Internet Desk : Mexico arrive at the Copa America in top form and coach Juan Carlos Osorio is in a confident mood ahead of their opening game against Uruguay.
Mexico have never lifted the trophy, finishing runners-up in 1993 and 2001, but they might fancy their chances of breaking their duck in neighbouring America.
Javier Hernandez’s late goal gave Mexico a 1-0 victory over defending champions Chile in their final warm-up game this week. The win, Mexico’s eighth in a row, extended their unbeaten run to 19 matches.
Following that game in San Diego, Osorio looked ahead to Mexico’s Group C curtain raiser.
Unlike Mexico, Uruguay have won the Copa on numerous occasions and are the most successful nation in the competition’s history — claiming their 15th title in 2011.
But the past will count for little when Oscar Tabarez’s team get their campaign under way in Arizona on Sunday and Uruguay defender Alvaro Pereira knows they must think carefully about how they approach Group C, which also includes Venezuela and Jamaica.
Uruguay will be without talismanic striker Luis Suarez, who is struggling with a hamstring injury he suffered during Barcelona’s Copa del Rey win over Sevilla on May 22.
Meanwhile, Jamaica will kick-off their Copa America Centenario against CONMEBOL side Venezuela as the two teams open the Group C games on Sunday 5th June at Soldier Field Chicago.
The Caribbean giants Jamaica who is ranked 55 in FIFA world rankings are one of the 6 nations representing CONCACAF in the 16 team competition while the remaining 10 teams comes for CONMEBOL. Jamaica qualified for this special edition of the tournament after they won the 2014 edition of the Caribbean cup.
On the other hand, Venezuela currently ranked 74th in the FIFA world ranking will be hoping to see this 1st game as an advantage as their next two games will be against Mexico and Uruguay, they need nothing less than a win in this game if they must qualify from the group stage.