Chile and Uruguay do battle in Group C with Peru and a under strength Mexico hoping to spring a surprise.

CHILE

The Coach

Claudio Borghi won the World Cup as a player for Argentina but has a long association with  Chile as a player and coach.

The Star

Alexis Sanchez is on the verge of a €38m move to Barcelona. A talented forward with outstanding dribbling abilty, he was also frequently on the score sheet for Udinese last term.

The Lowdown

When successful coach Marcelo Bielsa resigned in February, Chileans could be forgiven for thinking their recent renascence would end but the form of key players have lent hope for this tournament. In midfield they are solid, Carlos Carmona, Gary Medel and the outstanding Arturo Vidal can cope with anything in world football. They have creativity talent in abundance with Matias Fernandez and Jorge Valdivia while Alexis Sanchez is the headline act. And while they are suspect at the back, they are certainly the competition’s dark horses.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad, ESP) Miguel Pinto (Atlas, MEX) Paulo Garces (Universidad Catolica, CHI) Raul Olivares (Colo Colo, CHI)

Defenders: Gonzalo Jara (West Bromwich Albion, ENG) Pablo Contreras (Paok, GRE) Waldo Ponces (Cruz Azul, MEX) Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen, GER)

Midfielders: Marco Estrada (Montpellier, FRA) Bruno Romo (Palestino, CHI) Gary Medel (Sevilla, ESP) Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo, CHI) Carlos Carmona (Atalanta, ITA) Felipe Seymour (Universidad de Chile, CHI) Francisco Silva (Universidad Catolica, CHI) Mauricio Isla (Udinese, ITA) Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo, BRA) Fernando Meneses (Universidad Catolica, CHI) Matias Fernandez (Sporting CP, POR) Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras, BRA) Luis Jimenez (Cesena, ITA) Felipe Gutierrez (Universidad Catolica, CHI)

Strikers: Jean Beausejour (Birmingham, ENG) Alexis Sanchez (Udinese, ITA) Mauricio Pinilla (Palermo, ITA) Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo, CHI)Humberto Suazo (Monterrey, MEX) Carlos Munoz (Santiago Wanderers, CHI)

Odds to win: 12/1 (bet365)

MEXICO

The Coach

Luis Fernando Tenis actually Mexicos asistant coach but takes charge of the side for the Copa. He has won two Mexican titles, in 1997 with Cruz Azul and 2000 with Morella.

The Star

Carlos Vela is incredible one of the squad’s senior players in the absence of major stars. Quick and lively he proved he has an eye for goal while on loan at West Brom last season.

The Lowdown

With the senior side competing in the Gold Cup, Mexico arrive in Argentina with just their Under-23 squad that barely boosts 100 caps between them. Although this team would hope to avoid bottom spot they is talented within it. Jonathan Dos Santos is a smart player currently on Barcelona’s books while 18-year-old Erick Torres has been described as the next Javier Hernandez.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Luis Ernesto Michel (Chivas, MEX) Carlos Rodriguez (Morelia, MEX) Liborio Sanchez (Veracruz, MEX)

Defenders: Jonny Magallon (Chivas, MEX) Miguel Angel Ponce (Chivas, MEX) Jorge Enriquez (Chivas, MEX) Darvin Chavez (Atlas, MEX) Nestor Vidrio (Atlas, MEX) Hiram Mier (Monterrey, MEX) Nestor Araujo (Cruz Azul, MEX) Paul Aguilar (Pachuca, MEX) Israel Jimenez (Tigres, MEX)

Midfielders: Edgar Pacheco (Atlas, MEX) Javier Aquino (Cruz Azul, MEX) Jorge Hernandez (Jaguares, MEX) David Cabrera (Pumas, MEX), Javier Cortes (Pumas, MEX) Diego Reyes (America, MEX) Fernando Navarro (Atlante, MEX) Nestor Calderon (Toluca, MEX)

Strikers: Marco De la Mora (Chivas, MEX) Erick Torres (Chivas, MEX) Rafael Marquez Lugo (Morelia, MEX) Oribe Peralta (Santos, BRA) Jonathan Dos Santos (Barcelona B, ESP) Carlos Vela (Arsenal, ENG)

Odds to win: 33/1 (bet365)

PERU

Winners (x2) 1939, 1975

The Coach

Sergio Markarian is a vastly experienced Uruguayan who lead Paraguay to the World Cup back in 2002.

The Star

The will be a lot of pressure on talented frontman Paolo Guerrerro after Claudio Pizarro was ruled out because of injury. He is quick and powerful both on the deck and in the air.

The Lowdown

Peru finished bottom in the most recent World Cup qualifiers but certainly have the quality to trouble Uruguay and Chile in this group. They have pace and flair on the wings with Jefferson Farfan and Juan Manuel Vargas while Guerrero could be a handful upfront. They are however light weight in the middle and shaky at the back.

The Squad*

Goalkeepers: Raul Fernandez (Universitario, PER) Salomon Libman (Alianza Lima, PER)

Defenders: Santiago Acasiete (Almeria, ESP) Giancarlo Carmona (San Lorenzo, ARG) Jesus Rabanal (Universitsrio, PER) Cristian Ramos (Alianza Lima, PER) Alberto Rodriguez (Braga, POR) Walter Vilchez (Sporting Cristal, PER)

Midfielders: Josepmir Ballon (River Plate, ARG) Paulo Rinaldo Cruzado (Juan Arurich, PER) Carlos Lobaton (Sporting Cristal, PER) Luis Ramirez (Corinthians, BRA) Jean Tragodara (Alianza Lima, PER) Juan Manuel Vargas (Fiorentina, ITA)

Strikers: Luis Advincula (Sporting Cristal, PER) Wilmer Aguirre (San Luis, MEX) Jefferson Farfan (Schalke, GER) Paolo Guerrero (Hamburg, GER) Hernan Rengifo (Omonia, CYP)

* Squad yet to be finalised

Odds to win: 150/1 (bet365)

Uruguay

Winners (x14) 1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926,1935,1942,1956,1959,1983,1987,1995

The Coach

Oscar Tabarez has masterminded Uruguay’s revival and turned them into a force in World Football again. Calm and studious the 64-year-old has a system and sticks religiously with it.

The Star

Pick any from the three super strikers on offer. Diego Forlan was voted the best player at the last World Cup, while Luis Suarez has impressed since his move to Liverpool but Edinson Cavani has grown into the complete striker last season. He fired Napoli to the Champions League and was backed by many as the Serie A player of the season. The 24-year-old is hard working, skillful and carries a potent threat in the air and off either foot.

The Lowdown

Uruguay finished 4th at the World Cup and it was no fluke, they have an abundance of talent throughout the team. Diego Godin and Diego Lugano are solid at the back while Egidio Arevalo Rios and Enzo Perez provide more steel in midfield. The front three are as good as anything in world football. Forlan will support the little and large pairing of Suarez and Cavani, they also have able replacements in Sebastian Abreu and Abel Hernandez. Uruguay are certainly potential winners.

The Squad 

Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Lazio, ITA) Juan Castillo (Colo Colo,CHI)

Defenders: Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce, TUR) Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid, ESP) Andres Scotti (Colo Colo, CHI) Mauricio Victorino (Cruzeiro, BRA) Jorge Fucile (Porto, POR) Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica, POR)

Midfielders: Alvaro Pereira (Porto, POR) Egidio Arevalo Rios (Botafogo, BRA) Sebastian Eguren (Sporting Gijon, ESP) Diego Perez, Gaston Ramirez (both Bologna, ITA) Walter Gargano (Napoli, ITA) Alvaro Gonzalez (Lazio, ITA) Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax, HOL)

Strikers: Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid, ESP) Luis Suarez (Liverpool, ENG) Edinson Cavani (Napoli, ITA) Abel Hernandez (Palermo, ITA) Sebastian Abreu (Botafogo, BRA) Alvaro Fernandez (Seattle Sounders, USA) Sebastian Fernandez (Malaga, ESP)

Odds to win: 10/1 (bet365)