By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN
After years of playing in Europe, veteran left-back Roberto Carlos probably forgot how intense Copa Libertadores competition can get on the field as well as off of it.
Two weeks ago, his Corinthians side was booted from the tournament by Colombia's Deportes Tolima in the preliminary stage, prompting death threats against him and his family, forcing him to leave his homeland once again to reportedly sign with Russia's Anzhi.
While the UEFA Champions League has its fair share of craze and emotion, South America's premiere championship checks in with a passion unmatched anywhere in the world, as rabid supporters, feverish press coverage and the subsequent adrenaline and pace on the field results in some of the most appetizing and tempermental contests that fans can enjoy.
Sure, there may be a snoozer or two, but the fact of the matter is that many of the teams are not only fighting to advance; they're also searching for an identity and respect among its peers.
Below is SBI's brief intro to every team and expected order of finish (the majority of matches will be broadcast on Fox Sports en Espanol, with a marathon slate this week):
GROUP 1
LIBERTAD (Paraguay) - World Cup veteran Victor Caceres is a rock in the middle of the park, is being tracked by several high-profile European teams and is only 25-years-old. The signing of Argentine striker Nicolas Pavlovich should only enhance this team further, despite it losing some key players.
ONCE CALDAS (Colombia) - Everyone's favorite indecisive scribbler Juan Carlos Osorio made the right decision to rebuff offers to manage Chivas USA and the Honduras national team. His Blancos, although losers of major players during the off-season, can still make some noise and are a few signings away from repeating as Colombian champs as well.
SAN MARTIN (Peru) - The team is only seven years old, but has won three national titles, including last year's, and has had a knack for signing good, cheap players before selling them off for decent profit. MLS fans may remember former Toronto FC member Pablo Vitti, who had a remarkable campaign for the Saints last year and was sold to Peruvian giants Universitario de Deportes.
SAN LUIS (Mexico) - Although being picked to finish last, the Gladiators are a tricky side that could surprise detractors with its relatively short experience in South American competitions. Peruvian striker Wilmer Aguirre is quickly becoming a darling with fans, as his exploits in front of the net gives the Mexicans a weapon up top. They'll have to fix their defensive tactics, though -- they've leaked in eight goals in four domestic league matches.
GROUP 2
GREMIO (Brazil) - Ronaldinho was reportedly in talks to join his boyhood club, spurned them and went with Flamengo instead. The Tricolo lost striker Jonas to Valencia but have 28-year-old playmaker Douglas to command proceedings as attacking midfielder as well as versatile captain Fabio Rochemback.
ATLETICO JUNIOR (Colombia) - Experienced midfielder and captain Giovanni Hernandez & Co. have a manageable group to -- along with Once Caldas and Tolima -- give Colombia a decent showing. Their recent investments, including veteran midfielder John Viafara, give the Sharks hope to make a mark for the first time since 1994, when they reached the semis.
LEON DE HUANUCO (Peru) - Manager Franco Navarro took the soccer world by storm last year when he left out Argentine Gustavo Rodas, his best player, in the second leg of the national championship. Authorities have given Rodas an inexplicable reprieve after he was involved in a mass brawl in the first leg that led to several red cards; Rodas was the only one forgiven. Navarro, perhaps sick of the "politics" of Peruvian soccer, decided ethics and morale would triumph and didn't even include Rodas on the bench. Will Leon have the soccer gods on their side?
ORIENTE PETROLERO (Bolivia) - Former MLS and veteran midfielder Joselito Vaca keeps on ticking and will look to lead the Refineros to glory, or at least out of the group. The Bolivians have a tough task of going on the road in their first two matches of the campaign.
GROUP 3
FLUMINENSE (Brazil) - The Tricolor Carioca rallied to notch its opening match at two goals last week against Argentina's Argentino Juniors. Dario Conca, the Argentine playmaking wizard who was voted Brazil's top player the past two seasons, should help Flu top the group along with Fredy and former Barcelona player Deco at their disposal. Defensively, they're a bit vulnerable as evidenced last week.
NACIONAL (Uruguay) - The Bolso are a traditionally strong tough-as-nails side that most Uruguayan teams are known for and have the talent to punch their ticket into the deep trenches of Libertadores as veteran defender Alejandro Lemo calls the shots in the back. Roberto Flores, its 24-year-old midfielder has potential and the backing of his manager but can't seem to find his form, resulting in a loan to this team from Villareal.
ARGENTINOS JUNIORS (Argentina) - Domestic champs for the first time in 25 years last season, Argentinos hope to take advantage of the absence of the two giants of Argentine soccer. Its debut at Flu gave them great optimism as former DC United player Franco Neill notched two headers to seal an important point on the road.
AMERICA (Mexico) - The Aguilas started off their national tournament winless in three matches, resulting in manager Manuel LaPuente's dismissal but have righted their ship with three wins. Will that momentum translate into Libertadores? The Mexicans have the players to pull off a stunner or two in the Group of Death.
GROUP 4
VELEZ SARSFIELD (Argentina) - El Fortin's prolific Uruguayan forward, Santiago Silva, will miss his debut due to a suspension stemming from last year's Copa Sudamericana participation. But Velez has enough ammunition given its other striker, Juan Manuel Martinez, as well as midfield wizard Maxi Moralez and new signing Guillermo Franco.
UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA (Chile) - The Chilean champs have Jose Luis Villanueva as their man upfront and now as its leader after the departure of highly-rated Milovan Mirosevic, who left to join Al Ain in the UAE. But a clerical errior may sway Mirosevic back to UC, which would give them a boost to possibly fight for the group.
CARACAS (Venezuela) - Los Rojos' No. 10 general, Angelo Pena, is only 21 years old and has an array of talent that MLS fans should look out for. With Venezuela's recent upswing in South American competition, this player will assure his country remains competitive in the near-term.
UNION ESPANOLA (Chile) - Union's Uruguayan midfielder, Martin Liguera, is the man to lead his team's offensive scheme.
GROUP 5
CERRO PORTENO (Paraguay) - The Azulgrana is a team that will be able to shake off a manager firing and lackluster results in its domestic championship because it's an experienced side and because they have 29-year-old Argentine forward Roberto Nanni, who manuveurs well in the box and is deadly in the air.
SANTOS (Brazil) - We've all heard of 19-year-old sensation Neymar and his exploits with his country, but the young striker will also have some heavy-hitting support in Paulo Henrique Ganso, 21, and on-loan midfielder Keirrison, who was with Palmeiras previously before signing with Barcelona a couple of years ago.
COLO COLO (Chile) - The Chileans also lost their manager this past week after a drubbing in its local tournament forced owners to panic. But midfielder Rodrigo Miller and forward Esteban Paredes are both veterans that will be able to guide the Snow Whites into contention.
DEPORTIVO TACHIRA (Venezuela) - Colombian journeyman Sergio Herrera, who played one league minute with the Columbus Crew last year, is the man to lead Tachira's attack.
GROUP 6
INTERNACIONAL (Brazil) - The defending champions are strong favorites to head back to the final and quite possibly to win it all again after holding on to a majority of its players from last year, even adding Mario Bolatti from Fiorentina into the mix. How did they do so terrible at the FIFA Club World Cup?
EMELEC (Ecuador) - Guayaquil is a tough venue to play in, and the Electrics' upfront Argentine tandem of Christian Menendez and Eial Strahman will also be one of the toughest to mark.
JAGUARES (Mexico) - The team is less than a decade old but made a statement in the preliminaries by ripping apart Alianza Lima, including a 2-0 away win. With some good young talent mixed in with some vets, Jaguares will continue to give Mexico a good name in South America. It's too bad Colombian striker Jackson Martinez is still out injured.
JORGE WILSTERMANN (Bolivia) - Striker Gianakis Suarez is fast, only 19 and could be the future of Bolivian soccer. This year's tournament is the perfect outing for him to shine.
GROUP 7
CRUZEIRO (Brazil) - The Foxes haven't been the same since losing in the 2009 final. For the most part, they still have some of the players from that year but will they break out now? Goalkeeper and captain Fabio is the rock in the between the pipes.
ESTUDIANTES DE LA PLATA (Argentina) - Sure, mastermind tactician Alejandro Sabella quit as manager, but the Pincharrates have the experience to fend off the likes of Tolima and Guarani, depending on the adjustment to their new manager's system. Juan Sebastian Veron will make sure his team adapts.
DEPORTES TOLIMA (Colombia) - The Colombians are still riding high after disposing of a Corinthians side that was picked to go deep in the tournament. Tolima controls its own destiny and its near-term future lies in the hands of Wilder Medina, who has been a revelation in the Colombian league in the past several seasons.
GUARANI (Paraguay) - Fabio Escobar, 28, returns back home to take the Paraguayan champions' No. 9 shirt from the departed Argentine forward Jonathan Fabbro.
GROUP 8
PENAROL (Uruguay) - With the showing that Uruguay displayed at the World Cup this year, it's only fitting that one of the giants of Uruguay and South America is back with a vengeance in the 2011 edition. The five-time Libertadores champs boast some fine individuals in 23-year-old defensive midfielder Nicolas Freitas and veteran playmaker Antonio Pacheco.
LDU QUITO (Ecuador) - You can't go wrong with a side that's won Libertadores, Sudamericana and two Recopas in recent years. Luis Bolanos is the perfect No. 10 that should help LDU push deep into the tournament with attacking fluidity that it's shown against the top teams of the continent.
INDEPENDIENTE (Argentina) - The Rojo fell flat on its face in the domestic league but still managed to take the Sudamericana last year. However, its president decided to make its stadium a priority instead of revamping his squad after losing many top players.
GODOY CRUZ (Argentina) - The team is coming off of a classy 4-1 whipping of Boca Juniors at the famed Bombonera Stadium in the Argentine league. It's sold off some key members but this working-class side has given fans hope for a decent year in the league and quite possibly Libertadores.
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Who do you see winning the 2011 Copa Libertadores? Can you see Internacional repeating?
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