Losing to Panama in the second match of Group C means the United States is facing elimination when they take on Uruguay in the final clash of Group C on Monday, the host nation face one of South America’s elite teams, while two elite CONEMBOL teams will clash on Tuesday when Colombia and Brazil battle to see who will win Group D. Our panelists offer their predictions.
Uruguay vs United States (Monday in Kansas City)
Steen: Gregg Berhalter, the embattled US Men’s National Team coach, faces a career defining match against mighty Uruguay on Monday night in Kansas City. The host nation was shocked by Panama in Atlanta in a disjointed performance, after a routine win against Bolivia on matchday 1 put the USA on 3 points. Uruguay has been spotless during the group stages by a scoreline of 8-1 combined they defeated Panama and Bolivia to ensure their passage to the knockout stages as one of the top teams in the tournament. Uruguay’s manager Marcelo Bielsa won’t be seen on the sidelines as he is suspended for this match and the team in light blue may rest some key players in this match, the reality is Uruguay is still heavily favored to defeat or at least draw with the United States.
Maxi Arajuo, Darwin Nunez, Fedi Valverde, Matias Vina and the rest of their lineup is just too good. Folarin Balogun has been great for the United States as a striker and captain America Christian Pulisic is capable of brilliance but the midfield has been poor and goalkeeper Matt Turner may not be the starter. Uruguay plays a brand of high activity, high press football that will trouble the USA, and I don’t see them resting to the point they want to lose their spotless record. Prediction: Uruguay 3 USA 1
Ben Gray: Following a disastrous defeat on Thursday night, the United States on the the cusp of a catastrophic Copa América campaign, so can they salvage this summer in Kansas City?
Having easily beaten Bolivia 2-0 in their tournament opener in Arlington, most expected the hosts to also swat aside Panama in Atlanta four nights later, but that’s certainly not how things transpired.
Tim Weah’s 18th minute red card for raising his hands into Roderick Miller’s face was the major event of the night, but the U.S. still managed to take the lead through Folarin Balogun’s rocket soon after.
However, it was to be all down hill from there at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as los Canaleros equalised only four minutes later before, after the U.S. had defended for their lives for so long, Panama fired a winner through Ethan Horvath’s hands with just seven minutes to play.
So now, assuming Panama beat Bolivia in Florida simultaneously, Gregg Berhalter’s team simply must win this one to have any chance of getting through to the quarter-finals and, if they fail to do so, this is likely to be his 74th and final game in charge.
Well, given how Uruguay are playing right now, few USA supporters are optimistic.
La Celeste have smashed Panama 3-1 in Miami and then Bolivia 5-0 at this tournament so far, with Facundo Pellistri, Darwin Núñez, Maximiliano Araújo, Fede Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur all scoring during their most-emphatic Copa América victory for 65 years.
So, due to their goal difference of +7, Marcelo Bielsa’s team are all but mathematically through as group winners so, ahead of a quarter-final tie against either Brazil or Colombia at Allegiant Stadium next Saturday, could he rotate his team, thereby giving the U.S. some extra hope?
These two have only ever met once before at Copa América, this USA’s debut fixture at the competition, beaten 1-0 by Uruguay in Ambato back in 1993.
Their only two encounters in the last 22 years have both been friendlies and both resulted in draws, 1-1 in St. Louis in 2019 and goalless at Children’s Mercy Park three years later.
This time, 21 miles across Kansas, only a win will do for the United States, so will it be a night of sombre or celebration at Arrowhead Stadium? Prediction: 1-1 Draw
Bolivia vs Panama (Monday in Orlando)
Steen: Panama defeated the USA in a physical CONCACAF clash and now they are favored against a woeful Bolivia in a match that will decide their fate in terms of reaching the knockout stages. Neither team boasts elite talent, but Abdiel Ayarza and Panama need to focus on getting at least a 1-0 lead and defending well against a Bolivia side that plays only for pride. Prediction: Panama 2 Bolivia 0
Ben: After pulling off a huge upset on Thursday night, can Panama now claim the victory they need to, against all odds, reach the quarter-finals?
Last time out, los Canaleros fought back from a goal down to defeat a ten-man United States 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Soon after the U.S. broke the deadlock, César Blackman fired home an equaliser, his first-ever international goal, before, with only seven minutes to play, José Fajardo lashed in a potentially priceless winner.
Like their hosts, la Marea Roja also ended the night a man down, star midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla dismissed towards the end, but they’re still in a great position to reach the knockout stages of this competition for the very first time.
Thomas Christiansen’s team do kick off third in Group C, below USA on goal difference (-1 to +1), but know if they are victorious here, then the U.S. must also beat group leaders Uruguay in Kansas, an exponentially tougher task, with Panama in the catbird seat to take second spot for sure. If Stars and Stripes supporters are hoping for a favour from Bolivia, well don’t hold your breath.
So far at this tournament, Antônio Carlos Zago’s team have been beaten 2-0 by the United States and then 5-0 by Uruguay, mustering only ten shots across these two fixtures, while allowing 38 attempts on their own goal.
This means la Verde are winless in 38 competitive fixtures played away from La Paz, winning only one of their last 30 Copa América outings, losing 21 of them.
Meantime, Panama have won each of their last four encounters with Bolivia, including a 2-1 victory just across the road from where this fixture is taking place in Orlando during Copa América Centenario, most-recently prevailing 2-1 in a friendly in Cochabamba a year ago. So, los Canaleros are highly-likely to leave Inter&Co Stadium with three points, with this set to be enough to see them sneak through. Prediction: Panama 2 Bolivia 0
Brazil vs Colombia (Tuesday in Santa Clara/San Jose)
Steen: A match that will have the feel of a final, ticket prices have risen as Colombia has secured two wins from two, slipping past Paraguay by a goal, and then comprehensively dismantling Costa Rica 3-0 on the second matchday to get to six points and secure their place in the knockout stages. Brazil were held to a draw by that same Costa Rica, but got back on track as they fired 4 goals past a woeful Paraguay in a game that was a response to the hapless attack they showed against Costa Rica. This stadium should be packed with Parceros who are riding the wave Colombia is on right now.
Brazil are one of the biggest football nations in the world and always expect to compete for trophies, Colombia are a rising nation that is having a magic moment right now on the international football stage, the veteran leader James Rodriguez is playing out of his cleats for his country right now as an attacking midfielder, setting up assists and set pieces, while Luis Diaz, Jhon Cordoba and others are dynamic attacking threats for the (other) South American team famous for wearing yellow. Colombia did defeat Brazil in a recent World Cup qualifying clash, during Copa America they haven’t faced attacking teams yet, and Brazil needs a 3 point win to win this group, a draw would send Colombia through. I expect Colombia to manage a goal or two and then try to sit and defend (depending on the circumstances) against Brazil, as 1 point gets the job done. Prediction: 1-1 Draw
Ben: Group D’s two heavyweights go head-to-head in the San Francisco Bay Area, so which potential winners of this tournament will prevail?
For Colombia, this Copa América campaign could hardly have gone any better so far, first beating Paraguay 2-1 in Houston, before Friday’s 3-0 hammering of Costa Rica in Arizona, in which Luis Díaz converted a penalty, before Davinson Sánchez and Jhon Córdoba were also on target.
Overall, Los Cafeteros are now unbeaten in 25 internationals, dating back to 1 February 2022, winning ten on the spin, with Néstor Lorenzo’s team needing just a draw in California to cement top spot, thereby avoiding Group C winners Uruguay in the quarter-finals.
For Brazil, their quest for Copa América glory got off to a false start, held to an ignominious goalless draw by Costa Rica at SoFi Stadium.
Nevertheless, the Seleção got back on track by hammering Paraguay 4-1 at Allegiant Stadium; Vinícius Júnior bagging a brace, Sávio opening his international account and Lucas Paquetá converting a penalty, having missed one earlier on, during a successful night in Las Vegas.
This means, baring a defeat here and an unprecedented goal difference swing, Dorival Júnior’s team are also guaranteed to feature in the quarter-finals, but they too would prefer to be heading to Phoenix as group winners, rather than a Nevada return as runners-up.
Colombia have won only two of their last 23 encounters with Brazil, but did prevail when the pair last clashed in a World Cup qualifier back in November, 2-1 winners in Barranquilla that night, thereby now seeking back-to-back victories over their neighbours for the first time. Levi’s Stadium will be a sea of yellow come Tuesday night for, what should be, a high-quality clash. Prediction: Colombia 2 Brazil 1
Costa Rica vs Paraguay (Tuesday in Austin)
Steen: A game played only for pride in front of what should be a sparse crowd in Austin, this is an opportunity for Paraguay to show their fans that the national team is finally improving after time in the wilderness. Costa Rica are not a bad team, as the draw with Brazil showed, but they offer little in terms of attack, failing to score in two matches against two quality South American teams. Paraguay has at least managed to attack and produce goals during the run of play even though the defence is a question mark. Costa Rica will defend mightily, but Paraguay should break through and that will be all she wrote. Prediction: Paraguay 2 Costa Rica 0
Ben: These two teams were both rank-outsiders in Group D before a ball was kicked and so it has transpired, but both will be highly-motivated to claim a rare Copa América victory in Austin.
Of the two, Costa Rica do have a point on the board, holding Brazil to a very credible draw at SoFi Stadium with goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira, the heir apparent to Keylor Navas’ throne, named man of the match in California.
However, los Ticos could not build on that on Friday night, smashed 3-0 by Colombia in Arizona, meaning they must win here, hope Brazil lose to Colombia concurrently, and there is a six-goal swing for them to advance, which isn’t going to happen.
This is Costa Rica’s sixth Copa appearance and not since their debut in 1997 have they failed to win a single game, so can Gustavo Alfaro’s team maintain that statistic in Texas?
Paraguay meantime are featuring at a 39th edition of Copa América and not since 1925 have they ended a campaign pointless but, having been beaten 2-1 by Colombia in Houston, before Friday’s 4-1 hammering at the hands of Brazil in Las Vegas, are in danger of changing that fact.
Los Guaraníes had previously only been eliminated in the group stages twice since 1991, but Daniel Garnero’s team have already been eliminated, simply playing for pride.
This duo have twice met at Copa América, with Paraguay 1-0 winners in Arequipa in 2004, before a goalless draw in Orlando eight years ago, this their most-recent clash of any kind. As they reconvene at Q2 Stadium, this encounter is impossible to call. Prediction: 1-1 Draw
Main Photo Credit: IMAGO Images Copyright: xDanielxBartelx
