#news #sport #Brazil, #Argentina set for #Copa America draw

Old rivals Argentina and Brazil are preparing for the likelihood they will meet again in next year's final of the Copa America.

The draw set for Thursday in the coastal city of La Plata finds Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay as the seeded teams in the three groups, meaning the two powerhouse teams have a good shot of meeting in the final.

"An Argentina-Brazil final is always passionate," said Eduardo Deluca, secretary general of the South American confederation CONMEBOL. "But there are some other strong teams in the field."

Argentina is host to the South American championship, which opens on July 3 in La Plata and closes with the final on July 24 in Buenos Aires. Brazil defeated Argentina in the last two finals, and Brazil has won four of the last five Copa Americas.

Ten of the 12 teams are from the South American confederation with two invitees _ Japan and Mexico. Seven of the 12 reached the second round of the World Cup in South Africa. And three teams _ Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay _ are ranked in the top 10 by FIFA.

Behind the three seeded teams, the remaining nine have been placed in three groups. One team from each group will be drawn and placed randomly with Brazil, Argentina or Uruguay.

The groupings are: Paraguay, Chile, Colombia; Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru; Ecuador, Japan, Mexico.

The tournament bills itself as the oldest continental championship, dating from the first tournament in 1916. This makes it twice as old as the European Championship.

The tournament has changed format and frequency over the years. Argentina and Uruguay have each won 14 times, followed by Brazil with eight, Paraguay and Peru with two each, and Colombia and Bolivia with one apiece.

The tournament could feature five of the 23 players nominated for FIFA's player of the year award.

Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi won the award last year and he's the favorite again. The four others are Brazilians Daniel Alves, Julio Cesar and Maicon, and Diego Forlan of Uruguay. Forlan was named the top player in the World Cup.

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