Copa America 2015 Preview: Venezuela
Overview
Venezuela, the only South American team to have never qualified for a World Cup, has slowly made progress in recent years as a burgeoning force in the region.
Though they were unable to reach Brazil last summer, they concluded CONMEBOL qualifying as the best of the rest, finishing just beneath Uruguay for the region's World Cup playoff spot.
That followed a surprising fourth-place finish at the 2011 Copa America, where a semifinal loss to Paraguay on penalties robbed the country of its first-ever appearance in the championship match.
Though Noel Sanvicente's team is being discounted by many thanks to their placement alongside continental powerhouses Brazil and Colombia in Group B, La Vinotinto have already proven that they are capable of being the plucky underdogs who make a deep run against the odds.
Can they do it again?
Group Stage Schedule
| Date | Match | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 - 06 - 14 | Colombia vs. Venezuela | 16:00 | Estadio El Teniente |
| 2015 - 06 - 18 | Peru vs. Venezuela | 20:30 | Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander |
| 2015 - 06 - 21 | Brazil vs. Venezuela | 18:30 | Estadio Monumental David Arellano |
All times are listed in local time
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1): Dani Hernandez; Gabriel Cichero, Fernando Amorebieta, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, Roberto Rosales; Franklin Lucena, Tomas Rincon; Josef Martínez, Juan Arango, Cesar Gonzalez; Salomon Rondon
El Capitan
Veteran attacking midfielder Juan Arango, 35, will still be relied upon heavily in his sixth Copa America tournament as an attacking outlet for a team that lacks many legitimate stars going forward.
The country's all-time leader in caps and goals, Arango - who plies his trade in Mexico with Club Tijuana - made headlines earlier this past April when he bit an opponent on the shoulder. He was promptly suspended.
Now, he'll be looking to leave a different kind of mark.
The Star
If Venezuela is to have any hope of replicating its surprising run to the semi-finals from 2011, Salomon Rondon is going to be required to do all the heavy lifting up front.
The 25-year-old striker is coming off a solid season in which he helped Zenit St. Petersburg to the Russian Premier League title with 13 goals in 26 matches. He'll need that scoring form to get off the plane with him in Chile if he wants to help his national side make a meaningful impact on this competition.
A physical, powerful presence up front, Rondon is equally proficient in the air and on the deck, where he is quick enough to react to opportunities that arise inside the penalty area. All of those skills will need to be on full display over the next month.
The Young Gun
Having recently sealed a move to Benfica, these are exciting times for 20-year-old forward Jhon Murillo.
With just one cap to his name heading into the tournament, Murillo could emerge as one of the most exciting youngsters to announce himself on the world stage - a staple of Copa America's past.
Not surprisingly, he's looking forward to the opportunity.
"It’s a great experience to be here with so many players that I have watched on television like Ronald Vargas, Juan Arango and have dreamed of playing playing with," he recently told Marca.
"I’m happy with the confidence that professor Noel (Sanvicente) has shown in me. To be given a chance like this with the national team, it’s important to take advantage of it."
Burning Questions
- If Rondon is unable to translate his scoring form with Zenit to this tournament, where are the goals going to come from?
- Will Noel Sanvicente continue with the attacking style that he has attempted to implement since taking over in September, or will he revert back to the more conservative tactics of his predecessor?
- Can an ageing team keep pace with opponents who are chock-full of youthful, exuberant talent?
Odds and Ends
Nickname: La Vinotinto
Most caps: Juan Arango (121)
Top scorer: Juan Arango (23)
Best Copa America result: 4th place (2011)