Football: Group stage ends in Copa America

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ANKARA (AA) - The group matches in the 2019 Copa America ended in Brazil on Monday, with the exit of four nations from the football tournament.

Participating the 46th edition of the tournament were 12 teams -- including two guest nations.

Bolivia and Ecuador, as well as guest nations Qatar and Japan eliminated from the tournament, while Colombia became the most successful team of the group stage with nine points.

In the Group C, Ecuador drew with Japan 1-1 and said goodbye to the tournament.

Ecuador finished the competition with only one point, while Japan scored two points.

Uruguay beat the last champions of the Copa America Chile 1-0 in Rio de Janeiro on Monday to finish the Group C on top.

It completed the group matches with seven points and secured first above Chile, which collected six points.

PSG forward Edinson Cavani's goal at the 82nd minute brought three points to Uruguay.

Both teams were qualified for the quarterfinals.

Host nation Brazil finished the group games as the leader with seven points in the Group A.

Venezuela headed to the quarterfinals with a second-place finish.

Paraguay ranked third in the same group with just four points but moved to quarterfinals as one of the two best third-placed finishers.

Bolivia lost their all games in the Group A.

In the Group B, Colombia won their all the games to become the group leader.

Argentina gained the second place in the Group B with four points and went through the knockout stage.

Paraguay followed Argentina in the Group B with two points but made it to the quarterfinals as one of the two best third-placed finishers.

Guest nation Qatar ended the tournament at the bottom of the Group B with one point.

The tournament will run through July 7.

Here is the quarterfinals fixture of the Copa America:

June 27: Brazil vs Paraguay (8.30 p.m. local time, 2330GMT)

June 28: Venezuela vs Argentina (3 p.m. local time, 1800GMT)

June 28: Colombia vs Chile (7 p.m. local time, 2200GMT)

June 29: Uruguay vs Peru (3 p.m.local time,1800GMT)