2024 Copa América: Questions ahead of USA's crucial showcase
Will the champions still have the same desire? How will the hosts perform? What of the other CONCACAF teams? Here's my preview of the 2024 Copa América
In Europe, there is much rejoicing in returning to uniformity, with an international tournament being played in June and July, in one host nation with a tremendous football culture. Euro 2024 has given us that return to normality we needed to feel good again.
Yet, when we look across the ocean, we want - and expect - nothing but ordinary! Is it Copa América year? Who cares! Any year can be Copa América year (but yes, it is Copa América year). Is it being hosted in a country not even part of CONMEBOL? Of course! Anything else would be dull. Is it going to be played at a time when there’s not much other international football going on? No! It begins tonight and the final is on the same day as the Euros final. Brilliant!
16 teams are ready for kick-off in the United States for what is set to be an intriguing tournament both on and off the pitch with a bigger event in the region approaching on the horizon. Here is my preview, asking four main questions that need answering between now and mid-July!
Are Argentina still hungry?
Lionel Messi will walk out for the opening match of the tournament against Canada in Atlanta leading an Argentina squad which has barely changed since lifting the World Cup in Qatar 18 months ago.
Is it any wonder, given that since that night in Lusail they have won 14 of the 15 matches they have played, conceding just four times, with two of those coming in their only defeat at the hands of Uruguay?
The Copa holders got the monkey off their backs in Brazil in 2021, winning a first trophy since 1993 and then fulfilled Messi’s destiny with their third world title, so what is there still to achieve?
The Canadians should not prove too much of a challenge in Group A, nor should group fellows Chile and Peru, who have one win in 12 qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup between them, thanks to Chile’s win over… Peru. Lionel Scaloni, the Martínez boys Emiliano and Lautaro, Ángel Di María and co are all back for more, but have they brought the desire with them?
How will the hosts get on?
The dress rehearsal for the United States’ hosting of the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada will begin in earnest on the pitch on 23rd June when the Stars and Stripes meet Bolivia at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The mood around the USMNT is lacking the usual American optimism, as Gregg Berhalter’s men were thrashed 5-1 at home to Colombia in their opening warm-up match this month, before restoring some faith and pride by holding a second-string Brazil to a 1-1 draw.
For reasons off the pitch as well as on, no nation needs a positive display here more than the hosts, who cannot afford to miss out on 2026 being the year that soccer explodes.
15 of the squad play in Europe’s top five leagues and though the Euros have proven such experience to often count for little, Serie A trio of Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie should provide plenty in midfield and further forward.
Like Chile, a win over Peru is all Bolivia have to show for their World Cup qualification efforts thus far. Next up for the USA will be Panama, in a match that probably will decide second place in the group. A quarter-final exit will not be seen as ideal, but first the US must focus on getting through their opening matches.
Will Brazil lose any more legends?
First, Ronaldinho was announcing he was abandoning the Brazil national team, one he called the “worst in years”, yet, now he is claiming he would never turn his back on the side and that his faux criticism was all part of an advertising campaign for deodorant.
Whatever the truth, no one was overly surprised at the comments; Brazil have surely left plenty of their heroes of yesteryear breaking into cold sweats with their performances of late. The Seleção ended 2023 with a draw with Venezuela followed by three consecutive defeats to Uruguay, Colombia and Argentina, leaving them sixth in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, still an automatic qualifying spot, but only thanks to FIFA’s expansion.
In March, things picked up with an away win against England and a draw with Spain in Madrid, but requiring a 96th-minute winner against Mexico followed by that 1-1 draw with the USA has increased nerves again from Rio to Belo Horizonte.
They begin their Group D campaign against a Costa Rica side whose form is patchy at best, with no win of note since Qatar. Next up is Paraguay, the team sitting seventh in the World Cup standings with the sides yet to face each other in the campaign, before a meeting with Colombia, unbeaten in qualifying and in all matches for over a year, fresh of that 5-1 win over the States and a 2-1 win over Brazil in November.
No Ederson, Neymar, Casemiro or Richarlison means this side is lighter than it could be. The depth of talent is still there, but then it was in those failed qualifiers in the autumn.
Does CONCACAF stand a chance?
Group B is the most open group, with two sides from each confederation; Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela and Jamaica
Mexico will be desperate to put on a display in front of what will feel like a home crowd after a disappointing World Cup, but could struggle putting the ball in the net with no Raúl Jiménez or Hirving Lozano to call upon. Jamaica have lots of English league experience, but also issues with strength in depth.
Ecuador and Venezuela have been in decent form of late, losing once apiece in six World Cup qualifiers and if they carry that form into the Copa América, it could be curtains for the CONCACAF sides.
Elsewhere, the battle between USA and Panama should be for second place, as a Uruguay side with the evergreen Luis Suárez supporting Darwin Núñez and Giorgian de Arrascaeta should top the group comfortably.
CONCACAF’s next best hope of a quarter-finalist should be Canada, now under the guidance of Jesse Marsch, who prepared for the tournament with a heavy defeat to the Netherlands before an admirable 0-0 with France in Bordeaux. Should they lose to Argentina, such resilience will be key against Chile and Peru.
My quarter-finalists
As with the Euros, I will predict which teams will make it through the groups, and later make a prediction for the latter stages. If my European guesses are anything to go by, I wouldn’t put a single penny (or cent) on this line-up!
Group A: Winner - ARGENTINA, Runner-up - CANADA
Group B: Winner - ECUADOR, Runner-up - VENEZUELA
Group C: Winner - URUGUAY, Runner-up - UNITED STATES
Group D: Winner - COLOMBIA, Runner-up - BRAZIL
Quarter-finals
Argentina vs Venezuela
Ecuador vs Canada
Uruguay vs Brazil
Colombia vs United States
Do you agree, or think I’m talking nonsense? Leave me a comment with your predictions!
Anthony Tomas is a football writer and commentator, who writes for Flashscore and World Soccer Magazine.