Three group matches and three knockout games in the Copa America Centenario affected the status of several players in the national-team pool. Next up is a pair of World Cup qualifiers in September against Caribbean foes, and then the meaty challenge of Hexagonal games starting in November.

They went undefeated except against each other, so it's natural that players from champion Chile and runner-up Argentina dominate our Copa Centenario Best XI. Argentina outscored its foes, 18-2, and Chile bettered its opponents 16-5 until they stalemated in the final to force a penalty-kick shootout. The choices for Copa Centenario Best XI, as selected by the editors of Soccer America, place an emphasis on the influence these players had on the success of their teams.

Next month marks the fifth anniversary of Jurgen Klinsmann's tenure as USA head coach.

Thumped by Argentina in a Copa America Centenario semifinal, the U.S. will nonetheless take positives from getting that far. But what it means for the future is still a murky muddle.

Do you wonder what kind of advice Jurgen Klinsmann was giving his players during their loss to Argentina?

Reaching a Copa America Centenario semifinal against Argentina to be played on Tuesday is being hailed as an historic accomplishment for the U.S. national team.

First, the good news from Thursday night in Seattle. The USA's 2-1 victory over Ecuador, which moved it into the semifinals of the Copa Centenario, marked the first time it has ever won three games in a row in a competitive tournament other than the Gold Cup.

When big teams like Brazil and Uruguay fell prone to lapses, other nations took advantage to strengthen their reputations. Argentina and Mexico, as expected were impressive, and a courageous display by a U.S. team down to 10 men clinched a spot in the quarterfinals. Surprise teams Venezuela and Peru spiced up the first round as well..

Seven straight games including all three at the Centenario have featured Brad Guzan in goal; he and the Americans face another stern test Thursday against Ecuador.

Just three years ago, John Brooks, born and raised in Berlin but the son of a U.S. serviceman from Illinois, was still deciding whether to represent Germany or the USA.

The Copa America Centenario results to date are mirror images of what occurred in March, when the Americans followed up a poor defeat with a resounding win. To reach the quarterfinals it needs only a tie, which can be a quite risky situation.

Hard to believe, but as recently as January there was speculation about whether Clint Dempsey would continue to be part of the U.S. national team.

I'd suggest for Jurgen Klinsmann, after opening the Copa Centenario with a 2-0 loss to Colombia, to have a team-building event.

To Germany's three biggest cities -- Munich, Berlin and Hamburg -- is where soccer has been taking Honolulu-born Bobby Wood, who left Hawaii at age 12 and spent two years in Southern California before moving to Europe.

The Copa Centenario kicks off Friday when the USA hosts Colombia at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The tournament should give the USA a home-field advantage in the biggest men's tournament played in the USA since the 1994 World Cup. Here's how Soccer America's editors see the tournament unfolding.