While the USA and Colombia kick off the tournament on Friday night, Copa America Centenario Group C gets going on Sunday evening. It won’t be the unpredictable group of death that Group A looks to be, nor does it have the raw pedigree of Group B, but Group C it still worth paying close attention to.
Copa America Centenario Group C Preview
Mexico and Uruguay are the two favorites to advance, but they still have questions t0 be answered. Mexico lacks a true link between their responsible defense and their firepower up front. Uruguay might have to navigate the tournament without one of the best players in the world.
Jamaica and Venezuela, the other nations gracing this field, will probably to struggle to gain a single point against the two giants, let alone find themselves still alive when the dust settles here. Jamaica has done well against CONCACAF opposition before, but are they are hardly strong enough to hold off South American foes. Venezuela have a recent history of upsets, but they aren’t talented enough to slip through to the quarterfinals over the favorites.
Mexico
Manager: Juan Carlos Osorio
Current FIFA ranking: 16th
Best finish: Runners-up (1993, 2001)
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Málaga – Spain), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul – Mexico), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca – Mexico)
Defenders: Paul Aguilar (Club América – Mexico), Miguel Layún (Porto – Portugal), Rafael Marquez (Atlas – Mexico), Diego Reyes (Real Sociedad – Spain), Néstor Araujo (Santos Laguna – Mexico), Héctor Moreno (PSV Eindhoven – Netherlands), Yasser Corona (Querétaro – Mexico), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres – Mexico), Jesús Molina (Santos Laguna – Mexico)
Midfielders: Jesús Manuel Corona (Porto – Portugal), Héctor Herrera (Porto – Portugal), Hirving Lozano (Pachuca – Mexico), Andrés Guardado (PSV Eindhoven – Netherlands), Carlos Pena (Chivas de Guadalajara – Mexico), Jürgen Damm (Tigres – Mexico), Javier Aquino (Tigres – Mexico), Jesús Dueñas (Tigres – Mexico)
Forwards: Javier Hernández (Bayer Leverkusen – Germany), Raúl Jiménez (Benfica – Portugal), Oribe Peralta (Club America – Mexico)
Mexico comes to this special edition of Copa America as a seeded team. They are bringing a squad that is heavy on Liga MX players, including national team mainstays such as Rafa Marquez and Oribe Peralta. Their most important player, though, plies his trade in Germany. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has experienced the season of a lifetime with Bayer Leverkusen and hopes to carry that form onto the international stage. If he fails to deliver in front of the goal, the onus will fall on Peralta to pick up the slack.
Mexico does also play stellar defense. Marquez has been a stalwart in the El Tri central defense for what feels like ages. Guillermo Ochoa, who singlehandedly held Brazil scoreless in the second match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, is no slouch in goal.
Mexico participated in last summer’s main line Copa America tournament and failed to win a game. This year, with Jamaica and Venezuela in their draw, they will certainly have a better showing this time around. I expect them to make it out of this group after taking care of Jamaica and Venezuela and scrapping out a draw against Uruguay. Home crowds should be helpful, as Mexico has long enjoyed wonderful support on American soul.
Uruguay
Manager: Óscar Tabárez
Current FIFA ranking: 9th
Best finish: Champions (1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1959, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2011)
Goalkeepers: Martin Campaña (Independiente – Argentina), Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray – Turkey), Martín Silva (Vasco da Gama – Brazil)
Defenders: Sebastian Coates (Sporting Lisbon – Portugal), Jorge Fucile (Nacional – Uruguay), Jose Giménez (Atletico Madrid – Spain), Diego Godín (Atletico Madrid – Spain), Alvaro Pereira (Getafe – Spain), Maximiliano Pereira (Porto – Portugal), Mauricio Victorino (Nacional – Uruguay)
Midfielders: Mathias Corujo (Universidad de Chile – Chile), Álvaro González (Atlas – Mexico), Diego Laxalt (Inter Milan – Italy), Nicolás Lodeiro (Boca Juniors – Argentina), Gastón Ramirez (Middlesbrough – England), Egidio Arévalo Rios (Atlas – Mexico), Carlos Sánchez (Monterrey – Mexico), Matías Vecino (Fiorentina – Italy)
Forwards: Edinson Cavani (Paris-Saint Germain – France), Abel Hernandez (Hull City – England), Diego Rolán (Bordeaux – France), Cristhian Stuani (Middlesbrough – England),Luís Suárez (FC Barcelona – Spain)
Uruguay comes to Copa America Centenario facing a bit of a challenge. Luís Suárez, while on the final 23 man squad, has battled a hamstring injury over the course of the last few weeks. But, because the world’s leading goal scorer may be stuck on the sidelines, La Celeste will not be short on goals. Their key man in the absence of Suarez will be Edinson Cavani. He has quietly produced for Paris-Saint Germain during their record breaking season. He will be set up by Monterrey‘s Carlos Sánchez, who missed the Liga MX final so he could train with the national team.
Their defense will be anchored by Atletico Madrid‘s Diego Godín. Fresh off leading his team to the UEFA Champions League final, he was instrumental in Atletico’s stellar defensive record for the entire season. He will need to be a rock in front of Uruguay’s less than stellar goalkeeping.
Uruguay were the 2011 champions of this tournament and eliminated in the quarterfinals last summer. While their group draw will not provide much of a challenge, any progression will hinge on their secondary players coming through. Their biggest challenge with be with Mexico. I expect them to move through, but the lack of a fully fit Suárez up front means I wouldn’t count them as 100% favorites to win the group.
Jamaica
Manager: Winfried Schäfer
Current FIFA ranking: 46th
Best finish: Group stage (2015)
Goalkeepers: Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union – USA), Duwayne Kerr (Stjarnan – Iceland), Ryan Thompson (Saint Louis FC – USA)
Defenders: Rosario Harriott (Harbour View FC – Jamaica), Michael Hector (Reading – England), Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls – USA), Adrian Mariappa (Crystal Palace – England), Wes Morgan (Leicester City – England), Damano Solomon (Portmore United – Jamaica), Jermaine Taylor (Portland Timbers – USA)
Midfielders: Rodolph Austin (Brøndby IF – Denmark), Michael Binns (Portmore United – Jamaica), Chevone Marsh (Cavalier Sports Club – Jamaica), Joel McAnuff (Leyton Orient – England), Garath McCleary (Reading – England), Andrew Vanzie (Humble Lion FC – Jamaica), Je-Vaughn Watson (New England Revolution – USA), Lee Williamson (Blackburn Rovers – England)
Forwards: Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo – USA), Simon Dawkins (San Jose Earthquakes – USA), Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City – England), Allan Ottey (Montego Bay United – Jamaica), Dever Orgill (IFK Mariehamn – Finland)
The Reggae Boyz have been showing up in CONCACAF competition in fun ways over the last year or so. The shock Gold Cup finalists took care of the United States in the semi-finals and have high hopes for this tournament. They bring a squad heavy with players playing in America already, including goalkeeper Andre Blake, who has helped the Philadelphia Union rise to the top of the MLS Eastern Conference. They also have Wes Morgan, who captained Leicester City to their unlikely Premier League title.
The goal scoring will come from MLS standouts Giles Barnes of the Houston Dynamo and Simon Dawkins of San Jose Earthquakes. The problem with these two is that neither are the primary goal scorer on their own team, let alone they type of players who can rise up at a high end international tournament.
Jamaica will have to get used to playing from behind and trying to strike hard on the counter attack. Whether or not they will have the pace on the outside to do so will remain a question. They will not have up and coming left back Alvas Powell for the tournament, who is out with an injury.
Expect them to struggle to get a single point here. Their best chance will come agaisnt Venezuela, who might be the weakest side CONMEBOL has to offer.
Venezuela
Manager: Rafael Dudamel
Current FIFA ranking: 77th
Best finish: Fourth (2011)
Goalkeepers: José Contreras (Deportivo Táchira – Venezuela), Wuilker Fariñez (Caracas – Venezuela), Dani Hernández (Tenerife – Spain)
Defenders: Wilker Ángel (Deportivo Tachira – Venezuela), Rolf Feltscher (Duisburg – Germany), Alexander González (Huesca – Spain), Roberto Rosales (Málaga – Spain), José Manuel Velazquez (Arouca – Portugal), Mikel Villanueva (Málaga – Spain), Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (Nantes – France)
Midfielders: Juan Pablo Añor (Málaga – Spain), Arquímedes Figuera (La Guaira – Venezuela), Alejandro Guerra (Atlético Nacional – Colombia), Yangel Herrera (Atlético Venezuela – Venezuela), Rómulo Otero (Huachipato – Chile), Adalberto Peñaranda (Granada – Spain), Tomás Rincón (Genoa – Italy), Carlos Suárez (Carabobo – Venezuela), Luís Manuel Seijas (Santa Fe – Colombia)
Forwards: Yonathan Del Valle (Kasimpasa – Turkey), Josef Martinez (Torino – Italy), Salomón Rondón (West Bromwich Albion – England), Christian Santos (NEC Nijmegen – Netherlands)
Venezuela has a less than impressive Copa America record. They have only made it out of the group stage three times since their first competition in 1967. Their most recent triumph was a fourth place finish in 2011, but that is far from the norm for this country.
Their top player is West Bromwich Albion‘s Salomón Rondón. He will carry the burden of scoring goals for Los Llaneros. He will have to pick up where their all time leading goal scorer, Juan Arango, left off. This will be Venezuela’s first major tournament without him. Rondón should be up to the task, but he cannot do everything alone.
But, he may as well be alone. That is because Venezuela will likely be short on possession, particularly against Uruguay and Mexico. They will rely on a defense comprised of mostly second tier and low end top tier players. Their goalkeeping also lacks the talent necessary to stop some of the fantastic goal scorers they will face through what will probably be a troubling group stage.
Venezuela’s only real chance for points will come against Mexico, but they do have a history of upsets. They beat Colombia last year. They may cause a bit of a headache for Uruguay and Mexico, but I doubt it will be anything to truly prevent the favorites from advancing.
Copa America Centenario Group C Schedule (all times Eastern)
Jamaica vs. Venezuela, June 5th, 3:00 pm; Soldier Field – Chicago, IL
Mexico vs. Uruguay, June 5th, 8:00 pm; University of Phoenix Stadium – Glendale, AZ
Uruguay vs. Venezuela, June 9th, 7:30 pm; Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
Mexico vs. Jamaica, June 9th, 10:00 pm; Rose Bowl – Pasadena, CA
Mexico vs. Venezuela, June 13th, 8:00 pm; NRG Stadium – Houston, TX
Uruguay vs. Jamaica, June 13th, 10:00 pm; Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, CA
