Ranking the 8 remaining Copa America teams

And then there were eight.

South American underdogs Ecuador and Bolivia, and foreign invitees Qatar and Japan, are heading home, leaving eight sides competing for the continent's biggest prize.

As it so often goes, pre-tournament predictions have proved as prescient as they are redundant. With the last eight set to kick off when Brazil welcomes Paraguay to the Arena do Gremio on Thursday, here's how the teams left standing at Copa America rank:

8. Peru

It's difficult to select a standout footballer for Peru. Rayo Vallecano's Luis Advincula was probably the best player over the three group-stage matches, but he wasn't especially great. Meanwhile, veterans Paolo Guerrero and Jefferson Farfan scored a goal apiece, and Christian Cueva looked like the craftiest player in attacking midfield.

But overall, Ricardo Gareca's ranks toiled in a group which, aside from host Brazil, looked fairly straightforward.

Peru's task in its quarterfinal against Uruguay was made more difficult with Monday's news that Farfan is unavailable for the remainder of the tournament due to a nagging knee injury. It could be time for Raul Ruidiaz, presumably buoyed by his goal-scoring exploits for the Seattle Sounders, to finally make an appearance at this year's tournament.

7. Paraguay

Two draws and a defeat paired with a scant three goals scored and a minus-one goal difference doesn't bode well for Paraguay's chances of progressing to the semifinal stage, nor does a tie with host Brazil on Thursday evening.

The two points Los Guaranies amassed in Group B are the fewest of any side in the last eight. Had Ecuador and Japan not played to a drab stalemate in their respective group finale, Paraguay would be going home.

But enough with the negatives. Paraguay proved difficult to breakdown against Colombia and Argentina, and Miguel Almiron gives Eduardo Berizzo's lot a genuine creative force who can unlock defenses. Don't let the Newcastle luminary's goofy grin fool you: Almiron poses a serious threat, and his ability to draw fouls in precarious positions should boost Paraguay's chances to score a set-piece goal against the heavily favored Brazil.

6. Venezuela

There's something quite likable about Venezuela. Perhaps it's because its kit is a color usually reserved for synthetic velour chair cushions in budget Italian restaurants. Maybe it's down to meaty marksman Salomon Rondon's throwback target-man role in England and for his national team.

Or, the likeliest reason is that the Venezuelan players are bringing joy to a nation's population that's going hungry and fleeing for other South American countries during dangerous levels of inflation. Yeah, that's it.

Venezuela is also underrated on the pitch. Rondon operates as a lone forward, meaning the outrageously gifted Josef Martinez has been deepening a groove on the bench; center-backs Mikel Villanueva, Jhon Chancellor, and Yordan Osorio have all impressed; Wuilker Farinez is a preposterously talented shot-stopper, and Udinese outcast Darwin Machis is making a name for himself in Brazil.

Venezuela is an underdog worth watching.

5. Argentina

How can a backline marshaled by a serial medal winner, Nicolas Otamendi, be so slipshod? Why are Giovani Lo Celso and Angel Di Maria unable to curate in the way they do for their club sides? We haven't even questioned why Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero - who were so influential for Barcelona and Manchester City, respectively, over the 2018-19 season - have only two goals and a series of wasted opportunities between them.

And these issues were prevalent in a group featuring minnows Paraguay and Qatar.

You can't forecast an Argentinian win against Venezuela with great confidence. La Vinotinto will target Renzo Saravia - who's looked incredibly vulnerable - at right-back and have Rondon seriously challenge the overrated Otamendi in an aerial battle.

4. Chile

There's something oddly satisfying about watching Chile perform in major tournaments. Immovable objects in Reinaldo Rueda's never-changing squad cater to familiarity. Jean Beausejour is still the first-choice left-back, vertically challenged bulldog Gary Medel continues to masquerade as a central defender, and human Etch A Sketch Eduardo Vargas continues to score goals for his country at an alarming rate.

And of course, there's Alexis Sanchez, whose Jekyll & Hyde routine between club and country is the hallmark of a confidence player. The tireless Chilean forward is finding his name in the goal-scoring column as many times (twice) at the Copa America as he did last season with Manchester United.

Despite being the winner of the last two tournaments, Chile's form has been a pleasant surprise. After missing out on the 2018 World Cup, a three-peat would hardly constitute a shock at this point. Vamos, La Roja!

3. Uruguay

After making a mockery of Ecuador with a 4-0 victory in the Group C curtain-raiser, Uruguay didn't exactly convince in its 2-2 draw with Japan. Despite boasting two of the tournament's best strikers, Uruguay only managed to turn 22 efforts into a pair of goals.

The quartet finale against Chile won't inspire heaps of confidence either, as La Roja's revised back-three largely stymied La Celeste's efforts until Edinson Cavani got revenge for a sending off against the same opposition at the 2015 Copa America with an 82nd-minute match winner.

One issue the extremely likable Oscar Tabarez faces is he's almost forced to employ a 4-4-2 due to the presence of two of the sport's best strikers, which often means central midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Torreira, or Federico Valverde are outnumbered. The forays forward from wide players Nicolas Lodeiro, Giorgian De Arrascaeta, and Nahitan Nandez are critical to Uruguay's chances of winning the continent's marquee prize for the first time since 2011.

2. Brazil

It certainly hasn't been plain sailing for Neymar-less Brazil.

The competition's curtain-raiser between the eight-time Copa America winner and Bolivia was sullied by Brazil's turgid and clueless attacking performance in the first half. In Brazil's second match against Venezuela, VAR and its own toothlessness got in the way of another three points in Group A.

Nevertheless, the team's second half against Bolivia did feature more aesthetic attacking orchestrated by Philippe Coutinho, and Brazil then demolished Peru 5-0 to finish its group commitments. There's also no doubting that Everton is already one of the top players at Copa America.

Brazil can grow into this tournament, particularly since it landed on the easier side of the bracket: The Canarinho's quarterfinal foe is Peru, followed by a potential semifinal against either Venezuela or Argentina.

1. Colombia

Carlos Queiroz's side appears to be well-balanced and has strong competition for places in most positions.

The midfield took center stage for Colombia's opening 2-0 win over Argentina, with the excellent Wilmar Barrios subduing Messi with clean defensive work and impeccable positioning. Juan Cuadrado was immense with both his enterprising dribbling and snappy protection of Los Cafeteros' rearguard, and Mateus Uribe was brought in for his distribution from deep in the lineup.

Few teams at this tournament would be able to keep a midfielder as good as Jefferson Lerma on the bench.

Radamel Falcao has been poor by his standards, but he was ably assisted by his attacking colleagues during the group stage. James Rodriguez is averaging an impressive four key passes per appearance, Duvan Zapata is furnishing his reputation with two goals so far, and players like Edwin Cardona and Roger Martinez have proved themselves to be strong backup options.

If center-backs Davinson Sanchez and Yerry Mina can continue to play with a maturity which belies their years, Colombia has a chance of winning the 2019 Copa America.