Goals were scarce, marking tight, defenses super-organized in the opening two rounds of the group phase with only a touch of rebellion in Paraguay’s 2-2 draw with Brazil and Chile’s 2-1 comeback win over Mexico.

Coaches said the great players could settle a match in an inspired instant but good organization levelled the playing field so Bolivia held Argentina 1-1 and might have won and Venezuela earned a creditable 0-0 draw with holders Brazil.

Colombia had a balance that even those who saw them as dark horses admired for their exuberant breaks into attack down the flanks, but coach Hernan Dario Gomez was always cautious about the need to build his side from the back.

In stepped Brazil captain Lucio, as it turned out not with coach Mano Menezes’s approval, to demand more commitment from the younger elements in particular in a side that have won the title four times in the last five tournaments.

If Menezes’s plans to make Brazil shake off the shackles of the Dunga era and fly again were to work, they still needed more awareness of what it was the wear the famous yellow shirt, 2002 World Cup winner Lucio told reporters.

“I prefer private conversations and internal haranguing, they all know that,” Menezes told the post-match news conference, though, after Brazil did fly and secured a quarter-final against Paraguay with a 4-2 victory over Ecuador in Cordoba on Wednesday.

“Anyone in football knows that internal talks always give better results, the external ones give you (reporters) more effect, generating reactions, headlines. We always talk internally because we know we can do more and better. Against Ecuador we showed that.”

Either way, Brazil reminded watchers they are among the favorites along with hosts Argentina, while Chile impressed as one of the best teams in front of virtual home crowds in the shadow of the Andes that mark their border.

Menezes brought in Maicon, a more classical Brazilian right back than Daniel Alves, to help stretch the defense and with Robinho back in the middle the chances flowed for teenagers Neymar and Pato to score two goals apiece.

Argentina coach Sergio Batista seemed obstinately set on tactics that were not working with Messi given little freedom of movement by scaled defending and a midfield made up of players who are essentially ball winners.

With qualification on the line, Batista made four changes and, more importantly, lined his side up differently but it was the players who transformed Argentina, notably Fernando Gago with his prompting from midfield, Messi delivering stiletto passes nearer the box and Sergio Aguero scoring twice in a 3-0 win over Costa Rica.

Costa Rica were virtually all defense but the less square midfield set-up helped create the spaces for Messi to weave his magic and Argentina qualified for another Rio de la Plata classic against Uruguay.

Chile remain “at home” in San Juan but will need a Sanchez at his best as they face the new, improved Venezuela after their impressive comeback for a 3-3 draw with Paraguay in Salta on Wednesday.