Copa América

Copa America 2024: My Prediction For The Final

Jon The Blogcentric1 Comment
Will this be Argentina’s record-setting sixteenth win?
Or Colombia’s second?

Back on my talk about the Euro final, I talked about how people shouldn’t see continental tournaments as joke tournaments. Same with the Copa America. Especially knowing that all the teams of the CONMEBOL are as capable of losing to each other as they are winning. Argentina may be the World Cup holder but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll win every game in their wake. Most likely, they’ll face defeat at the hands of a South American team. In fact, Argentina’s only loss since their World Cup win was to Uruguay this past November!

Here in the Copa America, the final is down to two teams from the CONMEBOL, as I feel it should be. One team is tied with Uruguay for fifteen previous wins while one won it only once back in 2001. So the big question is which team will win the Copa America on Sunday? Here’s my look:

Head-To-Head Stats: The two teams have played each other 42 times before. Argentina has won 25 times before, Colombia has won nine times before, and eight games were draws.

Team-By-Team Analysis:

ARGENTINA: Coming to this tournament as the reigning World Cup holders, it’s easy to assume they would become the favorites to win. Added to the fact they are the reigning Copa holders from their 2021 win. Very often, many World Cup winning teams start feeling immediate changes after their win. That hasn’t been the case for the Albiceleste. Lionel Scaloni is still the team’s head manager as he’s been since after the 2018 World Cup. Many anticipated Lionel Messi would retire after the win in Qatar 2022 but he’s still part of the team and still captain. Also remaining with the team are star players like Angel di Maria, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez and goalkeeper Dibu Martinez. Their play in the US has been consistent with their reputation as they won all three of their Group Stage games and made it through both of their knockout matches.

Despite their great play, they have shown vulnerability. As anticipated, it’s come at the hands of South American teams. Recently it was in their quarterfinal against Ecuador that went to a 1-1 draw. It was after penalty kicks that they won. I know I talked about Argentina’s only loss since their World Cup win being to Uruguay. It’s possible Colombia could expose their vulnerability in the final. The last time they met back in February 2022, Argentina won 1-0. If Argentina is not overconfident and they take their rivalry against Colombia seriously, they can become repeat Copa winners.

COLOMBIA: It hasn’t been an easy time for Los Cafeteros. Right after they learned they would not qualify for the 2022 World Cup, they dropped their coach for Argentine coach Nestor Lorenzo. Since then, they have not lost a game. Actually their 1-0 loss to Argentina in February 2022 in a World Cup qualifier is their last loss. James Rodriguez is the captain with David Ospina being the head goalkeeper. Here at the Copa, Colombia delivered the best results in their group, delivered the only win in regulation time in their quarterfinal against Panama and delivered another win against Uruguay 1-0.

Other than Argentina, Colombia has delivered the best consistency in play. They’ve been scoring well and delivering strongly against their opponents. I know I talked about possible vulnerability of Argentina. Colombia can be just as vulnerable and Argentina could take full advantage of it. In the final, neither team can afford to give anything away. If Colombia want to upset the current World Cup Holder, they will have to be on the ball from the start and give nothing away.

My Final Verdict: We should remember that the Copa America and the World Cup are two different tournaments and both have their own challenges. Winning either trophy is not easy at all. My prediction is Argentina to take it 2-0.

And there you have it! That’s my look at the 2024 Copa America final and my prediction for the win. Interesting how both the Euro final and the Copa America final are happening on the same day! Aren’t you relieved of the time difference?

2024 Copa America: My Semifinals Predictions

Jon The BlogcentricLeave a comment
Just four teams are left in the running for the Copa America.

Some of you may wonder why I didn’t do a Copa America blog for the groups with a game to go or a quarterfinals prediction blog. Firstly, blogs are too tiring. I like the Copa America but my hands can only take so much typing and I can only have so much inspiration. I’m not a professional blogger. Secondly, I was on vacation in my city of birth. So naturally, I will embrace my rest and relaxation while I have it.

Now that my vacation is near ending, it’s time to focus on the semifinals of Copa America 2024. The group play has been something. Argentina was great as expected, but Canada progressed even though they scored just a single goal in group play! Also Canada’s more lauded CONCACAF rivals of the USA and Mexico didn’t qualify for the quarterfinals! Even Panama qualified thanks to their 2-1 win over the USA! Venezuela, who has never won a Copa or even qualified for a World Cup, topped Group B with straight wins! The tight rivalry of Colombia and Brazil was expected to pour over into group play and it did!

Then the semifinals! Interesting that the CONMEBOL have it there’s no added extra time and goes straight to penalty kicks. It’s something because that was the case for three of the four quarterfinals! Only Colombia’s 5-0 win over Panama was a decisive game.

Now we have the semifinals. Like the Euro, they will also be contested on the Tuesday and Wednesday. Only one CONCACAF team still stands. Chances are it will again go to a CONMEBOL team. A CONMEBOL team has always won the Copa and that’s how it should be. In the meantime, here’s my look at the two semifinals:

SEMIFINAL #1: ARGENTINA vs. CANADA

Head-To-Head Stuff:

Aside from Argentina’s 2-0 win over Canada in the very first game of this Copa, their only other time meeting was in 2010 where Argentina again won, but the score was 5-0.

Team-By-Team Analysis

ARGENTINA: When you are the current World Cup Holder, a lot is expected from you. The Albiceleste did not disappoint in the Group Stage. They began the Copa with a 2-0 win over Canada, followed it with a 1-0 win over Chile and capped it off with a 2-0 win against Peru. All three games won, nothing conceded. It’s when they got into their quarterfinal against Ecuador that the challenge began. They conceded for the first time at this Copa and drew 1-1. It was after the penalty shootout that they won.

No doubt they intend to repeat as Copa champions. In the past few years, they built up a full top-notch team instead of relying on just Messi. Actually here at the Copa, the top scorer has been 26 year-old Lautaro Martinez! For their semifinal, I can’t really see them having much of a chance of losing. I think the only way they can is if they underestimate their opponent. It’s highly unlikely they will but I have seen big-name teams underestimate opponents and then lose.

CANADA: It’s easy to underestimate The Canucks. Most of the other teams here at this Copa have had bigger renown and are way more lauded. Canada came with something to prove and they did a good job of proving it. They may have opened with a 2-0 loss to Argentina but they came back with a 1-0 win over Peru and a scoreless draw against Chile. It is possible to qualify for the knockout round by scoring a single goal! That’s football for you!

Their quarterfinal win against Venezuela was a game where Canada showed both its strengths at the right time, but also their weaknesses. It’s obvious Canada intends to send a top team to the World Cup when they co-host two years from now. Their first time ever to a Copa America semifinal is a feat all its own. Nevertheless they will need to improve more if they want to go far. As for their upcoming semi, they should not let their group stage loss get to them. Argentina is a tough team but they’re beatable. It’s up to Canada to deliver well.

My Final Verdict: I thought tournaments organize themselves so that teams that play each other in group play don’t meet again until the final. I know the World Cup does it. Despite the two clashing again so soon, I think Argentina will take it 3-0.

SEMIFINAL #1: URUGUAY vs. COLOMBIA

Head-To-Head Stuff:

The two have dueled each other 45 times before. Uruguay won 20 times, Colombia won 14 times, there were 11 draws.

Team-By-Team Analysis:

URUGUAY: Here in the USA, La Céleste have put on quite a show. At a time when one wonders who the successors for Suarez and Cavani will become, in come new stars like Darwin Nunez, Maximiliano Araujo and Mathias Olivera who have dazzled during the Copa. Uruguay opened with a 3-1 win over Panama, followed it up with a 5-0 win over Bolivia and then delivered a 1-0 win over the hosting Americans.

Despite the stellar play in the Group Stage, they followed it with a scoreless draw against Brazil in the quarterfinals that was won on penalty kicks. Many complained it was lacklustre play from two top teams. A team like Uruguay will have to get itself together. Especially since Colombia had a big win in their quarterfinal.

COLOMBIA: Most people originally thought Group D was Brazil’s for topping, but Los Cafeteros had other plans. They began with a 2-1 win over Paraguay, followed it with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica and followed it with a 1-1 draw to Brazil. Their consistency took them to the top of Group D. They also followed it up in the quarterfinal with a 5-0 win over Panama. They were the only team to actually win their quarterfinal match!

The team have it together and they have what it takes to win. It’s a matter of them delivering at the moment. As they face Uruguay, they know it can go either way. They’ve been brilliant this whole tournament. They will have to continue their brilliance to get into the final.

My Final Verdict: They’ve had fierce rivalries before. The winning team is usually the one with the better World Cup chances. I think this will play to a 2-2 draw and Uruguay will win on penalty kicks.

And there you have it! Those are my predictions for the semifinals of the Copa America. Interesting this is while the Euro doesn’t have a third-place game, the Copa America does. I’m undecided if when I do my blog predictions for the final, I should predict the third-place match. Only time will tell.

2024 Copa America: Group D Focus

Jon The BlogcentricLeave a comment

Interesting as the Euro is almost halfway finished into their group play, the Copa America starts playing. Sometimes it does seem unusual for the US to host it. Personally I want to see it being a predominantly CONMEBOL event. I don’t mind the idea of guest teams coming, but I do hope to see a South American team win in the true spirit of the event.

Group D is only one of two groups that has only one CONCACAF team and the rest CONMEBOL. Also interesting is all but one team has an Argentinean coach! The only team in this group without an Argentinean coach Is Brazil, of course. So here’s a look at the last Copa America group: Group D:

-Brazil (5): Right now seems to be one of the toughest times for the Seleção Canarinha. Ever since their fifth and last World Cup, they haven’t finished in the Top 3 since, going out in the quarterfinals most of the time. Even now with 1/3 of World Cup qualification games played, Brazil is in sixth and the last qualifying spot currently. At the Copa America, however, it has not been a complete downer for Brazil as they won in 2019 and were runner-up in 2021.

Since the beginning of this year, Brazil has been managed by Dorival Junior. Top players include defender Marquinhos, midfielder Lucas Paqueta, forward Vinicius Junior and goalkeeper Alisson. Since Qatar 2022, Brazil has had wins to England, Peru, Bolivia and Mexico. It’s had draws to Spain and Venezuela, and losses to Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia and Senegal. The stage is set here in the USA. Brazil can pave another path for them here at the Copa and aim to get their greatness back.

-Colombia (12): It’s been an up-and-down ride for Los Cafeteros. The 2010’s seemed to be their breakthrough with their first time ever in the World Cup quarterfinals. Over time their magic wore off as they made it to the Round of 16 in 2018 and failed to qualify for 2022. One bright light is they did finish third at the last Copa America. The current team is hoping to bring their past prowess back.

Since September 2022, the Colombian team has been managed by Argentinean Nestor Lorenzo. Top players include defenders Davinson Sanchez and Santiago Arias, midfielder James Rodriguez, forward Luis Diaz and goalkeeper David Ospina. Interestingly since the start of 2023, Colombia has not had a single loss! Wins in that time include Spain, Mexico, Brazil and Germany. They’ve had a win and a draw against the United States and draws against Uruguay, Ecuador and Chile. If their prowess is still with them, Colombia could find themselves the new Copa winners. It will all be decided right here.

-Paraguay (56): It does seem like the biggest days of Los Guaraníes or La Albirroja are a thing of the past. Their streak of four straight World Cups ended in 2010. They won the Copa in 1953 and 1979 and their last Top 3 finish was runner-up in 2011, but they’ve faded in to making it only as far as the quarterfinals. The next generation of players look to change that.

Paraguay’s team has been managed by Argentinean Daniel Garnero for a year. Top players include defenders Gustavo Gomez and Junior Alonso, midfielder Miguel Almiron, and forward Derlis Gonzalez and Angel Romero. Since the start of 2023, they’ve had wins to Bolivia, Panama and Nicaragua. They’ve had a draw and a loss to both Peru and Chile, and losses to Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela. Despite that, anything can happen in football and a team with low expectations like Paraguay could deliver a strong performance to send a message to the Americas.

-Costa Rica (52): One way to describe Los Ticos is unpredictable. No doubt they’re arguably the best Central American team. They’ve been to six World Cups including the last three and made it as far as the quarterfinals, they’ve been to five previous Copas and no other Central American nation has won three CONCACAF championships or Gold Cups.

The current Costa Rica team has been managed by Argentinean Gustavo Alfaro for over a year. Top players include defender Francisco Calvo, midfielder Ariel Lassiter, and forward Joel Campbell. Since World Cup 2022, they’ve had wins to Martinique, Honduras and Saudi Arabia. They’ve had a win and a draw to El Salvador along with losses to Argentina, Panama, Mexico and Ecuador. The arena here in the US gives Costa Rica another opportunity to prove itself and possibly surprise the world again.

My Predictions: Sometimes I feel this group is the Group Of Death because of three teams that are known for great play and delivering shockers. I will have to go with Brazil and Colombia as the qualifiers.

And there you have it. That’s my review for Group D of Copa America 2024. Now all that’s remaining is for the Copa to start! Lots of excitement ahead.

2024 Copa America: Group C Focus

Jon The BlogcentricLeave a comment

It’s interesting for the World Cups, the host nation is normally in the first group. Same with the Euro. The Copa America has the defending champions in Group A instead and the host nation in any group. Here it’s Group C. Not that I have a problem with it. It’s just unique that way. In the meantime, here’s my look at Group C of this year’s Copa America:

-United States (11): You either love them or you hate them, but you can’t deny that The Stars and Stripes or The Yanks are a football force you should take seriously. They’ve qualified for eight of the last ten World Cups and even got as far at the quarterfinals in 2002, they’ve won the CONCACAF Gold Cup seven times, and have even finished fourth at the Copa America twice. With the World Cup coming in 2026, you can bet the USA want to be on.

The team is coached by Greg Berhalter who played for the US in two World Cups including 2002 when they last made it to the quarterfinals. Top players include defender Antonee Robinson, midfielder Weston McKennee and forwards Tom Weah and Christian Pulisic. They’ve had a win against Ghana since the end of World Cup 2022. They’ve also achieved a win and a draw against both Jamaica and Mexico. They’ve also had two wins and a loss to Trinidad and Tobago and losses to Germany, Colombia, Slovenia and Serbia. The stage is ready here in the US and they want to deliver a team the host nation can be proud of just before they co-host World Cup 2026.

-Uruguay (15): La Celeaste or Los Charruas are a sentimental favorite for many people. They won two straight Olympic gold medals in the 1920’s, they won the first-ever World Cup in 1930 and upset hosts Brazil in 1950. For these past fifteen years, Uruguay has showcased its greatest team in four decades with a fourth-place finish at the 2010 World Cup and a 2011 Copa win. Recently its Group Stage ouster at Qatar 2022 led many to think their recent Golden Generation was ending.

A year ago, Marcelo Bielsa was assigned to be the head manager of Uruguay’s team. Top players include defender Jose Gimenez, midfielders Federico Valverde and Rodrigo Betancur, and forward Luis Suarez. Notable wins since the end of World Cup 2022 include Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and South Korea. They’ve had draws against Japan and Colombia and losses to Ecuador and the Ivory Coast. Chances are right here in the USA, Uruguay could have what it takes to win the Copa.

-Panama (45): It looks like Los Canaleros have been going through their greatest era ever. This decade they qualified for the 2018 World Cup and finished runner-up in three CONCACAF Gold Cups this century. Despite their recent success, they still show a lot of vulnerability like most Central American teams. Despite their great abilities, it’s been hard for them to prove themselves against the bigger teams.

Panama’s team is coached by Danish-born Thomas Christiansen who emigrated to Spain and played for Spain internationally. Top players include defenders Fidel Escobar and Michael Murillo, midfielders Anibal Godoy and Yoel Barcenas, and forward Jose Fajardo. Notable wins in the last year and a half include Costa Rica, Qatar and Bolivia. They had a win and a draw against Guatemala and had draws against the US and El Salvador. They’ve also had losses to Mexico, Jamaica, Canada and Paraguay. Chances are Panama could deliver a shocker and go further than most expected.

-Bolivia (85): Now is a struggle for La Verde to prove themselves. Team history shows them playing in three World Cups and scoring only one goal. They’ve had a single Copa win back in 1963. Their last Top 3 finish at the Copa was runner-up back in 1997 and they’ve only made it past the group stage once this century in the Copa.

Bolivia’s head manager is a Brazilian: Antonio Carlos Zago who was part of Brazil’s Copa winning team of 1999. Top players include defender Jose Sagredo, midfielders Leonel Justiniano and Rodrigo Ramallo, and goalkeeper Carlos Lampe. Bolivia has had it rough this past year and a half with wins only coming against Saudi Arabia, Peru and Andorra. They had a draw to Chile but all their other games were losses. Nevertheless, anything can happen in a football game and Bolivia could deliver a shocker or two.

My Predictions: I easily felt Uruguay will top this group. Seeing some of the head-to-head results got me questioning. In the end, I favored the USA over Panama.

And there you go. That’s my look at Group C of the Copa America. Just one last group to review and I’m ready for the tournament!

2024 Copa America: Group B Focus

Jon The Blogcentric1 Comment

With all this confusion, it’s unclear whether the Copa America will continue to be a sixteen-team tournament or go back to being a twelve-team tournament in 2028. The only times it’s ever been a twelve-team tournament is when the US hosts. In the meantime, let’s enjoy the excitement. Moving along, here’s my review of the Group B teams. Interesting is that none of the teams in this group have ever won the Copa:

-Mexico (14): El Tri or El Tricolor have historically been seen as the top team of the CONCACAF. Over time, people have often seen Mexico as a team that is capable of achieving more than they have. They’ve been runner-up twice at the Copa America and their best World Cup finish is the quarterfinals. At Qatar 2022, they failed to make it to the knockout round for the first time since 1978. They’ve been wanting to recover from that disappointment since.

For less than a year, Mexico has been managed by Jaime Lozano. Most of the players play for teams in Mexico’s Liga MX with some playing in teams from European leagues. Many are under 25 years of age. Top players include midfielders Edson Alvarez and Orbelin Pineda. Since World Cup 2022, They’ve achieved wins against Panama, Costa Rica and Bolivia. They’ve had a win and a draw against Jamaica as well as draws against Australia, Germany and Cameroon. They also had a draw and a loss to the US and losses to Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil and Qatar. Here at the Copa America, Mexico has another chance to prove themselves and they could do magic.

-Ecuador (31): La Tri or La Tricolor have had their biggest success in the 21st Century. They qualified for their first World Cup in 2002 and have qualified for three more since. At the Copa America, Ecuador have never finished in the Top 3 and the best they’ve done in this century is finishes in the quarterfinals. No doubt that they want this to be their best Copa ever.

Ecuador is managed by Spain’s Felix Sanchez who coached Qatar’s team for the 2022 World Cup. The irony being Ecuador played Qatar in the opening game of that World Cup! The players play for a mix of teams in European and South American leagues and half are under 25 years old. Top players include midfielders Angel Mena and Carlos Gruezo and forward Enner Valencia who is Ecuador’s greatest goal scorer ever and scored both goals in the opening game of the World Cup! Since that World Cup, they’ve had wins to Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica and Uruguay, draws to Colombia and Venezuela, and losses to Argentina, Australia and Italy. The stage is set in the US and Ecuador could have what it takes to deliver their best-ever performance in a Copa America.

-Venezuela (54): You may think every South American nation has been to at least one World Cup. Wrong! Venezuela is the one team from the CONMEBOL that has never qualified for a World Cup. Like Ecuador, they’ve never had a Top 3 finish at the Copa America either. Despite that, La Vinotinto has qualified for the Copa’s quarterfinals more often than the 20th Century.

Since last year, Venezuela has been coached by Argentinian Fernando Bautista. Some of the players play for European teams but most play for teams in South American leagues or Mexico’s Liga MX. Top players include defender Alexander Gonzalez, midfielder Tomas Rincon and forward Salomon Rondon. The team has achieved wins against Chile, Paraguay and Saudi Arabia. They’ve had draws to Brazil, Peru and Ecuador and endured losses to Colombia and Italy. Anything can happen in football and Venezuela could just blow past many people’s low expectations.

-Jamaica (55): One thing you should not do is you should not underestimate the Reggae Boyz. They’ve been to one World Cup, back in 1998. For the CONCACAF Gold Cup, they’ve been runners-up twice in 2015 and 2017 and have been in two previous Copas. They also finished 3rd in this year’s CONCACAF Nation’s League. With the World Cup expanding to 48 teams in an attempt to get more teams from Asia, Central America and the Caribbean into the tournament, you can bet Jamaica wants to seize that chance!

Jamaica is one of few teams at this Copa managed by a European coach. The coach is Iceland’s Heimir Hallgrimson who helped coach Iceland to the Euro.2016 quarterfinals and their first World Cup qualification. Top players include defender Damion Lowe, forward Shamar Nicholson and goalkeeper Andre Blake. In the past year and a half, they’ve had wins against Trinidad and Tobago, Honduras and Canada. They’ve had a win and a loss against Canada and endured a draw and a loss to both Mexico and the United States and a loss to Qatar. This Copa America is another chance for Jamaica to show how good they are and even go further than most anticipated.

My Prediction: It’s a bit hard to side with the statistics, but they do tell a lot. I will predict Mexico and Ecuador to be the teams that advance.

And there you have it. That’s my look at Group B of Copa America 2024. There are the two heavy favorites but the two teams not favored are capable of delivering upsets.

2024 Copa America: Group A Focus

Jon The Blogcentric1 Comment

Some of you may be wondering why would I do a focus on the groups of Euro 2024 but not on the upcoming Copa America? Actually I will do a focus on the upcoming Copa America in the United States. Looking back, I find it weird that I only did one set of blogs for a Copa America all the way back in 2015, but none since. About time I fixed that.

Ever since I first focused on the Copa America, which would become my only focus until now, there seemed to be a change every tournament. When I first did it in 2015, it was a twelve-team quadrennial tournament. The first major change came in 2016 when the Copa America decided to have a tournament to celebrate its centennial. And in the United States: a nation that’s not part of the CONMEBOL! In addition, a tournament of 16 teams!

For 2019, it looked like it would get back to normal returning to its quadrennial occurrence, hosted by Brazil and back to being a twelve-team tournament. Then the COVID pandemic happened. A Copa America returned in 2021, held in Brazil. This time, it was only the ten CONMEBOL teams competing in two groups of five.

Now it looks like the Copa America is to be contested in leap years, just like the Euro. After this year, the next Copa will be in 2028. Hard to believe the Euro final and the Copa America final are both on the same day! For the tournament of the Copa America, it will be a sixteen-team tournament with all ten CONMEBOL nations and six guest nations all from the CONCACAF. Fourteen stadiums across the United States will have games contested. It’s possibly because it can prepare itself for the World Cup in two years.

In Group A, we have the defending Copa champions, two more CONMEBOL teams and a CONCACAF team. So without further ado, here’s my look at the teams of Group A. Numbers in brackets are the latest FIFA rankings:

-Argentina (1): At long last, Messi has his Copa America and his World Cup. Over the last ten years, it became apparent that Messi can be a one-man team for Argentina. It needs to have other top players to be the best team in the world, and they’ve done it before in the past. The first breakthrough came when they won the 2021 Copa America against Brazil 1-0. That would pave the way for the Albiceleste’s win in Qatar. They’re still strong and they show little sign of slowing down.

Lionel Scaloni continues to be the manager of the team he’s managed since the 2018 World Cup ended. The squad for the Copa has not been announced, but Messi will definitely be there. Also anticipated to be named to the team is defender Nicolas Olamendi, midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, forward Angel di Maria and goalkeeper Dibu Martinez. Since their World Cup wins, they’ve won all but one game. Their only loss came from Uruguay back in November 2023. Argentina could have what it takes to do it again as long as their success doesn’t spoil them.

FUN FACT: Argentina’s win of the World Cup must have rubbed over to the other American teams. Seven of the teams at this Copa have an Argentinean coach!

-Peru (32): La Bicolor or Los Incas are an on-again off-again team. The current team is a far cry from their Golden Generation in the 1970’s and delivered a legend with Teofilo Cubillas. Nevertheless, they’ve shown a recent surge in prowess with a 4th place at the last Copa, runners-up at the Copa in 2019 and qualified for the 2018 World Cup.

Peru has been managed by Uruguayan Jorge Fossati for less than a year. The squad consists of top players like defender Luis Advincula, midfielder Christian Cueva, forward Pablo Guerrera and goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. In the past year and a half, Peru’s wins have all been outside the CONMEBOL: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and South Korea. They’ve endured draws to Venezuela, Morocco and Paraguay and losses to six teams including Brazil, Germany and Argentina. This Copa America is another chance for Peru to prove itself and their team’s strength.

-Chile (42): It’s hard to describe how good La Roja are at any given time. When they’re on, they’re on. When they’re off, they’re off. They’ve been in nine World Cups and their best finish is third, but they always have the bad luck of meeting Brazil in the World Cup knockout rounds who would eventually end their run. Also they hit it big in the mid-2010’s when they won their first-ever Copa in 2015, repeated in 2016, but have finished out of the Top 3 since and last qualified for a World Cup in 2014.

Since the beginning of this year, Chile has been coached by Argentinean Ricardo Gareca. Top players include defender Mauricio Isla, forwards Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas, and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. In the past year and a half, they’ve had wins against Cuba, Albania and Peru, a win and a draw against Paraguay, draws against Colombia and Bolivia, and losses to France, Ecuador, Venezuela and Uruguay. The Copa America is the arena for Chile to show how good they are and possibly chase another win.

-Canada (49): Les Rouges or the Canucks are one of the six CONCACAF teams here at the Copa America. Canada has struggled for a long time to be seen at a world level. In 2022, it qualified for its second-ever World Cup. The fun ended at the Cup as it lost all three of its matches and it finished second-last. Since then, Canada has been focused on getting serious as they will co-host the 2026 World Cup with the US and Mexico and want a team they can be proud of. Even here at the Copa, they will play the opening game against Argentina. You can bet they want to look good here too!

Since the beginning this year, the Canadian team has been coached by American Jesse Marsch. Canada’s squad for the Copa has not been named yet but it’s strongly believed the team will include defenders Alphonso Davies and Richie Laryea, midfielder Jonathan Osorio and forward Cyle Larin. Since Qatar 2022, Canada has achieved wins against Cuba and Panama, has had draws against France, a win and a loss to Jamaica, a draw and a loss to the United States, and losses to Japan and the Netherlands. Canada will get a good sense of where it’s at here at the Copa and just could surprise the Americas at all they can do.

My Predictions: While the 24-team Euro allows for the top two and third-placers based on a wild card system, the sixteen-team Copa America is strictly the top two. I think the two will be Argentina and Chile.

And there you have it. My introduction to Copa America 2024 and my look at Group A. Just when I thought my writing would take a break after my Euro 2024 group blogs ended, I was wrong!

Copa America 2021: My Prediction For The Final

Jon The BlogcentricLeave a comment
This year’s Copa America final is the classic battle of Brazil vs. Argentina.

I’ve been so focused on the Euro 2020, I completely forgot that the CONMEBOL’s Cop America was happening this year! And the final is the very night before the final of the Euro! Interesting that both major tournaments are taking place around the same time. Nevertheless they’re both worth predicting to winner for. Before I give you my Euro pick, I will give my prediction for the Copa America final.

Copa America Summary

It seems like there hasn’t been a major event in the world that hasn’t been affected by COVID. Copa America is one of those events affected too. It was supposed to be held from June to July of 2020 in Argentina and Colombia. COVID caused its eventual cancellation and rescheduling to 2021. The twelve-month wait also led to the Copa being rebooked to another nation in May 2021. Colombia went through political unrest with protests against the president and Argentina had issues with the severity of its COVID situation. This led the Copa to be rebooked to Brazil: five venues in four cities.

For the tournament, it was originally scheduled to be twelve teams competing: the ten CONMEBOL nations, special guests Australia, and 2022 World Cup host nation Qatar. The pandemic is what caused the limit of nations to be just the ten CONMEBOL nations. The pandemic is also the reason why all matches have been contested behind closed doors. The preliminary matches were contested under five groups of two. The two groups were decided under the ‘South Zone’ or the ‘North Zone.’ In Group A, Argentina topped with Uruguay second. In Group B, Brazil topped with Peru second. For the knockout rounds, Brazil qualified with 1-0 scores against Chile and Peru. Argentina qualified with a 3-0 win over Ecuador in the quarterfinals and a penalty kick shootout against Colombia in the semis.

This is the eleventh time the Copa America final is Argentina vs. Brazil. Messi leads Argentina while Neymar leads Brazil.

Now that I did my brief summary, here’s my summary of the two teams and my prediction for the win for the Copa America:

Team By Team Analysis:

Argentina: The South American team with the second-biggest legacy in football is undoubtedly Argentina. We’re talking about a nation that has won the World Cup twice, made the World Cup finals a total of five times, and won the Copa America fourteen times. A notion that has had their share of legends on the international scene like Guillermo Stabile, Daniel Passarella, Mario Kempes, Diego Maradona, Gabriel Batistuta, Claudio Cannigia, and the latest being Lionel Messi. Messi is often seen as the tour-de-force of the Albiceleste, but playing football is not a one-man job. In fact even at this tournament, Argentina has had other top scorers like Lautaro Martinez and Alejandro Gomez.

The Argentine team has underperformed in tournaments in the past. The most recent World Cup, they bowed out at the Round of 16. The previous Copa America, in 2019, they finished third. Their last Copa America win was back in 1993. And to think Messi has not won either a World Cup or a Copa America. This is not just a burden for Messi but the whole team as I sure they would want some big international glory too. In fact their losses in the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals to Chile were to penalty kicks. The team however have been playing very well. Their last loss was to Brazil in the 2019 Copa semifinals. Since then they’ve had seven wins and five draws before this Copa, including a 1-0 win against Brazil back in November 2019. Here at the Copa, they showed moderate but strong play against their rivals. Even in their draws, Argentina always scored first. However in their semifinal against Colombia, they drew 1-1 and it had to come down to penalty kicks. Argentina will definitely have to be on and in control if they want to take the Copa this year.

Brazil: And now onto the nation with not just the biggest football legacy of South American teams but of all teams worldwide! Brazil has won the World Cup five times in the seven finals they’ve played in and have won nine Copas. If you started a list of the legendary Brazilian players in history, you’ll end up writing forever. However Brazil is not perfect. In fact the last fifteen years have been very good at exploiting Brazil’s weaknesses. Three of the past four World Cups, they’ve been out in the quarterfinals and talk about the humiliating semifinal against Germany at the 2014 World Cup which they hosted. And if there are any teams that are best at exploiting Brazil’s weaknesses, it’s the South American teams. In fact their 2019 win was their first Copa win since 2007. In between, there were three Copas and they were out either in the quarterfinal or group play.

Brazil is currently coached by Tite, who has coached many Brazilian clubs before heading the national team in 2016. Neymar is not the captain, but Thiago Silva is. The team has some good veterans, but they also have a wealth of new young talent. In the 28 matches Brazil has played since their quarterfinal ouster at the 2018 World Cup, they have won 21 of them and only lost three. Their last loss was to Argentina back in November 2019. Here at the Copa, their one game they didn’t win was a 1-1 draw against Ecuador. They won their other three preliminary matches well. However in the knockout rounds, all their wins were 1-0. Brazil will have to contend well against Argentina if they want to take their tenth Copa.

Final Verdict: This is tough one. Especially since this is one of football’s fiercest rivalries. Argentina is the team Brazil has played the most and Brazil Argentina has played the second-most (they’ve only played Uruguay more). Brazil and Argentina have played each other 107 times. 43 of those times, Brazil won. 39 of those times, Argentina won. The last head-to-head match, as I mentioned previously, Argentina won 1-0. I predict this game will go to a 1-1 draw with Argentina taking it on penalties.

And there you go! That’s my prediction for the final of the 2021 Copa America. Good to see a tournament to take our eyes off the Euro for a bit. And for a lot of good reasons!

2015 Copa America Finals Prediction: 2015 Finales de la Copa América Predicción

Jon The BlogcentricLeave a comment

CopaYes, before I can predict for the Women’s World Cup, I should predict for the finals of the Copa America. I’ll admit I haven’t seen any games of the Copa but it’s not easy as the WWC is the prime focus. Nevertheless I do plan to see the final live someplace. Anyways here are my predictions.

Third-Place Match: Peru vs. Paraguay

Of course there should be a prediction for the third-place match. It’s tempting to decide who will end up the bronze-medalists here. Peru has come alive like never before in recent years while Paraguay appears to have regained their prowess. Despite losing to Chile, Peru has been impressive. They may have lost to Brazil but they were able to bring Colombia to a tie. They actually deserve some respect for actually conceding less than what most people thought they would. Paraguay was especially impressive at the beginning of the Copa bringing Argentina to a 2-2 draw and even drawing against both Uruguay and Brazil 1-1. It’s tempting to declare Paraguay’s success at the Copa as flukey especially after their 6-1 loss to Argentina in the semifinals. Nevertheless it is impressive to see Paraguay rebound from finishing last in the World Cup qualifiers two years ago.

My Prediction:

I predict Peru will win the bronze medals with a 3-1 win over Paraguay. Like Paraguay, I feel Peru is starting to get its groove back and they’re doing it in impressive style.

FINAL FOR THE COPA: Chile vs. Argentina

Team Breakdown:

CHILE- It’s a surprise how a team with so much World Cup success has never been a Copa America winner. There are a lot of other CONMEBOL teams that have less of a World Cup legacy than Chile but have won the Copa in the past. Chile is going through one of their most impressive eras ever. Some say it may have to do with rebounding after a cheating incident in World Cup qualifying in 1993 that led to their disqualification. If that in fact led to Chile’s improvements, they’re definitely on the right track as they’ve qualified for three World Cups since.

As for the Copa America, this is their fifth time to the final and they’ve done it in very impressive fashion with straight wins over their opponents. Their only draw came in group play against Mexico 3-3. However going against Argentina is a challenge. They’ve played each other eighty-something times in the past with Chile only winning six times. Chile may have one of their best selections ever but it’s going to be a challenge against Argentina with so many top talents.

ARGENTINA- This makes Argentina the country that has hit the Top 2 at the Copa America the most times with 27. Once again, the Albiceleste are sensational. Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero have delivered in this tournament. If Argentina wins, they will tie Uruguay’s 15 wins as the country with the most Copa wins and they sure look poised to do it.

It’s not to say it’s a 100% guarantee. Argentina may have delivered a 6-1 win over Paraguay in the semifinals but team-by-team tells a whole different story. Argentina did draw against Paraguay 2-2 in group play and had a scoreless draw against Colombia in the quarterfinals where it took an intense penalty kick round to decide Argentina the winner. So Argentina does have a vulnerable side. This is something Chile could take advantage of where they could pull a surprise win.

My Verdict:

Sure, home turf advantage could give Chile a boost but I think this is where the boost ends. I think Argentina will take it 3-1.

And there you go. My prediction for who will win the Copa. One thing we should take note is whoever wins the Copa here will represent the CONMEBOL at the 2017 Confederations Cup. Will my prediction be right? Find out for yourself July 4th.

Sí, antes de que pueda predecir para la Copa Mundial de la Mujer, que debería prever para la final de la Copa América. Admito que no he visto ningún juego de la Copa, pero no es fácil ya que la WWC es el foco principal. Sin embargo yo no planeo ver el algún lugar vivo final. De todas formas aquí están mis predicciones.

Tercer Lugar Partido: Perú vs Paraguay

Por supuesto debe haber una predicción para el partido del tercer lugar. Es tentador para decidir quién va a terminar los medallistas de bronce-aquí. Perú ha cobrado vida como nunca antes en los últimos años, mientras que Paraguay parece haber recuperado su destreza. A pesar de perder a Chile, Perú ha sido impresionante. Es posible que hayan perdido a Brasil pero eran capaces de traer a Colombia un empate. Ellos realmente se merecen un poco de respeto para encajar en realidad menos de lo que la mayoría de la gente pensaba que lo harían. Paraguay fue especialmente impresionante en el comienzo de la Copa Argentina trayendo a un empate 2-2 e incluso dibujar tanto contra Uruguay y Brasil 1-1. Es tentador para declarar el éxito de Paraguay en la Copa como flukey sobre todo después de su derrota 6-1 ante Argentina en las semifinales. Sin embargo, es impresionante ver Paraguay rebote de terminar último en las eliminatorias de la Copa Mundial de hace dos años.

Mi predicción:

Predigo Perú va a ganar las medallas de bronce con una victoria por 3-1 sobre Paraguay. Al igual que Paraguay, siento Perú está comenzando a conseguir su ranura espalda y lo están haciendo en el estilo impresionante.

FINAL DE LA COPA: Chile vs Argentina

Desglose del equipo:

CHILE- Es una sorpresa cómo un equipo con éxito tanto la Copa Mundial nunca ha sido un ganador de la Copa América. Hay una gran cantidad de otros equipos de la CONMEBOL que tienen menos de un legado de la Copa Mundial de Chile, pero han ganado la Copa en el pasado. Chile está pasando por uno de sus más impresionantes épocas de la historia. Algunos dicen que puede tener que ver con el rebote después de un incidente de engaño en las eliminatorias mundialistas en 1993 que dio lugar a su descalificación. Si eso, de hecho, llevó a mejoras de Chile, son definitivamente en el camino correcto ya que han calificado para tres Copas del Mundo desde entonces.

En cuanto a la Copa América, esta es su quinta vez en la final y lo han hecho en muy impresionante la manera con victorias consecutivas sobre sus opositores. Su único empate llegó en el juego en grupo frente a México 3-3. Sin embargo va en contra de la Argentina es un desafío. Han jugado unos a otros tiempos de ochenta y tantos en el pasado con Chile solamente ganar seis veces. Chile puede tener una de sus mejores selecciones nunca, pero que va a ser un desafío contra la Argentina con tantos talentos superiores.

ARGENTINA- Esto hace Argentina el país que ha golpeado el Top 2 en la Copa América la mayoría de veces con 27. Una vez más, la Albiceleste son sensacionales. Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María, Gonzalo Higuaín y Sergio Agüero han entregado en este torneo. Si Argentina gana, van a atar 15 victorias de Uruguay como el país con más victorias de Copa y seguro que parecen a punto de hacerlo.

No es para decir que es una garantía del 100%. Argentina pudo haber entregado una victoria por 6-1 sobre Paraguay en las semifinales pero el equipo por equipo cuenta una historia completamente diferente. Argentina tuvo un empate ante Paraguay 2-2 en el juego de grupo y tuvimos un empate sin goles ante Colombia en los cuartos de final, donde se tardó alrededor de una intensa penal para decidir el ganador Argentina. Así que Argentina sí tiene un lado vulnerable. Esto es algo que Chile podría beneficiarse de donde podrían sacar una victoria sorpresa.

Mi veredicto:

Claro, hogar ventaja césped podría dar un impulso Chile, pero creo que aquí es donde termina el impulso. Creo Argentina tardará 3-1.

Y ahí lo tienes. Mi predicción para quién va a ganar la Copa. Una cosa que debemos tener en cuenta es el que gana la Copa aquí representará la CONMEBOL en la Copa Confederaciones 2017. ¿Mi predicción estar en lo cierto? Descúbrelo por ti mismo 4 de julio.

2015 Copa America Semifinal Predictions/ Predicciones de semifinales de la Copa América 2015

Jon The Blogcentric1 Comment

 

Copa America semisThe Copa America has contested their group play and their quarterfinals. As I say, it can be anyone’s game. Some things went as predicted while some didn’t. Who would’ve expected Neymar would deliver an outburst on Colombian player Pablo Armero that would give him a red card and a four-game suspension?

Anyways the semifinalists have been decided. Here’s my rundown of the four semifinalists and my prediction for the winners.

SEMIFINAL #1 – Chile vs. Peru:

What can I say? Chile has proven themselves strong in their home country. They’ve scored well and they’ve defended well. Their quarterfinal win over defending champs Uruguay proves this team’s strength even as they play their own. It’s obvious the team wants to win its first Copa ever right at home.

However the team did suffer a bit of a setback. For those who don’t know, star striker Arturo Vidal drove drunk on Tuesday the 16th and crashed his car. His injuries ended up being minor as he has played in Copa matches since but he has not scored a goal since the incident. Even despite the incident, Chile has won both games since. So even though Vidal is one of two players at the Copa to score three goals, team Chile is not just Vidal.

As for Peru, they have been going beyond pre-Copa expectations. They weren’t too spectacular during group play but were consistent enough to qualify for the quarterfinals. There Peru really gave a show as they beat Bolivia 3-1 thanks to a hat trick from Paolo Guerrero. This already sends a message that Peru is ready to deliver excitement of their own.

My Final Verdict:

Okay, Chile have been consistent and showy. Peru have been conservative but consistent and only started showing fire recently. I will have to predict Chile to win 2-1. I could be wrong as Guerrero could pull another stunner. Nevertheless I’ll stick to my prediction.

SEMIFINAL #1 – Argentina vs. Paraguay:

Argentina have been playing consistently if not invincibly as they have the reputation for. The 2-2 draw against Paraguay is a reminder that anything can happen between the CONMEBOL countries. They, more than any other confederation’s countries, know each other inside out and all are capable of winning against each other. That reminder also came into play in the quarterfinals when they went scoreless against Colombia into penalty kicks. Once again, Argentina were victorious as they’re second only to Germany in terms of penalty kick prowess. So the Copa has shown Argentina’s strengths as well as their weaknesses too.

Paraguay is another example of how any of the CONMEBOL countries can come out among the top. Brazil was hoping for a comeback in this tournament but Paraguay had comeback ambitions of their own, especially after finishing last in the World Cup qualifiers. In their quarterfinal, they were able to take advantage of a Brazil with Neymar suspended, tied the game 1-1 and won on penalties. Sure, Paraguay has really picked themselves up lately but they still face a stiff challenge from an Argentina that still has Messi, Di Maria and Higuain.

My Final Verdict:

I will have to say Argentina will win 3-1. I don’t see Paraguay too serious of a challenge of a team full of greats.

And there you go. My predictions for the Copa America semifinals. The next Copa prediction you’ll hear from me will be the final.

La Copa América han impugnado su juego de grupo y sus cuartos de final. Como digo, puede ser el juego de nadie. Algunas cosas salieron como se predijo, mientras que otros no. ¿Quién hubiera esperado Neymar entregaría un arrebato de jugador colombiano Pablo Armero que le daría una tarjeta roja y una suspensión de cuatro partidos?De todas formas los semifinalistas se han decidido. Aquí está mi resumen de los cuatro semifinalistas y mi predicción para los ganadores.

SEMIFINAL # 1 – Chile vs Perú:

¿Qué puedo decir? Chile ha demostrado ser fuertes en su país de origen. Han anotado bien y que han defendido bien. Su victoria en cuartos de final sobre campeones defensores Uruguay demuestra la fortaleza de este equipo, incluso mientras juegan su propia cuenta. Es obvio que el equipo quiere ganar su primera Copa siempre como en casa.

Sin embargo, el equipo ha hecho sufrir un poco de un revés. Para los que no saben, delantero estrella Arturo Vidal conducía ebrio el martes 16 y se estrelló con su coche. Sus lesiones terminaron siendo de menor importancia ya que ha jugado en la Copa partidos desde entonces, pero él no ha marcado un gol desde el incidente. Incluso a pesar del incidente, Chile ha ganado los dos partidos desde entonces. Así que a pesar de que Vidal es uno de los dos jugadores en la Copa de anotar tres goles, el equipo de Chile no es sólo Vidal.

En cuanto a Perú, que han ido más allá de las expectativas pre-Copa. No eran demasiado espectacular durante el juego de grupo, pero eran lo suficientemente consistentes como para calificar para los cuartos de final. Hay Perú realmente dio un espectáculo al vencer a Bolivia por 3-1 gracias a un ‘hat trick’ de Paolo Guerrero. Esto ya envía un mensaje de que el Perú está listo para entregar el entusiasmo de los suyos.

Mi veredicto final:

De acuerdo, Chile ha sido consistente y llamativo. Perú ha sido conservador pero consistente y sólo comenzado a mostrar fuego recientemente. Voy a tener que predecir Chile para ganar 2-1. Podría estar equivocado como Guerrero podría tirar de otra maravilla. Sin embargo, me quedo con mi predicción.

SEMIFINAL # 1 – Argentina vs Paraguay:

Argentina ha estado jugando constantemente si no invencible, ya que tienen la reputación de. El empate 2-2 contra Paraguay es un recordatorio de que cualquier cosa puede suceder entre los países de la CONMEBOL. Ellos, más que los países de cualquier otra confederación, se conocen entre sí dentro hacia fuera y todos son capaces de ganar uno contra el otro. Ese recordatorio también entró en juego en los cuartos de final cuando se fueron sin goles ante Colombia en tiros penales. Una vez más, Argentina salieron victoriosos, ya que son sólo superado por Alemania en términos de destreza tiro penal. Así que la Copa ha mostrado fortalezas de la Argentina, así como sus debilidades también.

Paraguay es otro ejemplo de cómo cualquiera de los países de la CONMEBOL puede salir entre los primeros. Brasil esperaba una reaparición en este torneo, pero Paraguay tenía ambiciones remontada de los suyos, sobre todo después de terminar último en las eliminatorias de la Copa Mundial. En su cuarto de final, fueron capaces de tomar ventaja de un Brasil con Neymar suspendido, empató el partido 1-1 y ganó en los penaltis. Claro, Paraguay realmente se ha recuperado la ventaja de últimamente, pero que todavía se enfrentan a un duro desafío de una Argentina que todavía tiene a Messi, Di María e Higuaín.

Mi veredicto final:

Voy a tener que decir que Argentina va a ganar 3-1. No veo Paraguay demasiado serio de un desafío de un equipo lleno de grandes.

Y ahí lo tienes. Mis predicciones para las semifinales de la Copa América. La predicción de la siguiente Copa oirás de mí será la final.

2015 Copa America: Group C Focus/ Grupo C Enfoque

Jon The BlogcentricLeave a comment

Today’s the day the Copa America opens in Chile. For those of you who didn’t see my reviews of the first two groups, click on the links below:

That now leaves me with one last group to review. Here’s my review of Group C. Once again, thank you Google Translate for the Spanish and Portuguese translations:

GROUP C:

Brazil-Brazil (5): Okay, we don’t need an explanation. We all know the story of how they all fell apart at the World Cup. What most don’t know is how much Brazil has improved since. After the World Cup, Dunga returned as coach of the national team and it seems like the games since have been a case of Brazil getting its groove back. They’ve won every game since including winning 3-1 against their traditional ‘Achilles heel’ France. They appear in good shape to redeem themselves at this Copa. This will be the first major tournament to redeem themselves. They could win it. However rebuilding a team doesn’t happen overnight. Even if they don’t win, as long as they show the world they’re getting back on track, that should matter.

Ok, nós não precisamos de uma explicação. Nós todos sabemos a história de como todos eles se desfez na Copa do Mundo. O que a maioria não sabe é o quanto o Brasil melhorou desde então. Após a Copa do Mundo, Dunga voltou como treinador da equipe nacional e parece que os jogos desde ter sido um caso do Brasil recebendo de volta seu sulco. Eles ganharam todos os jogos desde incluindo vencer por 3-1 contra a sua tradicional “calcanhar de Aquiles” da França. Eles aparecem em boa forma para redimir-se neste Copa. Este será o primeiro grande torneio de redimir-se. Eles poderiam ganhar. No entanto reconstruir uma equipa não acontecer durante a noite. Mesmo se não ganhar, desde que mostrar ao mundo que eles estão recebendo de volta aos trilhos, que deve importar.

Colombia-Colombia (4): This is the time for Colombia’s best era. Even though they only made it to the quarterfinals at the World Cup, they impressed the world with their fair play and immense talent like striker James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado who have since gone on to be the hottest new talents of the year.

Since the World Cup, Colombia has only lost to Brazil and have scored key wins against the United States and Costa Rica. They could top Group C but it all depends how well they play against Brazil. They could even win the Copa. It all comes down to playing like a top notch team. They already have an excellent reputation happening and whatever happens in Chile can add to it.

Venezuela-Venezuela (69): Venezuela is the only CONMEBOL country never to have qualified for a World Cup. Venezuela is possibly the one CONMEBOL country whose favorite sport is not football. They take better to baseball and basketball. However Venezuela has shown improvement in recent years. They finished fourth at the Copa in 2011: the first time they ever made the Top 4 at the Copa. They didn’t qualify for the 2014 World Cup but they did finish sixth in the CONMEBOL playoffs. Venezuela hopes to add to their reputation in Chile but they face a stiff challenge. Their only wins in the past twelve months came to Peru and Honduras. 2015 is another chapter for a team seeking their first breakthrough.

Peru-Peru (63): Some South American teams consistently rank the best in the continent and among the best in the world. And there are some teams that have an ‘up time’ and a ‘down time.’ Peru had their ‘up time’ back in the 1970’s that included two Top 8 finishes at two World Cups and winning the Copa in 1975. They’ve had a down time since with their last World Cup being in 1982. It’s not fair to say Peru is completely down. They did finish third at the last Copa in 2011. However the current lineup lacks players playing in European leagues and they’ve had recent losses to Chile and Paraguay. Nevertheless don’t count Peru out. Like Pele keeps saying: “Football is a box of surprises.”

PREDICTION:

This will be a tight one between Brazil and Colombia. I think Colombia will top the group with Brazil second and Venezuela third.

And there you have it. My third and last review of the Copa America groups. Tournament begins today and I’m sure it will be exciting. It may compete for attention against the Women’s World Cup but it should have a lot of fanfare nonetheless and a lot of excitement. My next blog on the Copa will come after the quarterfinals. Stay tuned!

Hoy es el día de la Copa América se abre en Chile. Para aquellos de ustedes que no vieron mis opiniones de los dos primeros grupos, haga clic en los siguientes enlaces:

Que ahora me deja con un último grupo de revisión. Aquí está mi opinión del Grupo C. Una vez más, GRACIAS traductor Google para las traducciones al español y portugués:GRUPO C:

Brazil-Brasil (5): Muy bien, no necesitamos una explicación. Todos conocemos la historia de cómo todo se vino abajo en el Mundial. Lo que la mayoría no sabe es cuánto Brasil ha mejorado desde entonces. Después de la Copa del Mundo, Dunga volvió como entrenador de la selección nacional y parece que los partidos desde haber sido un caso de Brasil conseguir su ranura espalda. Han ganado todos los partidos desde incluyendo ganar 3-1 en contra de su tradicional ‘talón de Aquiles’ de Francia. Aparecen en buena forma de redimirse en esta Copa. Este será el primer gran torneo de redimirse. Podrían ganar. Sin embargo la reconstrucción de un equipo no sucede durante la noche. Incluso si no ganan, siempre y cuando muestran el mundo que van a obtener de nuevo en marcha, que debería importar.

Colombia-Colombia (4): Este es el momento para la mejor época de Colombia. A pesar de que sólo llegaron a los cuartos de final en la Copa del Mundo, que impresionó al mundo con su juego limpio y el inmenso talento como el delantero James Rodríguez y Juan Cuadrado que han pasado ya a ser los mejores nuevos talentos del año.

Desde el Mundial, Colombia sólo ha perdido ante Brasil y ha anotado victorias clave contra Estados Unidos y Costa Rica. Podrían rematar el Grupo C, pero todo depende de lo bien que juegan contra Brasil. Incluso podrían ganar la Copa. Todo se reduce a jugar como un equipo de primera clase. Ellos ya tienen una excelente reputación sucediendo y lo que sucede en Chile puede agregar a ella.

Venezuela-Venezuela (69): Venezuela es el único país de la Conmebol que nunca se ha clasificado para una Copa del Mundo. Venezuela es posiblemente el país uno CONMEBOL cuyo deporte favorito no es el fútbol. Toman mejor béisbol y el baloncesto. Sin embargo Venezuela ha mostrado una mejora en los últimos años. Acabaron cuarto en la Copa en 2011: la primera vez que jamás se ha hecho en el Top 4 en la Copa. Ellos no califican para la Copa del Mundo de 2014, pero lo hicieron sexta final en las eliminatorias de la CONMEBOL. Venezuela espera agregar a su reputación en Chile pero que se enfrentan a un duro desafío. Sus únicas victorias en los últimos doce meses llegaron a Perú y Honduras. 2015 es un capítulo más de un equipo en busca de su primer gran avance.

Peru-Perú (63): Algunos equipos sudamericanos clasificar sistemáticamente los mejores del continente y entre los mejores del mundo. Y hay algunos equipos que tienen un “tiempo de” y un “tiempo muerto”. Perú tuvo su “tiempo de atrás en la década de 1970 que incluyeron dos Top 8 acabados en dos Copas del Mundo y ganador de la Copa en 1975. Han tenido un tiempo de inactividad ya que con ser su última Copa del Mundo en 1982. No es justo decir Perú es completamente. Hicieron tercera final en la última Copa en 2011. Sin embargo, la formación actual carece de jugadores que juegan en ligas europeas y han tenido pérdidas recientes a Chile y Paraguay. Sin embargo no cuentan Perú cabo. Al igual que Pelé sigue diciendo: “El fútbol es una caja de sorpresas.”

PREDICCIÓN:
Esta será una apretada entre Brasil y Colombia. Creo que Colombia va a liderar el grupo con Brasil y Venezuela segundo tercio.
Y ahí lo tienes. Mi tercera y última revisión de los grupos de la Copa América. Torneo comienza hoy y estoy seguro de que será emocionante. Puede competir por la atención contra la Copa Mundial de la Mujer, pero debe tener un montón de fanfarria, no obstante, y mucha emoción. Mi próximo blog en la Copa vendrá después de los cuartos de final. Manténganse al tanto!