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34 unusual facts about Copa América


Alberto Junior Rodríguez

Rodríguez started representing Peru during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and quickly became a defensive cornerstone for the national side, representing it at the 2007 Copa América in an eventual quarterfinal exit.

Alejandro Lago

He has earned league championships with both Peñarol and Rosenborg, and he was part of the Uruguay squad that came on third place in Copa América 2004.

Antolín Alcaraz

Alcaraz was again first-choice for Paraguay during the 2011 Copa América, held in Argentina.

Baltazar Maria de Morais Júnior

Baltazar played for the Brazilian national team at the 1989 Copa América which was held on home soil, appearing in three group stage matches for the eventual winners (including the 0–0 against Colombia as a starter).

He appeared with the Brazilian national team at the 1989 Copa América.

Edinson Cavani

He has since participated in two major tournaments, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2011 Copa América.

Edu Gaspar

This was cancelled by April as he was handed a match against Chile and subsequently named to play in the Copa América in 2004.

Fernando Muslera

On 19 July 2011, Galatasaray officially announced the signing of Fernando Muslera from Lazio on a 5-year contract while he was on duty in the Copa América with Uruguay.

Muslera was called again by coach Óscar Tabárez to represent Uruguay as the first choice goalkeeper at the 2011 Copa América, which was held in Argentina.

Hidrobo Rosero

He was a member of the Ecuador national football team at the 1997 Copa América, and obtained a total number of four caps during his career and was a member of the Ecuador squad for Copa América 1997.

Hólger Quiñónez

He earned a total number of fifty caps for the Ecuador national team during 15 years, and represented the country in five Copa América tournaments.

Hugo Rubio

His two biggest accomplishments with La Roja were the second place in the 1987 Copa América in Argentina and the third place in 1991 Copa América in Chile.

Joel Reyes

He also has represented to the Chilean national football team five years, playing the same number of games, but however, he failed to play in tournaments like the Copa América editions of 2001 and 2004.

Juan Arango

In the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, he helped the Vinotinto finish a best-ever fourth in the continental competition, scoring in the last match, a 1–4 loss against Peru, in what was his 100th international cap.

In the 2007 edition held in his country, he helped the national team finish first in the group stage, and scored in the quarterfinals against Uruguay, but in a 1–4 defeat.

In 2004, he appeared in all three group stage matches during the Copa América.

Júlio Baptista

However, Baptista was re-called to the Brazil squad for the 2007 Copa América and scored the opening goal in Brazil's 3–0 victory over Argentina in the final on 15 July 2007.

Kenny Cooper

This ended his hopes of playing in the 2007 Copa América and for the national team.

Luis Carlos Perea

Perea participated in four Copa América finals, and netted his first international goal in the 1993 Copa América, in the 88th minute of the quarterfinal match against Uruguay (1–1 after 120 minutes, penalty shootout win).

Luisão

A Brazilian international on 43 occasions, Luisão appeared for the country in two World Cups and three Copa América tournaments.

Marko Ciurlizza

Selected for the 1997 Copa América, he did not play and debuted in the national team on June 29, 1999 at the 1999 Copa América match against Japan.

Martín Silva

Silva was also Uruguay's third choice goalkeeper in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2011 Copa América.

Maximiliano Pereira

Pereira was again an undisputed starter for Uruguay in the 2011 Copa América held in Argentina, with the national team winning its 15th continental tournament.

An Uruguayan international since 26 October 2005 in a friendly loss in Mexico, Pereira quickly became a regular for the country, and represented it at the 2007 Copa América.

A Uruguayan international on more than 90 occasions, Pereira represented the nation at the 2010 World Cup and two Copa América tournaments.

Oswaldo Ramírez

He is one of the highest scoring players in the history of the Copa Libertadores and he helped Peru win the 1975 Copa América.

Pablo Aimar

Aimar scored the last goal of the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup during Argentina's 1–4 loss in the final to champions Brazil, also appearing with the national side in the 2007 Copa América (losing in the final to the same team, this time 0–3).

Aimar gained more than 50 caps for Argentina during one full decade, representing the nation in two World Cups and as many Copa América tournaments.

Percy Olivares

Olivares represented the nation in seven Copa América tournaments, helping it to the quarterfinals in the 1993 edition, in Ecuador.

Raúl Ruidíaz

In June 2011, Ruidíaz was called up by the coach Sergio Markarián to the Copa América held in Argentina, being member of the squad that finished in the tournament's third place, after of the 4–1 victory over Venezuela, playing one game for the contest against the Chilean football team.

Renato Dirnei Florêncio

A Brazilian international during two years, Renato was part of the squads that won one Copa América and one Confederations Cup.

Ricardo Oliveira

A Brazilian international in the 2000s, Oliveira helped the national team win one Copa América and one Confederations Cup.

He was subsequently included in Brazil's squad for the 2004 Copa América, winning his first cap on 8 July 2004 against Paraguay.

Roberto Junior Fernández

He was selected for Paraguay senior squad for the 2011 Copa América.


Mauricio Pellegrino

He was picked for the squad at that year's Copa América and made his debut precisely in the continental tournament, against Ecuador in the group stage.

Raí

Raí gained the first of his 51 caps for Brazil in 1987, whilst at São Paulo, being selected to that year's Copa América in Argentina, playing twice – including in the 0–4 group stage loss against Chile – in an eventual group stage exit.

Sálvio Spínola Fagundes Filho

Following the retirement of fellow countryman Carlos Eugênio Simon he finally secured his maiden Copa América appointment in 2011, where he went on to officiate the final between Uruguay and Paraguay.

Sportivo Luqueño

For the 1999 Copa América, hosted by Paraguay, the club built a brand new stadium which seats 25,000, making it the third largest in Paraguay (after the Defensores del Chaco in Asunción and the Estadio Antonio Oddone Sarubbi in Ciudad del Este).

Víctor Diogo

He made his international debut on September 20, 1979 in a Copa América match against Paraguay (0-0) in Asunción.