Copa America: 15 surprises so far

15. Paraguay can’t challenge group A

The Paraguayans may not have been favored to advance out of a difficult group on paper, but it was a bit surprising to see them head home with just one point from three group stage games.

After a poor effort in the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup that led to three separate coaching changes, Paraguay bounced back quickly with a solid showing in the 2015 Copa America, including a win over Brazil in penalties. Even with a FIFA world ranking of 44, Paraguay at least figured to be a difficult team to beat due to its consistently solid back line.

Paraguay got off to a rough start with a 0-0 draw against Costa Rica in a game it likely needed to have in order to advance to the knockout stages. While the Paraguayan defense was stout and organized, the team disappointingly managed just one shot on goal in the entire game.

The squad showed some improvement in a 2-1 loss to Colombia four days later, and had a chance to advance with a win over the United States. Despite playing nearly the entire second half up a man and generating plenty of pressure, Paraguay lost 1-0 and finished the tournament with just one goal.

Head coach Ramon Diaz resigned following the disappointing performance as Paraguay will again head in a different direction. While it’s not a huge surprise Paraguay didn’t advance to the knockout stages, many expected a much better overall performance.

Next: 14. Argentina's sheer dominance, with and without Messi