Copa America Centenario, USA 2016

#23
Here is some good analysis of each group
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Group A

United States, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay


All eyes will be on USA when the hosts open the tournament against Colombia on Friday. Playing in the Copa America for the first time since 2007, Jurgen Klinsmann and Co. are determined to make amends on home soil, having failed to advance to the final of last year's CONCACAF Gold Cup as co-hosts. It could also be a breakout campaign for Borussia Dortmund teenager Christian Pulisic, who is the youngster goalscorer in USA history. Carlos Bacca will spearhead Colombia's title bid, with Jackson Martinez and Radamel Falcao both absent. Captain James Rodriguez is desperate to put a disappointing club campaign behind him, after falling out of favour at Real Madrid, as Colombia seek to better their quarter-final appearance of 2015. Paraguay went one better than Colombia 12 months ago, powering through to the semi-finals before their run was abruptly halted by Argentina. A year on, and Paraguay will be without their all-time leading goalscorer Roque Santa Cruz, Lucas Barrios and Victor Caceres. Costa Rica - winners of the 2014 Copa Centroamericana - make up the group and they already face an uphill task with number one goalkeeper and recently crowned Champions League winner Keylor Navas ruled out due to an Achilles problem.



Group B

Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru


How will Brazil cope without captain Neymar? The skipper has bypassed the Copa America in favour of representing Brazil on home soil at the Olympic Games in August. With the Barcelona star not in the squad, as well as Douglas Costa, Dunga's hopes rest on Philippe Coutinho, Willian and Co. as the eight-time champions look to win their first Copa America title since 2007. Ecuador and Peru are set to vie for second spot. Ecuador failed to make it out of the group last year, only winning once, and head into the tournament without a win in three games. Peru surprised many when they won the third-place play-off in 2015, having lost to eventual champions Chile in the semi-finals. This time around, the Peruvians are without experienced duo Claudio Pizarro and Jefferson Farfan, who are among the country's top five all-time leading scorers. Peru open their campaign against Haiti. The Caribbean minnows booked a Copa America berth via a quarter-final appearance at the Gold Cup and a play-off victory over Trinidad and Tobago. And fans will be able to watch the players in action back home in Haiti thanks to injured USA striker Jozy Altidore, whose parents are from the country, after teaming up with his foundation to help televise the event.



Group C

Mexico, Uruguay, Jamaica, Venezuela


Uruguay's hopes of claiming a 16th Copa America title rest heavily on Suarez, who broke the 50-goal mark for Barca in 2015-16. The 84-cap star is set to play his first major tournament since he was banned for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup. Suarez, though, heads into the Copa America under an injury cloud. Scorer of 45 international goals, Suarez hobbled off in tears due to a hamstring injury in Barca's Copa del Rey triumph in May. His status remains unclear for the group stage, but expect the 29-year-old to feature prominently in the knockout phase, should Uruguay finish inside the top two. More likely than not, Uruguay and Mexico will advance to the quarter-finals. Fans and pundits will get a good idea of where the two teams stand when they face off in the first game. Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio, with some decisions apparently out of his hands, has made some tough calls after not including Carlos Vela and brothers Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos. The Mexicans have been in fine form heading into the tournament. Rafael Dudamel is only two months into his job as Venezuela coach and Gold Cup runners-up Jamaica look to cause Uruguay and Mexico problems.



Group D

Argentina, Chile, Panama, Bolivia


It has been 23 years since Argentina last lifted a major trophy. The nation had two near misses in the space of two years, reaching both the World Cup final and Copa America decider. With five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi at the peak of his powers following another magical season, inspiring Barca to a domestic double, and Gonzalo Higuain coming off a historic season after breaking the Serie A's long-standing goalscoring record, Argentina are favourites to match Uruguay's haul of 15 Copa America titles. Standing in the way are defending champions Chile. The two South American giants will face off against each other on matchday one, in a rematch of the 2015 final, and it will almost certainly decide top spot in the group. Chile have experienced indifferent form since that historic night on home soil in Santiago. With coach Jorge Sampaoli having left, there are fears Sanchez, Vidal and Co. have peaked following an unconvincing start to World Cup qualifying. Panama, beneficiaries of a Copa America play-off, and Bolivia are also set for battle. Despite winning through to the quarters last year, the new-look Bolivian side - which includes 12 players with 10 caps or less - are tipped to make a swift exit in the midst of a four-match losing streak.
 

byebyenow

Elite Member
Jun 3, 2006
4,962
175
#24
Haiti, seriously? 6 CONCACAF teams kind of ruin the quality, i am Ok with Mexico, USA and Costa Rica, but teams like Jamaica, Haiti and Panama shouldn't be there.
I beg the difference for Jamaica, they have been impressive recently, but instead of Haiti or Panama, Honduras would have been a better choice.
 

Kian Pars

Elite Member
Dec 9, 2005
2,558
362
#26
I have tickets for USA-PAR, URUGUAY-VEN, and Chilie-Panama. Twenty minutes from my office is much easier than traveling around the world to see a game or two!
I just sold my tix for today's game since I couldn't find anybody to join me,:( too bad if you can't find a buddy who is soccer fan. I will go to Argentina game, even if I have to be there all alone.
 
Apr 15, 2016
1,481
1
Suisse
#27
All those latinos have a lot of khoorde shishe in their blood and thus in their football. Its never been my cup of tea. I think the US will play the most honest football but the talent level is still not enough to compete with the biggest out of south america. I always support Mexico in Copa and if not them, then Chile.
 

Kian Pars

Elite Member
Dec 9, 2005
2,558
362
#28
All those latinos have a lot of khoorde shishe in their blood and thus in their football. Its never been my cup of tea. I think the US will play the most honest football but the talent level is still not enough to compete with the biggest out of south america. I always support Mexico in Copa and if not them, then Chile.
Your damn right with "khorde shishe", take your favorites Mexico or even Chile who got the cup last year with going on players nerve (anguli).
 

TeamMeli

Elite Member
Feb 5, 2014
9,317
314
Las Vegas, NV
#30
Big Heart Altidore , with his donation the Copa will be televised in Haiti, where his parents come from .

Very nice gesture even-thou he is not participating for USA due to Hamstring injury

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http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/...-donation-ensure-copa-america-broadcast-haiti
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Well the USA Columbia game is coming up 6:30 PST and do not be surprised if USA plays well. They have enough players who can score, as long as they mark James and play solid D, USA can get the job done. They are in a difficult group but I see this game possibly ending in a TIE. USA and Columbia advance through.
 
#31
Well the USA Columbia game is coming up 6:30 PST and do not be surprised if USA plays well. They have enough players who can score, as long as they mark James and play solid D, USA can get the job done. They are in a difficult group but I see this game possibly ending in a TIE. USA and Columbia advance through.
Of course USA playing at home but Colombia are also the title contenders . No Falcao and No Jackson Martinez... But they have Bacca , Guardado and Cardona + James which you mentioned . I heard Cardona is a very promising attacking midfielder ... I predict a tie most likely 1-1
 

IEI

Administrator
Staff member
Nov 10, 2002
14,508
3,341
#40
[video=youtube;-2mDhivMX_c]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2mDhivMX_c[/video]