WHEN ARGENTINA WELCOMED the world’s attention for the 2011 Copa América just a short few weeks ago, few would have predicted an Uruguay v Paraguay line-up for the final.

This was supposed to have been the tournament that would crown Lionel Messi at international level and see the re-emergence of Brazil as a force to be counted in South America.

Instead, it is Uruguay who have shown that their run at last summer’s World Cup was not a once-off but, in a telling reflection on the quality of the tournament as a whole, they face a side in the final that has yet to win a game in the competition…

Paraguay drew all three of their group matches and only progressed to the quarter-finals on goal difference. They have yet to score in the knockout stages and have managed to reach the final by keeping things tight at the back, forcing contests to a penalty shootouts and riding their luck with spot kicks. It has worked so far, so Uruguay will have to be careful.

Oscar Washington Tabarez’s men have the flair and form needed to be able to make the breakthrough, however. Luis Suárez has been dangerous through and is currently the tournament’s joint top scorer alongside Argentina’s Sergio Aguero on three goals.

Add the talents of Diego Forlán and Alvaro Pereira as well as the returning Diego Perez (suspended for the semi-final) and Parguay will have to have Lady Luck and a very good night to keep their opponents at bay.

Uruguay also stand on the verge of writing some new history to add to their illustrious past. Beat their opponents later on this evening and they will see them capture their 15th Copa América title, moving ahead of Argentina in the all-time rankings.

Key to their resurgence is the aforementioned Tabarez who began to restore the country’s international reputation at the 1990 World Cup but whose real work began in 2006 when he resumed as national coach and set about changing and improving the entire structure of football in Uruguay.

So while they should possess enough resolve and ability to maintain recent progress, if the 2011 Copa América has reminded us of anything – it’s that strange things are very possible in the beautiful game.

Watch how Paraguay got to the final:

Watch how Uruguay got to the final:

Peru, meanwhile, have claimed third spot with a 4-1 win over Venezuela. William Chiroque put them ahead in the 42nd minute before a hat trick from Jose Paolo Guerrero sealed the win.