By Tim Vickery South American football reporter

Read my answers to this week's questions

Caracas' victory has raised hopes for the national team ahead of this year's Copa America

It stands as one of the great upsets in the history of the Copa Libertadores.

On Thursday, Caracas of Venezuela came back from Argentina with a 1-0 win against Buenos Aires giants River Plate.

True, Caracas rode their luck. But they defended stoutly after taking an early lead with a well-worked goal, and their performance drew praise from the Buenos Aires press.

The result has given Venezuelan football a boost, and raised hopes that the national team, many of whom play for Caracas, might do well on home ground in this year's Copa America.

Traditional whipping boys of South American football, Venezuela have only taken part in the Copa America since 1967, and their record makes uncomfortable reading.

In 40 games, they have registered just a single win.

Apart from that 3-0 win over Bolivia in 1967, Venezueal have managed just six draws along with the 34 defeats, scoring 22 goals and conceding 133.

But with Venezuelan football making massive strides they will be looking for their first victory in 40 years.

They have performed impressively in the last two World Cup qualifying campaigns and home advantage counts in the Copa America.

With ticket sales important to the financial health of the competition the hosts are traditionally placed in a straightforward group.

Venezuela are in with Bolivia, Peru and Uruguay and have a chance of making the quarter-finals even if they finish third.

But as interesting as anything Venezuela do on the field is the effort they are making to stage the competition.

This is the first time the Copa America has been held in the country and the Venezuelans are using the opportunity to make huge investments in their footballing infrastructure.

A total of nine stadiums will be used and the claims are that they will be far better than the usual South American standard.

Palacio will be making his way to Europe soon. Many people think he's well-suited to the style of Barcelona

If these reports are to be believed, it means that overnight Venezuela is establishing itself as a potential future World Cup host.

This perhaps explains why Colombia have bid to stage the World Cup in 2014, even though they previously gave their support to Brazil.

Perhaps Colombia are not truly competing against Brazil. Rather, they may be protecting themselves against Venezuela, putting down a marker to remind the football family that after Brazil, Colombia are the next South Americans in line.

This year's Copa America, then, is a showcase for Venezuelan football and organisational ability and there are some surprise visitors to the party.

In recent tournaments two teams from outside South America - usually from the Concacaf region - have been invited to take part.

Last time it was Mexico and Costa Rica and a repeat might have been expected this time. It would make the competition an exclusively Latin American affair, in keeping with the efforts made by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez to set himself up as a spokesman for the region.

But instead, along with Mexico, the United States were invited and have accepted the chance to take part in the competition for the first time since 1995. They are not in the same group as Venezuela, but the two countries could easily meet in the knockout stages.

Chavez launches biting US attack

Meanwhile, Chavez and US president George Bush exchange unpleasantries in their rival tours of the region.

If the ideological conflict hots up, Chavez could even press the Venezuelan FA for a recall for a veteran striker who was sent off when the two sides met in the 1993 Copa America. His name - Stalin Rivas.

I've come across Rodrigo Palacio attracting the attention of European clubs, but can find out almost nothing about him. Can you enlighten me at all?
Jerry Longrigg

Palacio is now 25, and his three caps for Argentina include a substitute appearance in last year's World Cup.

He's a wiry, nippy striker who works the flanks very well, can force past his man and cross or shoot off either foot. He's now in his third year with Boca Juniors, where he worked with current national team coach Alfio Basile, who describes him as "the most dangerous striker in Argentina."

Palacio is out injured at the moment and has struggled for form for a few months, but he will surely come again and will be making his way to Europe soon. Many people in Argentina think he's well-suited to the style of Barcelona.

Is there more to the young Brazilian Kerlon than that "seal dribble" - the one where he flicks the ball up to his nose and runs at pace, changing direction and so on - or is he a one trick pony?
John Thompson

There was plenty more to him in that Under-17 championship. He was the tournament's top scorer and they came from all angles - free-kicks, close-range strikes, combinations on the edge of the box.

Unfortunately, things haven't gone well for him since. A nasty ankle injury required surgery and took him out of the World Under-17 Cup.

Back to fitness in 2006 he had a hard time in his first year in the Cruzeiro first team - showing promise but looking a little off the pace in senior football. And then last week he suffered a serious knee injury and will be out for several months. But here's hoping he gets there in the end.

Got a question about South American football for Tim Vickery? Email him at [email protected]