Copa América: the rise of South America's soccer underdogs

The quarterfinals of the Copa América, which were played last weekend in Argentina, convincingly proved one of soccer's essential premises: in this sport, logic rarely plays a defining role. Soccer fans witnessed two days of shocks, as none of the favorite teams won their respective ties.

Hosts Argentina were ousted by archrivals Uruguay; Brazil was eliminated after missing all of its four penalty kicks against Paraguay; Colombia, the best team of the group stage, was beaten by Peru in extra time, and Venezuela claimed a historic spot in the semifinals against Chile.

These results left a tournament with unexpected protagonists: the semifinals will be played without the three group winners (Colombia, Brazil and Chile), without the host team (Argentina) and without Brazil, which has been in seven of the last 10 finals (and won five of them). With the exception of Uruguay, a 14-time winner of the tournament (a record it shares with Argentina), the other three teams are all a surprise. Venezuela had never reached this stage in 43 editions; Paraguay last won the Copa in 1979; and Peru's most recent appearance in the semifinals was in 1997, a bittersweet success as it was then thrashed by Brazil 7-0.

The astonishing results are not anecdotal, however, instead revealing changing patterns in South American soccer. First, they highlight the problems of the two giants, Argentina and Brazil. Both teams have some of the best players in club tournaments, yet that has not sufficed to build successful national sides. It is no coincidence that Lionel Messi was only six years old when Argentina last won the Copa América (in 1993) and three when it last got beyond the quarterfinals of a World Cup (1990). Brazil has begun to show signs of the same syndrome. It left the most recent two World Cups in the same stage as Argentina, and now comes its grim performance at the current Copa América.

But just as Argentina and Brazil's dominance is showing signs of crumbling, other countries are stepping up to fill the gap. And they are doing so by putting in practice exactly what the two titans have lacked: long-term projects. Uruguay, fourth in the last World Cup, confirmed its ascendancy by beating Argentina on home soil. Something similar can be said for Paraguay. It took part in the most recent four World Cups, and in 2010 managed to become a quarterfinalist for the first time. Venezuela's success is more modest, but also more surprising. Former manager Richard Páez started a development plan in 2001 for the region's weakest team, and it has brought visible results: Venezuela has improved its record in the qualifying stages for each of the last three World Cups and for the last two continental tournaments. No wonder this time the "Vinotinto" is still unbeaten after playing in a group with three countries that boast about recent World Cup experience.