Brazilian, Argentinean clubs will shine in Libertadores

	Argentinean power River Plate is aiming for its first Copa Libertadores title in 10 years. AP

A fortnight of predictable Copa Libertadores prerequisite ties came to an end Thursday, and -- as expected -- all Brazilian and Argentine participants qualified for the highly contested second round.

The groups have all been set, and, although 32 clubs are in the hunt to be South American champions, it's likely a Brazilian or Argentine club will be triumphant.

As this is well known around the world, Brazil and Argentina are the strongest soccer nations on the continent, but this does not just reflect on the success of their national teams, but also with the clubs.

Fans know they will be treated to top quality soccer for several months, but already a very familiar notion is hitting them, will there be any competition from the clubs of the less lucrative leagues?

For many, South American club competitions have become a battle between the continents of the two major rivals, while most of the clubs from the other nine nations are just there to make up the numbers. Statistics verify this; since the inauguration of the tournament back in 1960 they have dominated.

Apart from Uruguay, whose clubs have enjoyed eight titles; only on six occasions has a club from a remaining South American nation been victorious.

The recent downfall of Uruguayan soccer suggests that its clubs are unlikely to stake a claim in this year's competition, and while some may hint out that Mexican or Colombian clubs are the next best thing, history doesn't back them.

What this means is that Brazilian and Argentine clubs should have a relatively easy run right until the later stages of the competition, in which they are likely to run into each other.

Tradition completely backs the big two, as they have won a staggering 32 of the 46 competitions to date, and have won 12 of the last 14 tournaments. What has increased their probability in recent years is that over one-third of the clubs competing come from the two countries.

This year's Brazilian representatives include the titanic trio; Sao Paulo, Corinthians and Palmeiras, as well as smaller clubs Internacional, Goias and Paulista. Making up the Argentine contingent is River Plate, Velez Sarsfield, Rosario Central, Newell's Old Boys and Estudiantes de La Plata. (From the lot, the most likely clubs to triumph are Sao Paulo, Corinthians, River Plate and Velez Sarsfield. )

But why are clubs from the two major South American countries so superior when compared to the rest? This isn't too hard to explain, nor to recognize, remembering that the two countries have won seven World Cups between them.

Both are soccer mad nations that excel through their outstanding youth programs, most notably those of Sao Paulo FC and River Plate, which are regarded as the pinnacle of soccer schools, after having produced a number of the world's finest players.

Apart from Mexico, the two nations have the richest soccer leagues of the Americas, meaning that though they sell plenty of players abroad, they have the financial backing to sign high-quality replacements.

During most of the last decade, Argentina has consistently had the best and most attractive league on the continent. In recent years the Brasileirao has grown in prominence and now boasts high profile foreigners such as Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, Diego Lugano and Carlos Gamarra, all whom will be featured in this year's edition of the Copa Libertadores.