Jhon Cordoba (3rdL) of Colombia celebrates scoring their opening goal with teammates during the … [+] friendly match between Romania and Colombia at Civitas Metropolitan Stadium on March 26, 2024 in Madrid.
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Brazil Are Back
Brazil beat England at Wembley and drew with Spain in Madrid during new coach Dorival Júnior’s first international break at the helm. The man who has been brought in to ‘steady the ship’ at Brazil seems to have just done that, and more.
Before this week Brazil were in awful form and decided to part ways with ex-boss Fernando Diniz. A run of just two wins in seven games included defeats to Senegal, Uruguay and Colombia. Needless to say, that is not the standard that is accepted in Brazil.
Ahead of the Copa America this summer they have found their feet with two great results against top European opposition. Perhaps more importantly; they have done so whilst missing key players like Neymar and Marquinhos, as well as the Arsenal trio of Gabriel Magalhães, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.
Dorival Júnior has been able to bed in some fresh talent with great success, lining up what seems to be a relatively conservative counter-attacking style, but one that can produce devastating results through the likes of Vinicius Junior. Above all, Brazil and their fans will have taken great confidence from recent results, and they will feel like they are back on the right track for continental success.
Rodrygo Goes (10) of Brazil celebrates after scoring a goal during the friendly match between Spain … [+] and Brazil at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain on March 26, 2024.
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Colombia Are Contenders
Make no mistake about it, Colombia are the outside favourites for the Copa America this summer. First they need to get out of a group that contains Brazil, but assuming they are the second best team in that phase they will be ok. Then the real fun starts. The quality that they have in the squad and their second-half performance against Spain shows they have what it takes to go far this summer.
Not to mention the fact that they have now extended their unbeaten run to an incredible 21 games, the longest unbeaten streak in international football currently. They remain the only South American team undefeated in CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying and they have incredible pace on the counter-attack; capable of sinking any team in a 90 minute knock-out match.
Colombia look like a cup team, and I say that in a good way. In a league with Argentina and Brazil you might not give them a chance, but on their day, the defence turns into a band of fearless warriors and Luis Diaz is the biggest headache any opposition could think of.
They do not have anything like the pressure or expectation on them that Brazil and Argentina have; this is a big help also. Finally, dare we say it, if they can beat Brazil to top spot in the group stage then they will open up a pathway to the final that would completely avoid the big two.
James Rodriguez of Columbia controls the ball during the international friendly match between Spain … [+] and Colombia at London Stadium on March 22, 2024 in London, England.
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The U.S.A Will Fancy Their Chances
The U.S.A are the hosts of the Copa America this summer and they have just been crowned CONCACAF Nations League winners with victories over Jamaica and Mexico. They will be well backed in stadiums across the country in June and July.
In a group with Uruguay, Bolivia and Panama, it’s safe to say that the U.S should make their way into the knock-out stages of the tournament and from there, who knows?
Christian Pulisic is on top form with four goals and an assist in his last four A.C Milan appearances. Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams both found the net against Mexico, and in Haji Wright the U.S boast one of English football’s recent revelations.
Wright bagged a brace against Jamaica for the States, but at club level he has been smashing it with Coventry City in the Championship and F.A Cup. His 100th minute winner saw Coventry beat Wolves to reach the cup semi-finals, and in the league he has three goals and an assist in his last three games.
Do the U.S.A have a chance of winning the Copa America? Highly doubtful, but can they have a big say in this tournament? Yes.
Haji Wright #14 of the United States celebrates his goal with teammate Gio Reyna #7 during a … [+] Concacaf Nations League game between Jamaica and USMNT at AT&T Stadium on March 21, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.
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Endrick Is Primed And Ready
Like mud being thrown against a wall, finally Endrick’s name is beginning to stick. The boy has been a prodigy for years now, and finally he is making his mark on the biggest stage of them all, and perhaps before many predicted he would do so. He has proven he can be a key figure for the Brazilian national team and he is still just 17 years of age.
In two substitute appearances he has scored key goals against England and Spain, and crucially the young man has bathed in the spotlight as if it was made for him. A teenager who trots onto the pitch at Wembley wearing shiny gold boots has to be a confident boy; and next thing you know he slots home the winner.
The future Real Madrid hero is already a star for Brazil. He has truly gone global this week and alongside his childhood Palmeiras hero Gabriel Jesus, he will be among the goals at the Copa America this summer, hoping to go all the way.
Brazilian soccer team player Endrick Felipe. Spain draws Brazil 3-3 in a friendly match. Spanish … [+] National Team draws 3-3 with its Brazilian counterpart at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
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Argentina Are Still The Team To Beat
Argentina had a Lionel Messi-less, low-key international window in the U.S this week. They gave debuts to some bright young talents and defeated El Salvador and Costa Rica with the ease that one would expect. Argentina are not Copa America favourites for this reason of course, but for the fact that they remain unchallenged as the best and most consistent ‘tournament’ team in South America.
Brazil turned a corner for sure, but Argentina humbled them in Rio not long ago and the Brazilians won’t be getting too over-excited by this week’s promising displays.
Elsewhere, Ecuador faltered against Italy and Uruguay really fell flat on their previous run of good form with defeat to the Ivory Coast and a draw in the Basque Country. Colombia are on a roll but Argentina’s place as top dogs has not changed.
The current World Cup and Copa America holders have been set in their ways during those previous successes, and this summer’s squad will be very similar to that which triumphed in Qatar. A squad mix of Messi magic, young talent and a fearsome work ethic has won three of the last three trophies available to them.
It’s not news that in victory and defeat this team has built up an incredible amount of momentum, a dressing room atmosphere that seems unrivalled and a style and system that has been practiced and repeated many times over with great success.
Thankfully this March international break has shown us that we have various teams in the hunt for glory this summer, but Lionel Messi and Argentina remain the team to beat.
Lionel Messi of Argentina kisses the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the final … [+] of Copa America Brazil 2021 between Brazil and Argentina at Maracana Stadium on July 10, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Source link : https://www.forbes.com/sites/josephosullivan/2024/03/27/five-things-we-learned-from-copa-amrica-candidates-this-week/
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Publish date : 2024-03-28 03:00:00
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