With Argentina and Brazil, both knocked out of the Copa America 2011, the tournament may have lost some of its sheen. However, it also gives a team like Uruguay to regain some of its lost glory and continue from where they had left off in the World Cup last year.
Uruguay were the side that banished Argentina out of the tournament through penalties and will now take on Peru in the first semi-final, who had earlier shocked the other favourites Colombia. In the second semi-final of the Copa America 2011, Paraguay will look to continue with their giant-killing run after stunning Brazil. They play Venezuela, who won 2-1 against Chile.
The last time that Uruguay won the Copa America was way back in 1995 when they beat Brazil on penalties. Paraguay have won it twice, the last being in 1979 while Peru’s previous win came in 1975. Venezuela have never won the Copa America tournament, but what makes it even more interesting is that this is their first time in the last four stage as well.
Both Argentina and Uruguay are tied at 14 tournament wins apiece and with Argentina out of the tournament, it will be left to Uruguay to try and add to that win statistic.
Uruguay have managed to get to the semi-finals with two draws in the league stage, before finally winning their first game against Mexico. It must be said that even the quarter-final was a drawn game for most of the 90 regular minutes and the extra-time before the missed Tevez penalty showed the Uruguayans the road to the semi-final.
Peru, on the other hand, were one of the two lucky third-placed sides to make it through to quarter-finals and after a goalless 90 minutes, they slammed in two goals in the extra time. Much like Uruguay, their win had come against Mexico in the league stage. This should be an exciting encounter then.
On the other hand, under normal circumstances, one would have pronounced Paraguay as the favourites. Especially after having bundled the defending champions and the much-fancied Brazilians out of the tournament. However, they need to be a tad wary of the Venezuela side, who drew with Brazil in the opening game, beat Ecuador and came back from 3-1 down to score two goals in the last two minutes against Paraguay themselves. This should make for an interesting contest then!
The Uruguay-Peru semi-final will be played on July 19 while the Paraguay-Venezuela match will be held on July 20.