— Prediction: Argentina, Chile will advance.

GROUP B

— Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Jamaica

Once upon a time, Mexico would have been a lock to win this group, but things are more unpredictable these days.

El Tri has played in 10 Copa Americas, finished runner-up twice and third three times. But the team has struggled in recent years and lost two Copa warmup matches last week, 4-0 to Uruguay and 3-2 to Brazil, after a 1-0 win against Bolivia. The Mexican team is in a rebuild under coach Jaime Lozano, who left out some of the old guard and called up several Under-23 players. They could still advance, but maybe not win the group.

Ecuador has never won the Copa, and its best finish in the past four decades was fourth place in 1993, but this year’s team is good enough to finish atop Group B. Coach Félix Sanchez Bas has a talented roster, including Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen, Moises Caicedo of Chelsea and veteran leader Enner Valencia.

Venezuela’s La Vinotinto is a long shot to survive the group, but Yangel Herrera, who helped lead Girona to third place in Spain’s La Liga, is a player to watch. Jefferson Savarino will be well-known to MLS fans from his years with Real Salt Lake.

— Prediction: Mexico and Ecuador will advance.

GROUP C

— USA, Uruguay, Panama, Bolivia

...continued

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