Copa América 2024 guide: Messi’s title defense, underdogs to watch

Copa América, South America’s continental competitors, has kicked off in the US for the second time after it hosted in 2016. There are many storylines, from World Cup champions Lionel Messi and Argentina defending their title, the USMNT utilizing this as a warmup for the 2026 World Cup which it’ll co-host, and Brazil seeking to rediscover their type.

As we put together for the following few weeks of packed motion from the Americas, let’s dive deeper into a few of issues that we will sit up for, together with the rivalries, star and key gamers and why this specific version comes with a number of speaking factors.

Is that this Messi’s final dance?

On Monday, Messi will flip 37. It is no secret that he’s within the closing chapter of his illustrious profession. In an interview with ESPN, the Argentine talisman stated Inter Miami would be the final membership he performs for. Copa América is the possibility to win a 3rd straight main title with Argentina and create extra recollections with the nationwide crew after profitable the 2021 Copa and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

However will it even be his curtain name on the worldwide stage in a significant match? Who is aware of.

In actual fact, Messi himself is uncertain of the long run, which incorporates his participation within the subsequent World Cup. “It is determined by how I really feel, how I’m bodily and being practical with myself,” he stated in an interview with Infobae. “And to know if I’m as much as the duty of with the ability to compete and assist the teammates subsequent to me.”

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Talking on defending the Copa title, Messi stated “It’ll get tougher and tougher for us — nothing goes to be straightforward for us,” Messi stated final week. “However we will attempt once more.”

He is proper. It will not be straightforward, as a result of the obstacles are now not coming simply from Brazil. That was showcased by their opening 2-0 win towards a tough Canada facet. And as World Cup qualifiers have proven, CONMEBOL’s hierarchy is altering.

Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay is energetic, resilient and absolutely carrying the embodiment of Garra Charrúa, the nation’s tenacious, warriorlike spirit. And what about Colombia? After lacking the World Cup in Qatar, there was a change with Los Cafeteros. It is a skillful, courageous, adventurous Colombian squad blended with expertise and youth, however thanks to go coach Nestor Lorenzo, they’re now extraordinarily organized and disciplined. They are going to be a drive to be reckoned with.

That stated, Messi & Co. enter as favorites and by way of squad choice, head coach Lionel Scaloni has not rocked the boat — 21 out of 26 gamers have been in Qatar in 2022. However the brand new additions, which embody youngsters Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Inter’s Valentín Carboni (on mortgage at Monza), present that Scaloni is prepared to consider the long run.

Who can ship an upset?

Argentina is likely to be clear favorites, however there are many groups that may ship an upset. Their group contains Canada, Peru and Chile — two nations which have a rivalry deeply rooted in political and cultural turmoil and on the pitch all of it comes out. Named because the Clásico del Pacífico, it’s often performed with an incredible quantity of aggression. The actual matchup on Friday will likely be much more intriguing as Chile’s new supervisor is Ricardo Gareca, Perú’s former supervisor who took the crew to the World Cup in 2018 for the primary time in 36 years. Now, somebody who was adored by all Peruvians, manages their fiercest rivals.

Group D (Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Costa Rica) is intriguing. As talked about earlier, Vinicius Jr and Brazil know that there’s a lot to do if the World Cup qualifiers are something to go by.

New coach Dorival Júnior arrived in January, however there are doubts whether or not this Brazilian facet can reclaim their dominance in South America. La Seleçao goes to have a tough time from the get-go as a result of profitable the group is likely to be an impediment. And here is the place I return to Colombia, who haven’t misplaced a recreation since supervisor Nestor Lorenzo returned to the nationwide crew.

In actual fact, Los Cafeteros haven’t misplaced in 23 video games. Lorenzo was Jose Pekerman’s assistant between 2014 and 2018, when Colombia additionally earned a third-place end on the Centenario. However now, Lorenzo is the person in cost and this crew is the true deal. They’ve already overwhelmed Brazil in World Cup qualifiers (their first victory towards them in a qualifying marketing campaign) in addition to pleasant victories over Germany and Spain. Most not too long ago, they embarrassed the U.S. 5-1 and this isn’t an exaggeration: they’ve all of the instruments to lastly win a Copa América title for the primary time since 2001, which is their just one thus far.

James Rodríguez, at 32, continues to be influential on account of his creativity. However this facet is a lot greater than that. From Liverpool’s Luis Díaz to Fluminense’s Jhon Arias, Colombia have aptitude, poise and defensive energy. The sport towards Brazil in Santa Clara on July 2nd, the ultimate one of many group, must be a particularly tasty, electrical affair.

Talking of electrical energy, how about Uruguay? Underneath Marcelo Bielsa, La Celeste are a drive of nature. They’re second in qualifiers, having scored 13 objectives — greater than anybody — and 4 victories, which embody 2-0 wins towards Argentina and Brazil.

Uruguay has expertise to spare, like Nico de la Cruz from Flamengo. Underneath Bielsa, he is a crucial half after they go ahead. Inter Miami’s Luis Suárez additionally returns, able to make his fifth Copa América. As well as, Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez has been fantastic beneath Bielsa, most not too long ago scoring a hat trick in a 4-0 pleasant win over Mexico, a recreation the place they did not even break a sweat.

Uruguay do not care about possession or how they construct up play. They don’t seem to be pretentious about their recreation plan. It is about psychological and bodily management and to this point, they’re delivering. Opponents of their group, which incorporates the USMNT, must be very apprehensive.

The leisure does not cease there as groups corresponding to Ecuador, Paraguay and Chile will likely be attention-grabbing to observe on account of their transitional state of affairs. Bolívia and Peru are additionally hoping to vary their fortunes from World Cup qualifiers.

Lastly, please pay quite a lot of consideration to Venezuela. They’ve been fantastic of their qualifying marketing campaign (fourth, and on the street to creating their first World Cup look) and Fernando Batista has them organized and taking part in disciplined, courageous soccer.

As the US embraces as soon as once more the affect and arrival of Copa América, there’s a sturdy reminder that because of the degree of expertise, the multifaceted storylines and the fan power that comes from the Latin American diaspora, this specific version guarantees to be a showcase of the best degree.