Summary One of the most eagerly anticipated tournaments in years starts in Santiago.
Santiago (AFP) - A mouthwatering duel between Barcelona superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar is looming over the Copa America as the three-week football extravaganza starts in Chile on Thursday.
One of the most eagerly anticipated tournaments in years starts in Santiago, with the hosts facing Ecuador in Group A at 8.30pm (2330 GMT) to launch their quest for a first ever Copa crown.
A galaxy of Europe-based stars will be on show in Chile, including Argentina captain Messi and Brazil counterpart Neymar, Colombia s James Rodriguez, Chile s Alexis Sanchez and Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani.
Messi and Neymar arrive at the tournament less than a week after inspiring Spanish giants Barcelona to the Champions League triumph, the final act of a glittering treble-winning season.
Both number 10s are carrying a heavy weight of expectation on their shoulders, with Messi determined to finally taste glory at a major international tournament and Neymar aiming to erase the memory of Brazil s World Cup debacle.
"I feel I m in better shape arriving at this tournament than I was at the World Cup last year," Messi told reporters at Argentina s training camp.
Messi and Argentina fell agonizingly short at the World Cup, suffering a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Germany in the final to extend a title drought which stretches back to the 1993 Copa America.
Messi determined
Messi admitted that Argentina s richly talented squad -- which includes the likes of Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Angel di Maria -- were determined to end the Albiceleste s long wait for a trophy.
"This generation is desperate to win a title with the national team," Messi said.
Manchester City star Aguero was even more candid. "If this generation of players don t win anything we re going to regret it for the rest of our lives," the striker said.
Argentina open their campaign against Paraguay on Saturday, and should progress from a Group B which also includes Uruguay and Jamaica, one of two teams from the CONCACAF region invited to bolster the tournament.
Argentina s title drought pales into comparison with the fate of long-suffering Chile, still waiting for their first Copa America title after 99 years.
Coach Jorge Sampaoli can call on a spine of world class players -- Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, Italy-based midfielders Arturo Vidal and Gary Medel, and Arsenal star Sanchez -- as the hosts try to break their duck.
"This is the time to accomplish great things," Sanchez said.
Brazil resurgent
Brazil and Neymar meanwhile begin their campaign against Peru in Group C on Sunday.
Brazil s biggest challenge of the first round comes three days later when they face Colombia on June 17, a rematch of the two sides bruising World Cup quarter-final last year.
That stormy encounter was notable for a series of rugged Brazilian challenges on Colombia star James Rodriguez, although Brazil s 2-1 win came at a price, with Neymar suffering a broken vertebra that ended his World Cup.
Brazil s World Cup dream was ultimately demolished by Germany in the next round, when the hosts were humiliated 7-1 in the semi-finals, before losing 3-0 to the Netherlands in an abject third place play-off display.
Fast forward a year however and Brazil under the guidance of 1994 World Cup-winning captain Dunga are back on track, reeling off nine straight wins since the finals.
One of Dunga s first acts last year was to hand the captain s armband to the Barcelona forward, and the 23-year-old has thrived on the added responsibility.
"It is not a surprise, but the statistics are there to show that when Neymar puts on the captain s armband, he takes a step forward," Dunga said.
