"I'd like a slice of Euros with a side of Copa América por favor!": El Chumbazo's Bumper Copa América Preview
Jun 17, 2024
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Unsurprisingly, Europe's attention has been on Euros 2024, and it's been an excellent start to the tournament (no 0-0s, get in!). Yet, on the other side of the pond another riveting continental tournament is set to get underway, la Copa América. Unsure of the favourites? Interested to learn who could be the surprise teams? Want to find out the star players to keep an eye out for in this year's competition? Look no further, El Chumbazo has you covered.
How does Copa América's Tournament Operate?
Copa América's tournament operates on a slightly smaller format than the Euros. Instead of 24 teams, there are 16 teams across 4 groups with the top 2 from each group qualifying for the quarter-finals.
The groups can be seen below. Let's jump into a group by group analysis, providing our predictions and star players from each team.
Grupo A - Argentina's for the Taking
Argentina will be strong favourites for winning the competition this year following their World Cup and previous Copa América victories. Since their shock loss to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup, they've only lost to Bielsa's Uruguay in Copa América qualification, entering the tournament in scintillating form.
All their opponents in the group come into the tournament in mixed form. Chile have picked up form recently after a torrid run of form in 2023 and Canada have been a mixed bag. Interestingly, it's Peru who hold the best form, although a 1-0 win over El Salvador and a 0-0 draw with Paraguay doesn't scream conviction.
So Argentina will most certainly finish first in the group, its second spot which right now is wide open. Normally, Chile would be automatic favourites for second place but their team is in a rebuild phase at the moment with young talent whilst Arturo Vidal and Gary Medel were surprisingly left out of the team - a bold move from Gareca.
Canada would be the likeliest out of them and Peru to challenge Chile for second with Johnathan David and Alphonso Davies looking to carry the team.
Star Players for Each Nation
Argentina - Lionel Messi
Peru - Gianluca Lapadula
Chile - Ben Brereton Díaz
Canada - Alphonso Davies
El Chumbazo's Group A Prediction
Argentina (Q)
Chile (Q)
Canada
Peru
Grupo B - Mexico not as Strong as Before
Mexico's new manager Lozano has opted for a change in direction by selecting unproven youth over the long-standing Mexican tradition of experienced players to lead the side on the global stage. Notable absentees Hirving Lozano, Raúl Jiménez and Guillermo Ochoa will leave some fans nervy when Mexico take on Jamaica. I can see Mexico just edging out the group but this tournament will prove to be a very difficult tournament for them.
For me, a nippy and talented Ecuador will hit the ground running at the tournament. On the international stage they've begun to stake a claim as regular tournament participants, narrowly finishing third in their group at the 2022 World Cup. The team is full of talent across the pitch: Hincapié, Caicedo and Sarmiento to name a few. This Ecuadorian side could genuinely be the nation's golden generation.
Jamaica also possess some game-winners in their ranks with the likes of Michail Antonio and Bobby Decordova-Reid offering attacking threat for the Jamaicans. Leon Bailey's decision to focus on his club career is a massive blow for Jamaica though.
Typically, I would've thought Venezuela would run a close second in this group. Yet, the national team hasn't played any kind of international fixture since a 0-0 draw with Guatemala back in March. Indeed, they possess talent in the form of Salomon Rondon and Darwin Machís, but I'm not convinced the side have the chemistry required to excel on the international stage.
Star Players for Each Nation
Mexico - Edson Álvarez
Ecuador - Moisés Caicedo
Jamaica - Bobby Decordova-Reid
Venezuela - Salomon Rondon
El Chumbazo's Group B Prediction
Ecuador (Q)
Mexico (Q)
Jamaica
Venezuela
Grupo C - Can the US Compete with the Big Dogs?
The USA will be entering the Copa América with a point to prove that they are a consistently improving national side. Defeat by the Dutch in the last-16 at World Cup 2022, failure to beat Panama in the lighter than usual 2023 Gold Cup and the loss to Mexico in the final of the Nations League 2022/23 highlights the US' need for a big tournament performance.
Undoubtedly they have the talent: Fulham's Antonee Robinson was superb this season and Chris Richards broke through with Crystal Palace. In Europe, Pulisic and McKennie enjoyed good seasons along with the young exciting prospect Falorin Balogun. Now they just need to bring it altogether on the international stage. A recent 1-1 draw with Brazil will give the team a confidence boost heading into their opener with Bolivia.
Uruguay will prove to be a tough contender for number one spot in the group. For the spectators, a match day 3 decider between the two sides will be enticing viewing as both should enter that game on 6 points each. Marcelo Bielsa has some of the world's top players at his disposal. Araujo and Giménez will form a solid partnership in defence with Real Madrid's Valverde and Tottenham's Bentancur running the midfield. Hot and cold striker Darwin Nuñéz needs to follow veteran Luis Suaréz's calmness in front of goal if he wants to challenge for the Golden Boot.
Panama enter the tournament in better form than Bolivia although the former's last 2 victories were against Guayana and Montserrat. Bolivia have challenged themselves in some tough international games in the last year facing the likes of Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico. Neither side look likely to sneak into second place though with Bolivia lacking a lot of confidence and an apathetic feeling amongst fans.
Star Players for Each Nation
USA - Weston McKennie
Uruguay - Federico Valverde
Bolivia - José Sagrado
Panama - Aníbal Godoy
El Chumbazo's Group C Prediction
Uruguay (Q)
USA (Q)
Panama
Bolivia
Grupo D - Vini Jr's Push for the Balon d'Or
Brazil will be clear favourites to top the group and prime challengers to Argentina's title. From back to front they exude quality, the question is how to best incorporate the nation's top players into a starting XI even without Neymar Jr. Vinicius Junior, from an individual perspective, will see winning the Copa América to propel him to the Balon d'Or if Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham fails to win the Euros with England.
Luis Díaz will champion a confident Colombia side who haven't lost an international game since the Copa América semi-final loss to eventual winners that year Argentina. Keep in mind that Colombia did fail to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. I like the blend fo experience and youth in the Colombian's squad. James Rodriguez and David Ospina will complement the electric young players such as Sinisterra and Durán. Additionally, Crystal Palace's Muñoz and Lerma provide vital Premier League experience to the squad.
I fail to see Costa Rica or Paraguay challenging for a qualification spot. Miguel Almirón and Julio Enciso will look to inspire their side whilst ever present Joel Campbell will seek to lead Costa Rica to perhaps squeeze their way into the quarter-finals.
Star Players for Each Nation
Brazil - Vinicus Junior
Colombia - Luis Díaz
Costa Rica - Joel Campbell
Paraguay - Julio Enciso
El Chumbazo's Group D Prediction
Brazil (Q)
Colombia (Q)
Costa Rica
Paraguay
¿Quién va a triunfar?
Using the League Predictor app, El Chumbazo believe Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay and Brazil will advance to the semi-finals, sending Mexico, Chile, Colombia and USA home.
Argentina should dispatch Ecuador whilst Brazil and Uruguay may be a tighter affair, with the former prevailing.
A mouth-watering final of Argentina Brazil will be a spectacle to behold. This match could truly go to penalties and will likely be a close affair. The romantics that we are, we think Messi will lift the title for his third consecutive international trophy - a more than suitable way to retire from the international stage should he decide to do so.
El Chumbazo's winner - Argentina
