The results for the United States men’s national team have been on a bit of a roller coaster the last few years. The Americans have had the upper hand against rival Mexico, with a record seven-straight matches unbeaten against their southern neighbors. Outside of that, it’s been mixed.
Coach Gregg Berhalter got the U.S. out of the group at the 2022 World Cup, but wasn’t all that close to the Netherlands in the next round. In 2023, the U.S. won the Nations League, which included a 3-0 win against Mexico, but the B team that went to the Gold Cup was knocked out of that tournament by Panama. There was also a surprising loss at Trinidad and Tobago in November. This year, after winning the Nations League title again in March, the U.S. lost its next game 5-1 to Colombia in the lead-up to this Copa America. Berhalter’s team responded to that embarrassing friendly with a 1-1 draw against Brazil.
All this to say: Who knows what’s going to happen with this squad. In that sense, the 2024 Copa America will serve as another litmus test for the USMNT, providing a series of competitive matches against high-level opponents. There aren’t many more of these opportunities left before the 2026 World Cup.
The test begins Sunday with the Americans taking on Bolivia. The U.S. is heavily favored in this match.
All odds from BetMGM.
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Kickoff time: 6 p.m. ET
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Tex.
This is the third meeting between these two nations and the first in a competitive match. The Americans won two friendlies, 4-0 in 2016 and 3-0 in 2018.
Bolivia has the lowest FIFA ranking (84) in the 16-team field. That’s not the best indicator of quality, but it does start to explain why the U.S. is favored so strongly for this match.
Bolivia also entered this tournament with the longest odds to advance out of the group stage of any of the 16 teams. BetMGM puts the Bolivians at +500 to grab one of the top two spots in Group C.
There is reason for that. Bolivia has lost its last 12 matches in the Copa America. Since the start of 2022, Bolivia has four wins, 18 defeats and one draw. Only one of those wins came in a competitive match, a 2-0 win against Peru in World Cup qualifying last November.
The 26-man Bolivia squad features just six players who play outside Bolivia’s domestic league.
In short, if the Americans don’t win, things will be uneasy in the USMNT fandom.
More 2024 Copa America coverage
Copa America 2024 preview: The Athletic’s complete guide to the tournament
Copa America 2024 squad guides: Everything you need to know about the teams
Copa America Group C guide: Bielsaball for Uruguay, USMNT’s new-look midfield and Panama’s possession
The FIFA World Rankings are not that important – and that’s a good thing
(Photo of Christian Pulisic: Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA TODAY Sports)
Source link : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5578765/2024/06/22/2024-copa-america-odds-usa-bolivia/
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Publish date : 2024-06-22 23:21:37
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