Since being invited to the Copa América party in 1993, Mexico has always done well in the soccer tournament for South America’s national teams.

Despite this good record, the team Mexico entered in this year’s edition of the tournament, which began Friday in Argentina, is not a strong one.

Mexico was forced to field a second-string team made up of players who are under the age of 22.

The main team was focused on winning the Gold Cup, which it did in spectacular fashion last Saturday against the U.S. squad. So just days later a younger Mexican team, led by five veteran players, will compete at the Copa América.

The younger team will not be directed by Mexico’s starting coach, José Manuel de la Torre, who focused on the Gold Cup. Instead, the youngsters will be coached by Luis Fernando Tena.

The process to form this U-22 team was torturous, and the players performed poorly as a team, with little offensive power, in matches to prepare for Copa América.

All the times Mexico has participated in the South American tournament, the team has advanced to at least the second round. This year, however, that seems less likely given the group it’s in, which includes Chile, Peru and Uruguay.

Mexico’s challenge begins Monday, when the team faces Chile in the city of San Juan.

The two teams have squared off four times in Copa América games and Chile has not been able to win one game. Mexico won three games and tied one, and scored four goals and received two.

Chile is bringing the core team that it fielded in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, although it has a new coach, Claudio Borghi, who took over from the Argentinean Marcelo Bielsa.

Bielsa did a great job in the World Cup but decided not to renew his contract with the leadership that took over the Chilean Soccer Federation.

The Chileans have participated in 35 editions of the Copa América, playing 165 matches, and have a record of 55 wins, 28 ties, and 82 losses, with 254 goals scored and 296 received.

For its part, Mexico has participated seven times in that tournament, playing 38 games, of which the team has won 19, tied 7 and lost 12, with 55 goals scored and 44 received.

The second game Mexico plays will be Friday against Peru in the city of Mendoza.

Peru’s team has been struggling for a long time but the Copa América tournament is an opportunity for the squad, led by Chilean coach Jorge Markarián, to aspire to a better future.

Team captain Claudio Pizarro is the player to watch on Peru’s team.

Peru has participated 28 times in Copa América and its record is 132 games played, 45 wins, 32 ties, and 56 losses, 193 goals scored and 293 received.

The Mexicans and Peruvians have faced each other four times in this tournament. El Tri won two games, tied once and lost once, and scored 8 goals and received 6.

Mexico finishes the first round on July 12, facing Uruguay in the city Mar de la Plata.

Abraham.nudelstejer@sandiegored.com