Colombia and Venezuela kick off action in Copa America Group C this Sunday on the final day of the first set of fixtures in Chile.

The neighbouring nations from the North of the continent are in a group with Brazil and Peru and will want to get off to a winning start in Rancagua.

Colombia

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Colombia had their best-ever finish at a World Cup 12 months ago by reaching the quarter-finals in Brazil, and they will be confident of another deep run this time around as they chase a second Copa success.

With world-class playmaker James Rodriguez and strikers Radamel Falcao, Jackson Martinez and Carlos Bacca to choose from, Jose Pekerman will believe that his side can outscore anyone on the day.

Their one and only victory in the Copa came 14 years ago on home turf, while at the last tournament in Argentina, Los Cafeteros finished above the hosts in the group stage but then suffered a surprise extra-time defeat to Peru in the quarter-finals.

Pekerman's side ended up going down to that David Luiz free kick in the last eight of the World Cup and their next game was also against the Selecao in a Miami friendly which they lost 1-0.

They might have lost back-to-back games against Brazil, but Colombia are one place above the World Cup's most successful country in fifth in the latest FIFA rankings following a run of seven straight friendly wins since then.

In this streak, Jose Pekerman's side have scored 17 and conceded just twice - once to the United States and once to Kuwait.

Recent form: WWWWWW

Venezuela

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La Vinotinto have never reached the final of the Copa, let alone won it, but they have made plenty of progress at South America's big tournament in recent editions.

They hosted the tournament in 2007 and reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history before surprising everyone with a run to the semis four years ago in Argentina.

They finished only behind Brazil on goal difference in the group stage, going on to upset Chile in the quarters before a heartbreaking penalty-shootout defeat to Paraguay in the last four. Peru tonked them 4-1 in the third-place playoff, but fourth was still their best finish at the tournament.

Venezuela have never qualified for the finals of the World Cup and in 2014 they hardly proved that they should have been there as they lost all five friendlies that they played.

Since then, Noel Sanvicente's side have won three of their last four games to put themselves in better shape for the Copa.

Despite their 2015 upturn in from, Venezuela dropped three places in the newest FIFA rankings to 72nd.

Captain Juan Arango is La Vinotinto's all-time top appearance maker (121) and top scorer (23).

Recent form: LLWWLW

Team News

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As mentioned above, Pekerman has a host of attacking talent to choose from. He is likely to give Falcao a start, despite his poor season on loan at Manchester United, as he is captain of Los Cafeteros.

There are plenty of options up front, but Colombia are short in midfield after a number of players, including Inter Milan's Fredy Guarin, pulled out injured.

Aston Villa's Carlos Sanchez could start in the middle, while Chelsea's Juan Cuadrado might also have to settle for a more central role.

As for La Vinotinto, Sanvicente is without injured defender Alexander Gonzalez.

Zenit St Petersburg frontman Salomon Rondon will probably lead the line, but there is competition from Torino youngster Josef Martinez.

Colombia possible starting lineup:
Ospina; Zuniga, Zapata, Murillo, Andrade; Cuadrado, Sanchez, Mejia; Rodrguez; Falcao, Martinez

Venezuela possible starting lineup:
Baroja; Rosales, Vizcarrondo, Amorebieta, Cichero; Murillo, Seijas, Rincon, Arango; Rondon, Martinez

Head To Head

Venezuela have suffered defeat just once in their last five matches against Colombia, winning three of those encounters against their neighbours from the Northern tip of the continent.

They last met in a World Cup qualifier two-and-a-quarter years ago, with Rondon scoring the only goal in a narrow Venezuela triumph.

This will be their first Copa meeting in 11 years, and Colombia have actually won both of their previous meetings in the tournament without conceding a goal.

As for the overall record, it's completely even with both sides winning six times in 16 meetings and there being four draws.

We say: Colombia 2-1 Venezuela

One of the more thrilling teams in Brazil 12 months ago, Colombia should again have no problem finding the net in another big tournament held in their native South America. However, Venezuela will provide a stern test having proved four years ago that they can hold their own with the biggest Copa nations. The underdogs also enter the tournament in decent form after bouncing back from a woeful 2014.

Written by
Pascal Lemesre

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