venezuela. (JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)

Now that the CONCACAF Gold Cup is done, soccer fans will now turn their attention a little further south when the 2007 Copa America kicks off on Tuesday.

As the South American equivalent of the Gold Cup and Euro, the Copa America showcases the talents of the best players from all over South America.

From June 26 to July 15 in nine cities across Venezuela, 12 countries will compete in CONMEBOL's most prestigious tournament, with an eye on building momentum to this October when South America begins its qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The 12-team field at the South American championship is divided into four groups, with the top two teams in each group, and the two best third-place teams overall, advancing to the quarter-finals.

Venezuela will compete in Group A alongside Uruguay, Peru and Bolivia. Group B features the defending champion Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Ecuador. Group C is made up of Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia and the United States.

No less than six teams - four from South America (Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay) and two invited guests (Mexico and the United States) - that participated in last year's FIFA World Cup will be vying for the Copa America title this summer, with Brazil looking to repeat as champion and capture its eighth title overall.

Since 1996 and CONMEBOL's introduction of a marathon World Cup qualification format (based on the European model), countries have fielded weakened teams at the Copa America, so as not to lose players to injury or fatigue.

This year, however, most nations are sending their top players, raising the prospect for an exciting and eventful tournament with plenty of entertaining soccer.

CBC Sports Online offers this breakdown of the main teams and players to watch on the road to the final on July 15 in Maracaibo.

THE FAVOURITES

ARGENTINA
Argentina has to be considered the favourite at this year's competition, as coach Alfio Basile has called his best players into the team. Goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri (Getafe) and defenders Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan) and Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United) offer stability at the back, Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes de La Plata) and Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors) will create chances in midfield, while Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Hernan Crespo (Inter Milan) and Carlos Tevez (West Ham United) will supply the goals. What's more, Argentina is hungry - it hasn't won the Copa America since 1993 and is still stinging from its heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Brazil in the final of the 2004 tournament. This is the Argentines' tournament to lose.
Player to watch: Lionel Messi - The FC Barcelona star's exquisite ball control, speed and lethal scoring touch make him one of the most dangerous players in the world.
Prediction: Champions (finalist at the very least)

BRAZIL
Every one will be focusing on the absence of Ronaldinho and Kaka (both asked to be left off the team in order to rest) and several other regular starters, but this is still a dangerous Brazilian side. Playmaker Diego (Werder Breman) is coming off a fantastic season, as is Heerenveen striker Alfonso Alves (who led the Dutch league with 34 goals). Daniel Alves (Sevilla) and Juan (Bayer Leverkusen) anchor what is a surprisingly strong defence. Of course, all eyes will be on Real Madrid forward Robinho, and whether or not he can live up to his billing as the "next Pele." Expect Brazil to challenge Argentina for the title.
Player to watch: Robinho - With Kaka and Ronaldinho absent, this is Robinho's time to shine and prove that he is capable of leading the Brazilian attack.
Prediction: Finalist (if Argentina doesn't win the title, Brazil will)

ON THE RISE

CHILE
Chile will surprise many. Coach Nelson Acosta has assembled a talented team of youngsters, including midfield sensations Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras) and Matias Fernandez (Villarreal), and Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez. Humberto Suazo (Colo Colo) has emerged as a competent striker, and it'll be up to him to lead the offensive charge up front. Defensively, though, Chile is suspect. The team lacks a world-class centre-back, and will be hard-pressed to shut opponents down.
Player to watch: Jorge Valdivia - Still only 23, the Palmeiras star causes defenders plenty of headaches with his amazing dribbling skills and his speed.
Prediction: Quarter-finals

ON A SLIDE

COLOMBIA
Columbia won the Copa America on home soil in 2001 and reached the semifinals in 2004, but don't expect a similar strong showing this time around. Coach Jorge Luis Pinto is in the middle of rebuilding the national team and will use the Copa America as a testing ground in the leadup to this fall when the South American World Cup qualifiers begin. Without a first-rate striker, or a creative playmaker in midfield, Colombia will struggle to score goals.
Player to watch: Ivan Cordoba - The backbone of the Colombian defence, the Inter Milan star offers plenty of veteran leadership and is a real sparkplug in the middle of defence.
Prediction: First-round exit

DARK HORSE

ECUADOR

Edison Mendez drives Ecuador's attack with his speed. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Ecuador has underachieved at the Copa America - its best showing was a fourth-place finish in 1959 and 1993 - but the team is riding a wave of momentum after reaching the second round of last year's World Cup. The dangerous duo of Edison Mendez (PSV Eindhoven) and Luis Antonio Valencia (Wigan) orchestrate the attack from midfield, while youngster Felipe Caicedo (FC Basel) has the potential to be a world-class striker. This is a young and exciting team that is looking to challenge perennial South American heavyweights Argentina and Brazil.
Player to watch: Edison Mendez - As Mendez goes, so goes Ecuador. Possessing a powerful shot, Mendez is the key man behind Ecuador's potent attack.
Prediction: Semifinals

THE HOST

VENEZUELA
After serving as a punching-bag in South America, Venezuela has made great strides over the last few years and looks ready to assert itself before the hometown fans. The hosts are brimming with confidence after a solid World Cup qualifying campaign, and they should be able to build on that momentum this summer. Midfielder Juan Arango drives the attack and if the Mallorca star is at the top his game, Venezuela should be able to qualify for the quarter-finals from a weak group that includes an underachieving Uruguay, and South American lightweights Bolivia and Peru.
Player to watch: Juan Arango - A key player for Spanish club Mallorca, Arango is Venezuela's most dangerous player, combining speed, shooting ability and sublime passing skills
Prediction: Quarter-finals