Early doors? The US after two games in the 2024 Copa America

The 2024 Copa America is kicked off, and the United States is struggling in Group C. The Stars and Stripes started off well with a 2-0 win over minnows Bolivia thanks to a goal from the talisman Christian Pulisic and young striker Folarin Balogun; however, they dropped two crucial points in the next game, losing to eternal rivals Panama 2-1 despite Balogun’s early strike. Thanks to that, we now need a miracle in both matches to proceed to the knockout rounds.

The situation in the group stage

As of writing, the United States is second in the group with 3 points, the same amount as Panama but with better goal difference. 15-time champions Uruguay is leading the group with 6 points and is surely qualifying as group winners with a huge +6 goal difference advantage; they just trashed Bolivia 5-0 after thumping Panama 3-1 in the openers. They have yet to face the United States who has to beat them in order to guarantee qualifying. Throughout history, the United States have already faced Uruguay eight times, winning only twice and losing half the time. So, the odds are hugely against us, but it is not entirely out of reach. 

Predictions

Legal bettors in the UK and the USA predict this game to be in the United States’ favor, but only slightly. However, as hopeful as it may sound, it is quite unlikely that the United States will be able to withstand pressure and put up with the aggression of this Uruguayian side. Not to mention also that they have beaten not only the Brazillian national team, but also the 2022 World Champions in Argentina also. If you beg to differ or to side with this prediction, feel free to go ahead to M88 and place your own bets for a chance to win big and cash out some prizes!

Fixture 

The match will be played on July 1 at 8 PM CDT in Kansas City, Missouri. The GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium will host the two teams.

Copa America 2024 so far: a review

After eighteen games, a lot has happened in all four groups of this illustrious tournament. Some teams have already progressed, others have already been eliminated, but a few are still in contention for progression into the next round. Let’s do a quick review of all four groups.

Group A

2022 World Champions Argentina made it out of the group without any real hassle. They won all three games, scored five, conceded none, and scored a whopping nine points. Lionel Messi had yet to score a goal, but he assisted one of Lautaro Martinez’ four goals in the group stages, with the latter now ranked first in the top scorer standings.

Debutants and our neighbor to the north Canada produced the biggest surprise, as they progressed to the knockout stage on the first attempt. Despite losing the first gamet to the World Champions 0-2, Jonathan David scored a crucial goal to help the Canadians overcome Peru in the second game. In the final match against the two-time champ Chile, Canada held them off to earn one point, ensuring their progression into the round of 16 with four points. This is despite the fact that they are the lowest-ranking team in the group before the first game began.

Speaking of Chile, the two-time champions were not expected to do well, but not to this extent. In the three games they played, there was only one goal for either side: Lautaro Martinez’ match-winning strike in the 88th minute. Since September last year, the 2016 champions only won three games in all competitions. Ranking-wise, Peru was actually the second-best team in this group, but they scored only one point and no goals.

Group B

Against all odds, third-best team Venezuela is the only one who has progressed from this group so far. They scored two impressive wins against Ecuador and Jamaica, and will now fend off the struggling Mexican side for a chance at a 100% record in the group.

Ecuador and Mexico find themselves in two contrasting positions; Ecuador overperforming and Mexico underperforming. The Mexican side surprisingly lost to the Ecuadorian 0-1, and barely overcame Jamaica in the first match. The two will meet in the final match on June 30, and a draw will ensure Ecuador’s participation in the knockouts for the second edition in a row, a first since the 1960s.

Jamaica’s fate is much easier to describe. The Reggae Boyz is already eliminated with no wins and no points.

Group C

As mentioned in the previous segment, the United States will face off against 15-time champions Uruguay to book their chance in the knockouts, while Panama hopes for a stellar Uruguayian display as they come up against the lowest-ranking team in the tournament, Bolivia.

Group D

Five-time World Champions Brazil still has to fight for a place in the knockouts, as they struggled to score against Costa Rica, but bounced back with a 4-1 triumph over Paraguay. They will face off against group leaders Colombia, who have already progressed into the round of 16 with 2 wins over Costa Rica and Paraguay.

Of course, the last-day clash between the two giants leave Costa Rica some opportunity to progress; they face Paraguay who is already eliminated, and a good scoreline will see them progress. If they win by more than three goals, and the Brazillian lost by more than three goals, Costa Rica will advance. However, this is highly unlikely as they have yet to find the back of the net in the past 180 minutes.