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The Group stages of the Copa America ended in dramatic fashion with Paraguay and Peru qualifying into the quarter-finals as the two best third-place teams while Ecuador got eliminated.
While Brazil topped group A, Venezuela and Peru qualified into the final 8 as the second and third-placed teams. Colombia were the most impressive side in the Group stages, winning all their 3 matches to finish as Group B toppers. Argentina and Paraguay qualified in 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
Group C saw Uruguay edge Chile to the top spot with a 1-0 victory in the final group game while Ecuador and Japan were both eliminated as neither could finish as one of the top two third-placed sides amongst the three groups.
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In this article, we analyse the best players from among the Group stage matches and try to formulate the best XI.
#Goalkeeper-Wuilker Farinez (Venezuela/Millonarios)
21-year-old Venezuelan goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez has been a revelation between the sticks in the Copa America, and is one of the key reasons Venezuela progressed as the second placed team from Group A. His instinctive reaction saves and commanding presence in the box helped La Vinotinto keep two clean sheets in their opening two group games.
He was declared the man of the match in Venezuela's opening 0-0 draw against Peru and the Millonarios shot-stopper was fine form in the second group match as well, keeping out a star-studded Brazilian attack in a match that also finished 0-0.
#Left-Back-William Tesillo (Colombia/Club Leon)
29-year-old William Tesillo has had a standout Copa America campaign, highlighted by a dominant performance marking Lionel Messi in Colombia's sensational 2-0 opening match victory against Argentina.
Having registered 1 successful tackle, 1.5 interceptions and 1 clearance per game at the Copa, the Club Leon left-back has been astute at the back and adventurous going forward, providing a great attacking outlet for Carlos Querioz on the left flank.
#Centre-Back: Jose Gimenez (Uruguay/Atletico Madrid)
24-year-old Jose Gimenez has proved time and time again that he is the heir apparent to take the reins of the Uruguayan central defence from Diego Godin. The Atletico Madrid center-back has been phenomenal for La Celeste in the Copa Americ and was adjudged the Man of the Match in their 2-2 draw against Japan.
Gimenez was imperious in ably stifling the star-studded Chile attack in their final group game, helping Uruguay win the game 1-0 and finish top of Group C. With an incredible 2.7 aerials won per game in the tournament, Gimenez has been a colossus in protecting the Uruguayan box from opposition attacks.
#Centre Back-Davison Sanchez (Colombia/Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham Hotspur's 23-year-old Colombian centre back Davinson Sanchez has come of age in the ongoing Copa America, becoming the bedrock of Carlos Querioz's Los Cafateros side that maintained a 100% record in the opening three group games.
Effectively marking out the dangerous Sergio Aguero in the opening game against Argentina, Sanchez formed an impregnable defensive partnership with Everton's Yerry Mina that is yet to concede a single goal in the tournament.
#Right Back-Dani Alves (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain)
36-year-old Dani Alves has turned back the clock at this year's Copa America, proving to be as adventurous as even down the right wing of the Selecao's attack. Entrusted with the captaincy of the national side in the absence of talisman Neymar, Alves has lead the 5 time World Champions and Copa America hosts on a rampaging run into the quarter-finals.
Alves' scored a sensational goal in Brazil's 5-0 demolition of Peru in their final group game, breaking into the box to finish after two one-twos with Arthur and Firmino respectively. The legendary ex-Barcelona man is now a free agent after announcing he would be leaving Paris Saint-Germain over the summer.
#Central Midfielder-Charles Aranguiz (Chile/Bayer Leverkusen)
Chile's central midfield lynchpin Charles Aranguiz has been in sensational form in the Copa, having registered three assists in three games for La Roja. The 30-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfield dynamo has been a tireless performer in the centre of the park for Reinaldo Rueda's team, providing consistent supply to the potent Chilean strike force of Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas.
A key member of the 2015 Copa America and 2016 Copa America Centenario-winning Chile sides, Aranguiz has enjoyed a good season with Bayer Leverkusen, recording 7 assists and 2 goals in the 2018-19 Bundesliga campaign.
#Central Midfielder-Arthur Melo(Brazil/Barcelona)
After having missed Brazil's opening game against Bolivia with a knee injury, Barcelona midfielder Arthur came back strongly in the next two games, putting in great shifts against Venezuela and Peru. A metronomic passer at the heart of the Selecao midfield, he is a key aspect of manager Tite's system that keeps winning turnovers in key areas of the pitch and ensuring Brazil get fast breaks in transition.
The 22-year-old is keeping the likes of Premier League star Fernandinho restricted to the bench with his displays and has maintained an audacious 93% pass success rate at the Copa. Forming a devastating midfield partnership with Real Madrid's Casemiro, Arthur has been an unsung hero in the Brazil squad.
#Attacking Midifelder-James Rodriguez (Colombia/Bayern Munich)
James Rodriguez has been playing like a man possessed in the Copa America, effectively running the show for Colombia. The Real Madrid player who has been on loan for the past two seasons at Bayern Munich and is available in the summer transfer window with Napoli the reported favorites to land the talented 27-year-old playmaker.
The Golden Ball winner at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Rodriguez has set this Copa alight with his sensational displays, registering 2 assists in the Los Cafateros' opening two games. He was also awarded the man-of-the-match in their 1-0 victory over Qatar.
#Winger-Everton Moraes (Brazil/Gremio)
Winger Everton Moraes has been the surprise package for Brazil in this Copa America, proving to be an irresistible threat down the Selecao left wing, a position vacated by the injury absence of Neymar. The 23-year-old's selection into the Brazil squad ahead of the likes of Juventus' Douglas Costa and Tottenham's Lucas Moura had initially raised eyebrows but all doubts have been put to rest as the youngster scored 2 goals in three games for the tournament hosts.
Almost unstoppable when he gets going, the Gremio youngster scored two carbon-copy goals in the group stages, cutting in from the left flank to blast in long rangers in both instances. With David Neres underperforming, Tite will look to Everton to provide the spark for Brazil in the coming matches.
#Forward-Edinson Cavani (Uruguay/Paris Saint-Germain)
32-year-old PSG striker Edinson Cavani is fast becoming the attacking spearhead of Uruguay ahead of Barcelona's Luis Suarez. The experienced PSG striker has already netted two goals in La Celeste's opening three group games, grabbing the all-important winner against Chile that helped Uruguay finish top of Group C.
Both his goals have been sensational individual efforts-his first goal against Ecuador being a sensational overhead kick and his second against Chile, a fantastic strong header from the edge of the box. With the Uruguayan midfield lacking in genuine creativity, it will be upto Suarez and Cavani to create and finish the goals if Oscar Tabarez's men are to progress deeper into this year's Copa America.
#Striker-Duvan Zapata (Colombia/Atalanta)
Despite coming off the bench in Colombia's opening two group games with veteran striker Radamel Falcao preferred over him, Atalanta's spearhead Duvan Zapata has impressed in this Copa campaign, having netted two goals so far. The 28-year-old comes off a fantastic Serie A campaign with Atalanta, having registered 23 goals and 7 assists and has carried the same form into the Copa America. He helped the former minnows qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.
Zapata impressed with his substitute appearance in the opening game against Argentina, showing off his pace and desire to finish off a fast break to ensure Los Cafateros won the game 2-0. With two goals from just 123 minutes of action in the Copa, Zapata has made a strong case for Carlos Querioz to pick him ahead of Falcao for the quarter-finals.
The full XI is as below:
