Who can bust through the Brazil-Argentina duopoly?

	With a roster stocked with first-team talent, Argentina is dead serious about winning its first Copa América title in 14 years. Rodrigo Arangua/AFP/Getty Images
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MARACAIBO, Venezuela -- The Copa América isn't strictly the Brazil and Argentina Show, though the intrigue surrounding South America's biggest powerhouses certainly suggests otherwise.

Kaká, Ronaldinho and Zé Roberto have all pulled out of Brazil's squad. Argentina, meanwhile, is at full strength. Coach Alfio Basile is crowing about the fact, while his striker, Carlos Tévez, has been pondering whether the Brazilians have the same love for their national-team as his teammates.

The explanation is simple enough. Argentina has gone 14 long years without winning a senior title. Its last trophy, in Basile's first spell in charge, was the Copa América in 1993.

Since then Brazil has racked up three Copa América wins plus two big ones, the World Cup in '94 and 2002, putting it 5-2 ahead of Argentina in the all-time tally.

It is easier, then, for some of the Brazilians to be a bit more blasé about this Copa América. For the Argentines it's a big deal; members of their squad have won world under-20 titles and the Olympic gold medal. But a senior title has eluded them. Some -- the likes of Roberto Ayala, Javier Zanetti, Juan Sebastián Verón and Hernán Crespo -- will not have many more chances.

From a rational point of view, Basile's priority in this Copa is to prepare a side for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers. But on an emotional basis, Argentina's desire to lift the trophy pulses very strongly.

This is why Argentina has not only been free of stars pulling out, it has also picked up the last-minute acquisition of Juan Román Riquelme. The elegant playmaker went back on his decision last September to retire from international soccer, and was hurriedly incorporated into the squad.

The addition of Riquelme has forced Basile to rethink his plans. He had intended to use Lionel Messi in a free role behind his strikers, Crespo and Tévez. But with Riquelme back, Messi will probably be pushed further forward, with Tévez dropping to the bench.

All the fuss about Riquelme is overshadowing the fact that Verón is set to play his first international match in almost four years.

Having Riquelme and Verón in the same midfield will delight the purists. A balance with pragmatism has to be found, however, and for this reason the tenacity of Javier Mascherano is likely to land him the holding midfield slot ahead of the more constructive Fernando Gago.

At the back, it's unfortunate that Ezequiel Garay hasn't been considered after an injury forced him out of Argentina's recent friendlies. The giant young Racing Santander center back could have provided the towering presence that has been missing at the heart of the Argentina defense in recent times.

There is no lack of height at the back for Brazil, however, with Naldo, the tallest player ever to represent the country, competing with man mountain Alex for the right to partner Juan at center back. But of course it's attacking flair that everyone expects from Brazil -- and even at full strength it has been in short supply of late.