Venezuela vibrancy can bring country Copa America boost

Meanwhile, in midfield it is Juan Arango, as captain, most-capped player and all-time leading scorer, who takes top billing. Though at age 34, the former Mallorca and Borussia Monchengladbach maestro may expect to be phased-out, but should still be a vital piece of Venezuela’s puzzle for this tournament, with Genoa midfield shield Tomas Rincon likely partnering to provide protection.

Wing sensation Christian Santos of Dutch outfit NEC will pose a threat down the flank, having hit 23 league goals to help his club gain promotion to the Eredivisie. Meanwhile, namesakes Mario Rondon and Jose Salomon Rondon will provide the firepower, with the latter having hit 18 across all competitions for Russian juggernaut Zenit St Petersburg this campaign.

Fellow forwards, including Rayo Vallecano frontman Nicolas Fedor and 21-year-old Torino starlet Josef Martinez, will also allow Sanvicente much-needed attacking depth.

On the face of things, Venezuela look very much like group outsiders, with their cupboard relatively bare compared to the plentiful resources of rivals Brazil and Colombia. Yet the Samba Boys and Coffee Growers should be careful of complacency, as the Vinotinto have proven to be giant-killers before, famously scalping Argentina during the last World Cup qualifiers.

In-form and having won three of last four clashes (including victory against forthcoming competitors Peru), Venezuela could be set for their most superb Copa America showing yet.

Venezuela’s provisional squad for the 2015 Copa America:

Goalkeepers: Alain Baroja (Caracas), Wuilker Farinez (Caracas), Dani Hernandez (Tenerife)

Defenders: Wilker Angel (Deportivo Tachira), Gabriel Cichero (Mineros de Guayana), Juan Fuenmayor (Deportivo Anzoategui), Alexander Gonzalez (Thun), Grenddy Perozo (Ajaccio), Roberto Rosales (Malaga), Andres Tunez (Buriram United), Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (Nantes)

Midfielders: Rafael Acosta (Mineros de Guayana), Juan Arango (Tijuana), Cesar Gonzalez (Deportivo Tachira), Alejandro Guerra (Atletico Nacional), Franklin Lucena (Deportivo La Guaira), Yohandry Orozco (Deportivo Tachira), Tomas Rincon (Genoa), Christian Santos (NEC), Luis Manuel Seijas (Santa Fe)

Forwards: Fernando Aristeguieta (Philadelphia Union), Edder Farias (Caracas), Nicolas Fedor (Rayo Vallecano), Josef Martinez (Torino), Jhon Murillo (Zamora), Gelmin Rivas (Deportivo Tachira) Mario Rondon (Shijiazhuang Ever Bright), Salomon Rondon (Zenit St Petersburg)