7 players to watch in the 2015 Copa America

Giorgian de Arrascaeta - Uruguay

De Arrascaeta could fill the void left by Suarez’s ban and Forlan’s retirement

With Luis Suarez still suspended, Diego Forlán retired, and several other players from the old guard not included, Uruguay’s wily old coach Óscar Tabárez will be looking to a new generation to provide the creativity for Edinson Cavani up front.

A young set of forward players including Diego Rolán, Jonathan Rodríguez, and Abel Hernández will be looking to fill the voids left by Suarez and Forlan, but Giorgian de Arrascaeta could be an emerging star in the tournament, and will pull the strings behind the strikers from his attacking midfield position if given the chance.

The 21-year-old plays his club football for Cruzeiro in Brazil, having joined the current Série A champions from Defensor Sporting in Uruguay at the start of 2015. De Arrascaeta is a quick, skilful player who could be described as a right footed version of his mercurial left-footed team-mate, and fellow playmaker, Nicolás Lodeiro.

It’s likely that he’ll be competing with Lodeiro for a place in the squad, but it’s entirely possible that the combination of left and right footer could be used as playmakers behind a lone striker, should the other forwards fail to impress.

He’s been given the number 10 shirt in the squad, which could be seen as a vote of confidence, and Uruguay will be hoping he can surprise a few opposition players with his bursts from midfield and eye for a pass.

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Yordy Reyna - Peru

Reyne (centre) could prove to be the surprise package if given a chance by Peru

Peru find themselves in a group with South American heavyweights Brazil, tournament dark horses Colombia, and Venezuela, and they’re likely to be fighting with the latter for third place in the group.

The white and reds’ squad is made up of experienced campaigners such as Paolo Guerrero, who was the top scorer in last Copa, and Jefferson Farfán, as well as the odd promising player in their early twenties.

One such player is 21-year-old forward Yordy Reyna, who currently plays for Red Bull Salzburg, but has spent the last couple of seasons on loan at a few other clubs in Austria and Germany.

He’ll wear the number 11 shirt for Peru in this tournament, and whilst he’s not a guaranteed starter, he’ll be one worth keeping an eye out for should he make an appearance.

Reyna is a quick right-footed attacker who can cause problems for opposition defences in most areas of the final third. He can create from the wings, play off the shoulder of a defender, as well as being able to attack from deep with lightning fast dribbling. He’s also not scared to use his left foot, and has scored goals on his weaker side in the past.

He’s likely to be competing with another young Peruvian star, André Carrillo, for a place in this squad, but the two could well line up together in a front three in years to come.

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Derlis González - Paraguay

Derlis Gonzalez will be crucial to Paraguay’s chances of reaching the knockout stages

Paraguay attacker Derlis González failed to make the grade at Portuguese side Benfica, despite scoring a couple of good goals for their B-team. However, the 21-year-old wasn't deterred, and arrived back in Europe at FC Basel in 2014 after impressing on loan at Guaraní and Olimpia back in Paraguay.

He made 8 appearances in the 2014/15 Champions League as his club made it to the first knockout round, and he even managed to score his side’s only goal against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

This was one of three goals he scored in the world’s most prestigious club competition, and he didn’t look at all out of place playing in it. González, like Reyna, is a quick, tricky right footed attacker who has the pace to play out wide, but also the skill to play centrally.

He’s another young player who’s been given a squad number in the first eleven for his respective country, and Paraguay will be hoping he can be a key part of their bid to reach the knock-out stages of the competition.