The Copa America quarterfinals feature a heavily favored Colombia taking on CONCACAF upstarts Panama, while Uruguay vs Brazil is a heavyweight clash for a spot in the semifinals. Our panelists offer their predictions.
Colombia vs Panama (Saturday in Phoenix)
Steen Kirby: Colombia drew with Brazil in a spirited game to complete the group stages that saw them top their group and setup a match with surprise packet Panama at the Cardinals NFL stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Colombia played their second group stage match at this venue and dominated Panama’s CONCACAF neighbor Costa Rica 3-0. Panama are upset minded but definitely outmatched on paper. The Colombia midfield including James Rodriguez as a setup attacker, and Richard Rios and Jefferson Lerma orchestrating things in the middle of the field was great against Brazil and their defending has improved as the tournament has gone on. Colombia have been good this tournament without fully reaching their potential yet.
Panama defeated the USA and Bolivia to finish second in their group and continue to impress in terms of outperforming expectations in cup tournaments, this Panama team was a finalist for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup as well. Players like Yoel Bárcenas from Matazlan FC in LIGA MX have been solid, but it would still be a surprise if they can survive 90 minutes against Colombia without conceding at least once, if not twice. Colombia should move through the gears in this match and come away the winners. Prediction: Colombia 3 Panama 1
Ben Gray: Given Colombia’s ongoing unbeaten streak, there is genuine belief that they can go all the way and win just a second Copa América title, overwhelming favourites to prevail in this tie in Glendale.
On Tuesday night, los Cafeteros secured top spot in Group D thanks to a 1-1 draw with Brazil; Daniel Muñoz sliding home an equaliser in first half stoppage time in the San Francisco Bay Area to earn the point they required.
Before this, Néstor Lorenzo’s side had won ten matches on the spin, including swatting aside Paraguay 2-1 and Costa Rica 3-0 in this tournament, so, while that sequence has come to an end, they’re still undefeated in 26 internationals, dating back to 1 February 2022.
As alluded to earlier, only once before have los Cafeteros won this competition, hoisting the trophy aloft on home soil in 2001, beaten semi-finalists on three occasions since then, so will Colombia book their spot in yet another last four showdown with victory here? Panama meantime have already upset the odds just to be here, seeking to spring an even more humungous upset in Phoenix.
Los Canaleros are making just their second Copa appearance, eliminated in the 2016 group stages, with most forecasting this campaign would go the same way, especially after they were easily beaten 3-1 by Uruguay on opening night in Miami Gardens.
However, four nights later in Atlanta, la Marea Roja claimed one of the most famous victories of their 86-year history, fighting back from a goal down to beat ten-man USA 2-1, with César Blackman firing home an equaliser, before José Fajardo smuggled in a dramatic late winner.
This meant that Thomas Christiansen’s team would advance, eliminating the U.S. in the process, with victory over Bolivia on Monday, and it turned out to be a night of celebration in Orlando, as Fajardo, Eduardo Guerrero and César Yanis all netted during a momentous 3-1 win. So, having competed at just one Copa and a solitary World Cup before this summer, this might just be the biggest fixture in Panamanian football history, now aiming to end their neighbours unbeaten run.
Colombia have won ten of their 14 previous encounters with Panama, most-recently prevailing 3-0 in a friendly at El Campín five summers ago, with a similar scoreline expected from those donning yellow in the stands at State Farm Stadium. Prediction: Colombia 3 Panama 1
Uruguay vs Brazil (Saturday in Las Vegas)
Steen: The Las Vegas quarterfinal was always going to be a compelling one based on how the draw was done, the highest ranked team in their group, Uruguay finished with the maximum 9 points defeating Panama, Bolivia, and the United States while conceding only one goal (against Panama). Uruguay have scored easily and defended well. PSG’s Manuel Ugarte and Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde have been warriors in the midfield for their country, and this is (once again) a really good Uruguay team, the small nation constantly produces technically skilled and brilliant footballers.
Brazil, as mentioned, came away with a draw against Colombia, a frustrating result in what has been, a frustrating tournament for a team that is always considered a contender to win Copa America and teh World Cup. This Brazil side clicked against what turned out to be a poor Paraguay side in a 4-1 victory but managed just one goal against Costa Rica and Colombia combined, resulting in two draws. The Brilliance of Barcelona’s Raphina aside, this is a Brazil side that defends well with Real Madrid’s Militao and with Liverpool’s Alisson in goal they don’t concede easily, but they also really struggle to score goals.
Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has been toothless as the primary striker, Real’s Vini Jr. hasn’t been a factor and appears tired from the Spanish side’s Champions League victory, while Lucas Paqueta, Bruno Guimaraes and others are primarily ball control midfielders. Manager Dorival Jr. needs to consider making changes in the attack formation and lineup if they are going to beat Uruguay (and likely Colombia in the semifinal). Vini Jr is a forced change due to yellow card accumulation.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli has been on the bench for Brazil this Copa America, while the teenager Endrick who is headed to Real Madrid has only been used as a late substitute, Porto’s Evanilson hasn’t played a solitary minute in Copa America. If Brazil doesn’t make some changes, Uruguay are expected to rout this match. Prediction: Uruguay 2 Brazil 0
Ben: The tie of the round in the Copa América quarter-finals has, unquestionably, been saved for last, with a traditional heavyweight guaranteed to see their genuinely realistic hopes of glory go up in flames in Las Vegas.
Of the two, Uruguay have been substantially more impressive at this tournament so far, with le Celeste claiming maximum points during a modern-day Copa América group phase for the very first time.
Marcelo Bielsa’s team easily beat Panama 3-1 and then Bolivia 5-0 before, on Monday night, Mathías Olivera’s goal, firing home a rebound, was enough to see them defeat USA 1-0 at Arrowhead Stadium, thereby eliminating the hosts in the process.
This made it six successive competitive victories for los Charrúas, losing only two of 15 outings since Bielsa’s arrival, with Uruguayan supporters dreaming of a record-breaking 16th Copa title, having last seen their side hoist this trophy aloft in 2011.
On the flip side, Brazil would not want to be meeting a fellow juggernaut at this stage, but are paying the price for only finishing second in Group D, just the fourth time in 12 editions, dating back to 1993, they’ve not topped their section at this competition.
In fact, the Seleção have won only once at this tournament so far, held to a frustrating goalless draw by Costa Rica at SoFi Stadium in their curtain raiser, before bouncing back by smashing Paraguay 4-1 four nights later.
On Tuesday night however, needing a win to claim first place, Dorival Júnior’s side could only draw 1-1 with Colombia, taking the lead through Raphinha’s stunning free-kick in Santa Clara, only to concede a soft equaliser in first half stoppage time.
In further bad news, Vinícius Júnior was booked in the San Francisco Bay Area, his second caution of the competition, meaning the five-times world champions will be without their talismanic attacker for this tie in Nevada, which is far from ideal.
These two nations have met 79 times, first doing so at the integral edition of Copa América 108 years ago; Brazil were unbeaten in 11 encounters, winning nine of them, prior to their most-recent fixture, a 2-0 la Celeste victory in Montevideo during World Cup qualifying back in October.
Los Charrúas haven’t won back-to-back competitive encounters with the Seleção since the early-80s, losing all three Copa clashes since 1995, but we’re backing Bielsa’s team to pull off, what would be perceived as, a big upset at Allegiant Stadium.
Main Photo Credit: IMAGO Images Copyright: xAdrianxMaciasx
