Ian Hawkey
As the Copa America Centenario prepares to kick off on Friday evening, Ian Hawkey looks at eight players to watch at the tournament.
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Juan Cuadrado (Colombia)
This time a year ago, the skilful winger was being voted by Chelsea fans as the worst signing of their season. His form has turned around on loan at Juventus, where he contributed substantially to winning the Serie A title.
Joel Campbell (Costa Rica)
Excellent at the 2014 World Cup, he has had to show patience to establish himself as a Premier League footballer, but he comes off a season where, having played in half Arsenal’s league games, he has made a breakthrough after years of being loaned out.
Toni Sanabria (Paraguay)
The striker, just 20, was a late call-up for the squad, in place of the injured veteran Roque Santa Cruz. But he has the wind in his sails after a successful season with Sporting Gijón, where his goals helped the club survive in Spain’s top flight.
Darlington Nagbe (USA)
A tricky, strong playmaker likely to be used from the bench initially, Nagbe, born in Liberia and the son of a former Liberian captain, only became a US citizen last year, but has impressed in the MLS.
Willian (Brazil)
His performances with Chelsea through the course of an otherwise disappointing season for the former English champions make a strong case. Without Neymar, Brazil will need his attacking imagination and gumption.
Jefferson Montero (Ecuador)
A thrilling, speedy winger at his best, Montero can be frustratingly inconsistent and sometimes reluctant to close down opponents, but he should create chances and earn some useful free-kicks for an Ecuador with strength on the flanks.
Roman Genevois (Haiti)
The defender is coming off a season where he recovered from serious injury in the autumn and helped guide his French club, Nice, to fourth place in Ligue 1. Haiti will value his experience.
Renato Tapia (Peru)
Once a widely admired teenaged prodigy, his reputation grew with commanding displays at his first European club, Twente, in Holland. Has struggled to keep a first-team place at Feyenoord since joining them in January, but, at 20, has time on his side.
