It will be a sea of blue in the first semifinal of Copa America 2024 as Argentina and Canada rematch their opening group stage clash for a spot in the final, in the second semifinal, two of the strongest teams in international football right now, will face off, Colombia will have rabid fan support and it will be a sea of yellow as they face a talented Uruguay team for a spot in the final. Our panelists offer their predictions as Copa America’s two most successful nations, Argentina and Uruguay are one win each away from the final.
Argentina vs Canada (Tuesday in New York City/New Jersey)
Steen Kirby: A rematch of the opening match of Copa America, It was considered unlikely for Argentina and Canada to meet again after their group stage clash in Atlanta, but they will meet again in the semifinal, with Canada being the surprise team and a heavy underdog against the defending Copa America and World Cup champions. Argentina has continued their streak of victories but has yet to dominate a game through 4 matches in Copa America, Lionel Messi hasn’t been fully fit, and after not conceding a goal during the group stages, they did concede to Ecuador in the dying minutes of the game, against the run of play (after Ecuador had failed to convert a penalty earlier in the match). Forced into penalty kicks, it was Emi Martinez from Aston Villa who was again the hero, standing tall in goal as Ecuador missed their first two penalties and failed to benefit from Messi missing his penalty kick.
Lisandro Martinez in the backline scored Argentina’s only goal in open play in that Ecuador clash, while Alexis Mac Allister had a good game in the midfield. Looking back at the group stage match between these teams, Argentina complained about the pitch the match was played on but scored twice in the second half, with some mighty defense preventing Canada from getting on the scoreboard, resulting in a 2-0 win for Argentina. In that game, Canada let Argentina move on the break too easily with the ball, they defended well at times and goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau is a special player.
Crepeau helped Canada prevail in a penalty shootout victory against Venezuela. Jacob Shaffelburg from Nashville in MLS scored an early goal and Canada defended well with that 1-0 lead, although they did concede a goal in the second half. It was Jonathan David and Canada who created a number of good chances in the match and got 16 shots on goal, Canada won’t find it so easy against Argentina’s focused defence, but they also won’t be helpless or intimidated.
Argentina won’t find this match easy, but they also know what they need to do if they will continue their quest to repeat as the Champions of Copa America, even if Messi is limited, there are other players who can and will step up such as the likely Golden Boot winner Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan who has 4 goals for his country this tournament. Prediction: Argentina 2 Canada 0
Ben Gray: 19 days after clashing in the tournament curtain raiser at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 875 miles north in New Jersey, these two teams meet again, so will this huge rematch produce the same outcome?
Little under three weeks ago, Argentina began the defence of their Copa América title by beating Canada 2-0 in Atlanta, with Julián Álvarez breaking the deadlock soon after half time, before Lautaro Martínez rubber stamped the points at the death.
That though counts for very little now, so will the holders march through to a sixth Copa América Final in just eight editions, or will East Rutherford witness an upset for the ages?
Having won all three group games without conceding, most forecasting that la Albiceleste would swat Ecuador aside in their quarter-final clash on Thursday, this especially the case when Lisandro Martínez headed his team in front on the cusp of half time in Houston.
However, Lionel Scaloni’s side never looked like adding a second and paid the price, with la Tri equalising deep into injury time, thereby forcing a penalty shootout in the Lone Star State.
Lionel Messi stepped up first and, to the shock of everyone in attendance, attempted a Panenka that caressed the crossbar and bounced over.
Luckily, Emi Martínez saved both of Ecuador’s first two attempts, with Argentina perfect from there on out, with Nicolás Otamendi converting the decisive spot-kick in Houston. So, having avoided a bit of a scare, will la Albiceleste be back to their best here?
24 hours later, 265 miles north across Texas, AT&T Stadium also witnessed a 1-1 draw and a subsequent penalty shootout, as Canada took on Venezuela.
Les Rouges are making their Copa América debut this summer, needing to oust Trinidad & Tobago in March’s play-in round just to be here, so it was a massive achievement for them to get out the group, beating Peru 1-0 before a battling goalless draw with Chile saw them advance.
Then, on Friday night, faced with a vast, pro-Venezuelan crowd in Arlington, Jacob Shaffelburg poked the Canucks in front after just 13 minutes, only for la Vinotinto to equalise mid-way through the second 45, meaning a shootout would be required.
It was a roller coaster penalty competition: both teams scored, both missed, both scored, both missed and then both teams scored again, before Wilker Ángel saw his effort saved by Maxime Crépeau, with Ismaël Koné converting the winning kick, sparking wild celebrations.
Two years ago, Canada ended their 36-year World Cup exile, but then lost all three games in Qatar, so are delighted to, belatedly, be showing their best to the world, and it’s possible to make the case that Friday’s win was Canada’s most-historic of all-time.
Well, safe to say that would be astronomically eclipsed if they were able to pull off an humungous upset here, becoming only the second non-CONMEBOL team to reach a Copa América Final, after Mexico achieved this in ’93 & 2001.
Meantime, at World Cups and Copas, Argentina’s record against CONCACAF-based opposition is imperious, claiming 16 wins, one draw and just two defeats, theses loses coming against USA in ’95 and Mexico nine years later, both in inconsequential group phase encounters.
In a high-stakes semi-final, we cannot forecast anything other than an Argentine victory at MetLife Stadium. Prediction: Argentina 2 Canada 0
Colombia vs Uruguay (Wednesday in Charlotte)
Steen: A match everyone will be looking forward to, these are two of the best teams in the world and they have shown it in the Copa America. Colombia had the easier path to the semifinal, they destroyed a hapless Panama 5-0, as Panama conceded two early goals and then failed to claw one back or establish a foothold in the match of any sort. Colombia has dominated two of their four games, all be it against weaker CONCACAF teams, James Rodriguez has been the midfielder of the tournament, he’s been reeling back the years to a decade ago at the 2014 World Cup, with perfect passes, and crosses setting up goals and chances on goal for his teammates, and he added a goal of his own in the Panama quarterfinal.
Colombia doesn’t defend amazingly well, but they also have the most firepower in the tournament with a number of attacking options, and they haven’t left much to chance this tournament. Uruguay reached the semifinal using a slightly different method, facing Brazil they played a physical press, in a choppy match that saw them go a man down but Brazil still failed to score in open play, and on a 0-0 scoreline the match went to penalties. Ultimately the favored Uruguay side defeated Brazil, as the Brazilians did not have a good tournament and put even fewer shots on goal than Uruguay.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side hacked their way to the semifinal but it got the job done, and now they will try to disrupt Colombia. PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte was the match winner in the penalty kicks for Uruguay, while Federico Valverde also had a good game and Sergio Rochet was the man in goal. Uruguay will build from the midfield and try to dictate this game, if Colombia is on the ball they are difficult to stop. There’s something about this Colombia team and the Colombian fans that has added magic to this tournament, Uruguay are a very good team, but I’m not sure it will be enough. Colombia will try to get a win in open play rather than relying on penalty kicks. Prediction: Colombia 2 Uruguay 1
Ben: These two traditional heavyweights both came into this edition of Copa América with sky-high hopes and expectations, so who will advance through to Sunday’s final, and who’s dreams will go up in flames in Charlotte?
Both were in quarter-final action on Saturday and Colombia’s passage was rather more serene, smashing Panama 5-0 in Arizona.
Los Cafeteros were two up inside 15 minutes, Jhon Córdoba breaking the deadlock and then James Rodríguez converting a penalty, before Luis Díaz added a third on the cusp of half time, while both Richard Ríos and Miguel Borja got in on the act later on.
This extends Colombia’s unbeaten streak to 27 matches, dating back to 1 February 2022, winning 11 of their last 12, the only fixture they’ve not claimed victory in since October a 1-1 draw with Brazil a week ago, but this was enough to see them retain top spot in Group D.
La Tricolor are seeking to win Copa América for only the second time, triumphing on home soil in 2001, but given their imperious form, many are tipping Néstor Lorenzo’s team to go all the way.
This though will not be easy against the 15-times Copa champions, a joint-record, with Uruguayan supporters dreaming of just a second triumph since 1995, hoisting aloft the trophy in Buenos Aires 13 years ago.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side topped their group with maximum points, scoring nine times and conceding only once, but were rewarded with a heavyweight last eight tie against Brazil at Allegiant Stadium in Sunday’s late kick off.
Well, it turned out to be the battle of Las Vegas, with referee Darío Herrera blowing up 41 times due to fouls, brandishing four yellow cards and a red, Nahitan Nández sent off late on, but no goals were scored, meaning straight to penalties we went.
Sergio Rochet turned out to be the hero, saving two of the Seleção’s four spot-kicks, while Fede Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Manuel Ugarte all held their nerve from 12 yards, the latter sparking wild scenes of jubilation in the appropriately named part of Nevada; Paradise.
Prior to the weekend, la Celeste had lost each of their last three Copa quarter-finals, including suffering penalty shootout defeats to Peru in 2019 and Colombia two summers later, actually losing seven of their last nine shootouts, ending this hoodoo part of their delight.
Bielsa has reinvigorated los Charrúas, masterminding World Cup qualifying victories over both Brazil and Argentina last autumn, with his team now unbeaten in eight competitive fixtures, a sequence that began with a 2-2 draw in Barranquilla, in which Darwin Núñez converted a stoppage time penalty to rescue a point.
In all, the head-to-head record between these two nations is very even, with, as mentioned, Colombia prevailing on penalties following a goalless draw in Brasília three years ago while, before that, they hadn’t met in the knockout phase since ’95, a 2-0 Uruguay victory in Montevideo.
This clash at Bank of America Stadium is very tough to call, but we give the slight-edge to Colombia, thereby advancing through to Sunday’s final, while the losers will remain in North Carolina for Saturday’s dreaded third-place play-off. Prediction: Colombia 2 Uruguay 1
Main Photo Credit: IMAGO Images Copyright: xAdrianxMaciasx
