After two games at the 43rd Copa America left hosts Argentina, holders Brazil and 14-times winners Uruguay winless it seemed the old order of South American football could be facing a challenge to its long supremacy. But try as they might to shake the tree, their rivals have not managed to dislodge them and the trio now have time to regroup having finally made it, albeit belatedly, into the quarter-finals.
Joining them, however, are five teams who are out to prove that the tournament is not a closed shop when it comes to lifting the trophy. Neutrals will be delighted one of the five is Venezuela, reaching this stage for the first time on foreign soil after holding Brazil and coming back from 3-1 down to hold Paraguay.
Brazil now take on the Paraguayans - who came within a minute of beating them in the group. While the Venezuelans revel in their role of gatecrashers, the auriverde, the albiceleste and the charruas - the only sides on the continent to have tasted World Cup glory - will now seek to show the old guard still rule.
Yet positive performances by the likes of Chile, Venezuela's next opponents, suggest the heavyweights can take nothing for granted. One of the Big Three will definitely not be in the semi-final draw as the Argentineans face the Uruguayans on Saturday at Santa Fe. With Lionel Messi starting to fire on all cylinders the hosts should advance. But Uruguay in the past have been a thorn in the flesh of their illustrious neighbours.
Although Argentina have won the tournament on six of the eight occasions they have hosted it and match the 14 titles of their rivals from across the River Plate, the two times they messed up saw the Uruguayans benefit. The first was in the inaugural tournament of 1916, while the latest slip-up came in 1987.
In those early days, Brazil were lees keen on continental superiority - the auriverde preferred to earn World Cup kudos. But recently, amid Argentina's ongoing trophy drought, the Brazilians have decided that rubbing in superiority on both levels is a cosy feeling. While the samba stars have won four of the past five editions - Colombia, through to a meeting with Peru, bagged a title in 2001 to break the sequence - the Argentineans and Uruguayans have slid out of the limelight.
That 1987 surprise was Uruguay's last win to date while Argentinians need no reminding that since they triumphed in 1993 the senior side has won nothing at all. The difference against Costa Rica was that Messi, 53 goals for Barca last season, excelled as provider, only underlining his versatility. The duel will take place at the Santa Fe stadium nicknamed the elephants' graveyard, scene of numerous domestic shocks. While Chile and Uruguay appear the biggest threats to have a tilt at the title, the big guns, early travails behind them, are now loaded.