The stage seemed set for Canada to register their maiden Copa America appearance in 2001, only for the Canucks to withdraw at the 11th hour.
Little did they know they would have to wait over two decades for a chance to make their debut on South America’s grandest football stage.
Canada failed to qualify for the tournament in 2016 and were ineligible to play in the last two editions, but they’ve finally made it here.
After losing all three games at the 2022 World Cup and suffering a quarter-final exit at the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Canucks opted for drastic changes.
It was a signal for the football federation to poach a world-class coach.
Jesse Marsch, the first American to take charge of Canada, first reported for duty in May 2024, being handed a tight timeframe to prepare the team for the tournament.
Canada went to great lengths to hire the ex-Leeds United manager, requiring donations from Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps to handle his wages.
Let’s see if he can repay the trust.
Chile – Messi’s nightmare bidding to reignite old flames
Manager: Ricardo GarecaStar Player: Alexis Sanchez
Chile had never hoisted the Copa America title before 2015.
But after defeating Messi’s Argentina on penalties on their home turf of Santiago, they poured more misery on La Pulga by replicating the same feat the following year.
In doing so, La Roja became the fourth South American country to win back-to-back titles, even making the ex-Barcelona stalwart question his international career.
However, Chilean football has since been in freefall.
In addition to finishing as high as fourth across the last two Copa America editions, they’ve missed out on two consecutive World Cups.
Their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 tournament in North America are in doubt.
Ricardo Gareca, the 66-year-old manager of Argentine origins, faces an uphill task of restoring Chile to their former glory.
He will rely on seasoned stars Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas to navigate the dressing room through these tumultuous times.
Despite Sheffield United’s humiliating Premier League campaign, Ben Brereton Diaz could extend his senior teammates a much-needed helping hand amid his impressive form in 2024.
The 25-year-old moved to Bramall Lane in January and went on to haul six goals and one assist in 14 league appearances for the Premier League basement boys.
Peru – Inaugural winners seeking a miracle at long odds
Manager: Jorge FossatiStar Player: Paolo Guerrero
Peru won the first edition of the most prestigious CONMEBOL tournament since it was rebranded to Copa America in 1975, overcoming Colombia in the grand final.
It was pretty much it for La Rojiblanca. The two-time South American champions have since reached the final once, with Brazil beating them 1-0 in 2019.
Current Chile manager Gareca had led them to back-to-back Copa America semi-finals before a failed attempt to qualify for the Qatar World Cup spelt the end of his tenure.
The experienced 71-year-old coach, Jorge Fossati, has plenty on his plate amid Peru’s woeful start to the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Four defeats from six qualifiers and only one goal scored can’t begin to tell the depth of Peru’s problems.
It’s enough to say they still rely on the 40-year-old Paolo Guerrero to shoulder the scoring burden.
The future doesn’t look bright for the Peruvians.
Saiba mais sobre o veÃculoCompartilhar artigo
Source link : https://onefootball.com/pt-br/noticias/copa-america-2024-group-a-schedule-preview-america-chile-peru-canada-39599491
Author :
Publish date : 2024-06-08 04:07:39
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
