Sixteen nations are primed to line up at this year's edition of the Copa America with Canada looking for upsets on their tournament bow.
Les Rouges, who didn't qualify the last time 16 countries took part at the Copa America Centenario in 2016, have finally earned the right to lock horns with South America's finest.
It'll be tough for Jesse Marsch's men having been pitched in a group which features reigning and world champions Argentina, but all they can do is improve upon their three-and-out flop at the last World Cup and hope for the best.
- URUGUAY TO WIN COPA AMERICA
- COLOMBIA TO WIN GROUP D
- VENEZUELA TO QUALIFY FROM GROUP B
- FACUNDO PELLISTRI TO BE TOP GOALSCORER
- CANADA TO QUALIFY FROM GROUP A
Bielsa's Overhaul To Reap Rewards
Argentina, with the legendary Lionel Messi, are favourites, while Brazil, without the legendary Neymar, are next best.
But it's the third big gun in the betting, Uruguay, who might just be worth backing to lift the Copa America for a record 16th time in Miami on July 14.
There are World Cup-winning players gracing Argentina and Brazil, even minus the crocked Neymar and plenty of others, are still a hugely impressive group of players on paper at least.
But there is no doubt that Uruguay have been making waves under Marcelo Bielsa, parachuted in a year ago to rebuild a county still smarting from a World Cup group-stage exit in Qatar.
Bielsa promised to change the team's fortunes and has immediately moved on from the era of Diego Godin, Martin Caceres, Edinson Cavani and other members of the old guard.
One or two remain - notably Luis Suarez, though he's more of a bit part player - with Bielsa building a team around Barcelona's Ronald Araujo, Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, Liverpool's Darwin Nunez and Granada's Facundo Pellistri.
World Cup qualifying wins over both Brazil and Argentina in the autumn evidenced the improvements Bielsa had promised, and now they look ready for the next step.
In the knockout stages they will almost certainly have to see off Brazil to reach the final but would probably argue the Selecao are a softer touch than Argentina.
In-form Colombia A Match For Brazil
Few nations in the world are in Brazil's privileged position whereby they can go into a tournament in no great form, with questions being asked about the coach and an absentee list which includes the likes of Neymar, Ederson, Richarlison, Casemiro and Gabriel Jesus, yet still be well fancied.
And when you look at the cast list that is available to Dorival Junior, headlined by Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo plus boy wonder Endrick, you understand why they have to be in any conversation about eventual tournament winners.
But in all honesty they look short enough in outright betting and short enough even to win Group D, where Colombia represent a genuine obstacle and far better value.
Nestor Lorenzo's dark horses - (when have Colombia been anything else) - are unbeaten in 22 matches, winning each of their last six.
They beat Brazil 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in November and their 5-1 pre-finals thrashing of the United States was seriously impressive.
They are teak-tough at the back, protected by the combative Jefferson Lerma, and then there is the star quality further forward which looks abundant.
Los Cafeteros would love one last dance from James Rodriguez but even if that fails to materialise, there's a new magician in the shape of Liverpool's dynamic Luis Diaz. Stardust from Luis Sinisterra and Yaser Asprilla may only be fleeting but could decide key moments.
Colombia are ones to watch and well capable of landing the honours in Group D.
Raise A Glass To Vinotinto
Of all the groups that look the most open and, therefore, arguably the best to bet on, Group B stands out.
Mexico are the flimsiest of favourites as reigning Gold Cup champions, but interesting. They have been improved under new coach Jaime Lozano, who has jettisoned several old hands like Guillermo Ochoa, Jesus Gallardo and Raul Jimenez, following the likes of Hector Moreno and Andres Guardado into international retirement. A Mexican squad without a single player over 30 is unusual but does the quality match up to Lozano's drive for change?
Jamaica are the weak link in the section though no mugs, which leaves Ecuador and Venezuela as possibly the two to consider for group honours.
Ecuador have been on the up for a while but they still look almost solely reliant on 34-year-old Enner Valencia for goals.
You could argue the same with Venezuela and Salomon Rondon, also 34, though there's an exciting support cast which has made La Vinotinto one of the more watchable Conmebol teams of the past 12 months.
This could be a breakthrough tournament for the likes of midfielders Cristian Casseres and Yeferson Soteldo, while the venerable Rondon still can't stop scoring.
VENEZUELA TO QUALIFY FROM GROUP B
Pellistri To Challenge Messi
Lionel Messi tops Golden Boot betting and it's easy to see why. The little maestro might be about to turn 37-years-old but he is still scoring for fun in the MLS.
The Argentina skipper has bagged 14 in his last 14 for Inter Miami and, because he is midway through an MLS campaign rather than coming out of the back end of a ludicrously long and demanding European top-flight season, he will almost certainly be fresher than many.
But sticking with the idea of Uruguay doing well and ignoring the claims of Darwin Nunez - who will miss more than he converts - have a look at Granada's Facundo Pellistri to be top scorer.
Pellistri, under-used in a couple of loan spells at Manchester United, will play in a three-man forward line playing off Nunez, and will make chances with his love for cutting inside and getting off shots.
FACUNDO PELLISTRI TO BE TOP GOALSCORER
Head And Heart With Canada
And so to Canada with the heart saying they enjoy a stunning Copa America debut, conquer all before them and come from 2-0 down to beat Brazil 3-2 in the greatest-ever final.
That's the heart. So how about the head?
Well, the head actually says they aren't bad value to qualify from Group A. If the understanding is that they have to get the better of Peru and Chile to finish second behind Argentina, that looks entirely doable.
A 0-0 draw against a very strong France side in Bordeaux has been the pick of Jesse Marsch's handful of games in charge, with the American blessed to be able to get the likes of Alphonso Davies, Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan David and Cyle Larin all fit and on the pitch at the same time.
It's a youngish group with promise and the international exposure of the last World Cup, where they acquitted themselves well and showed flashes in tough games against Belgium, Croatia and Morocco, can only help.
It's onwards and upwards for Canada. And that's from the head, not just the heart.
CANADA TO QUALIFY FROM GROUP A
