The USA did not get any breaks with a Copa Centenario draw that included star-studded Colombia, 2015 Copa America semifinalist Paraguay and Concacaf nemesis Costa Rica in Group A. But the Americansare quietly confident that they will make a long run at the biggest men’s tournament to played in the United States since the 1994 World Cup.
USA. The USA has high hopes thanks to a mix of veterans (14 holdovers from the 2014 World Cup) and youngsters. It enters the Copa Centenario with four straight wins since a formationchange to a 4-3-3, though Coach Jurgen Klinsmann downplayed the emphasis ontactics, saying the formation was “an option that we enjoy.”
Copa Centenario:
The USA is coming off one of its worst years in recent memory when it finishedfourth at the 2015 Gold Cup. One thing different this time is that its European-based players — including goalie Brad Guzan and the entire backline — are coming right off league seasonsrather than breaking for vacations and resuming play for the Concacaf tournament held in July.
An influx of youngsters in the starting lineup — DeAndre Yedlin and JohnBrooks in the back and Bobby Wood and Gyasi Zardes up front — has definitely boosted the confidence of the team.
Playeryou know. At 33, Clint Dempsey could be playing in his last major tournament for the USA. He enters the Copa Centenario with 49 goals, closing in on Landon Donovan’sall-time U.S. record of 57.
Player you’ll know soon enough. Christian Pulisic is only 17 with just three caps, but he isalready being hailed as the best young American player to come along since Donovan. Pulisic might not start the opener, but he should be a big part of the USA’s success if it is to reach Klinsmann’sgoal of the final four.
COLOMBIA. The Cafeteros were World Cup 2014 quarterfinalists in Brazil, where they were one of the darlings ofthe tournament. Young James Rodriguez sobbing uncontrollably after the 2-1 loss to host Brazil became one of the iconic images of the tournament.
Colombia gained revenge for thatdefeat with a 1-0 win at the Copa America, but it turned out to be the only win for the Cafeteros in Chile and Jeison Murillo‘s goal was the only goal they scored in four games as they wereplagued by injuries and poor form and lost to Argentina in the quarterfinals.
Colombia’s Argentine coach, Jose Pekerman, admits his team with only seven holdovers from the WorldCup is a work in progress. Besides Rodriguez, key returnees include keeper David Ospina (Arsenal), defender Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), midfielder Juan Cuadrado (Juventus) andCarlos Bacca (AC Milan).
Player you know. Rodriguez is the player the USA will have to watch. Klinsmann may bring make KyleBeckerman just to add extra protection in front of the backline.
Player you’ll know soon enough. Forward Marlos Moreno doesn’t turn 20 until September. He’s good enough that Colombia held him back with the national team instead of sending him to the U-23 Olympic playoff series against the USA. He has been one ofthe stars of the Copa Libertadores with Atletico Nacional.
COSTA RICA. Like Colombia, Costa Rica reached the quarterfinals of the 2014World Cup, beating Greece in a shootout in the round of 16 before losing to the Netherlands in the same manner. It followed wins over Uruguay and Italy and a scoreless tie with England that gave theTicos the group title.
A big part of Costa Rica’s success was due to its, Keylor Navas, who parlayed his play into a move to Real Madrid, where he is now the starting goalkeeper.But a foot injury will keep out of the Copa Centenario. He also missed the 2015 Gold Cup, where his replacement was Esteban Alvarado, who is also injured and out of the Copa Centenario.
The Ticos are the only Concacaf team besides Mexico that has a winning record against the USA. Their 1-0 win in October 2015 gave them a 14-13-6 record in a series that began in 1975, but itwas their first victory on U.S. soil in 30 years, since the 1-0 win knocked the USA out of contention for the 1986 World Cup.
Player youknow. Joel Campbell, who tormented the USA when the Tico beat the USA in their last competitive match in September 2013, is coming off his first full season at Arsenal sincesigning in 2011. He spent the four previous seasons on loan to clubs in France, Greece and Spain.
Player you’ll know soon enough. Atthe age of 34, Patrick Pemberton will get his big chance in goal. He’s played his entire career in Costa Rica and mostly served as a backup on the national team.
Like Colombia, Paraguay is coached by an Argentine, legendary striker Ramon Diaz, and itsimproved play carried over to World Cup 2018 qualifying as it opened with two wins, three ties and one loss and is in the hunt with six other teams for South America’s four automatic berths to thefinals in Russia. (The fifth-place team will enter a playoff.)
Paraguay faces a difficult schedule at the Copa Centenario. It opens in Orlando against Costa Rica, then travels to the RoseBowl in Pasadena, California, to face Argentina before taking a second coast-to-coast flight to Philadelphia to meet the USA. It will have traveled 4,600 miles, compared to the 2,500 miles for theUSA, which begins in Santa Clara before heading to Chicago and then on to Philadelphia.
Player you know. Nelson Valdezsigned last summer with MLS’s Seattle Sounders, where he forms part of the frontline with Dempsey and Jordan Morris. He spent four seasons with Borussia Dortmund, then bounced around to sixclubs in five seasons before joining the Sounders.
Player you’ll know soon enough. Derlis Gonzalez is only 22 but healready has four pro seasons under his belt, including the last two at FC Basel and Dynamo Kiev. His penalty kick evened the game against Brazil and sent it to a shootout at the 2015 CopaAmerica.
Group A Schedule:
June 3 in Santa Clara, California
USA vs. Colombia
June4 in Orlando, Florida
Costa Rica vs. Paraguay
June 7 in Chicago
USA vs. Costa Rica
June 7 in Pasadena, California
Colombia vs.Paraguay
June 11 in Philadelphia
USA vs. Paraguay
June 11 in Houston
Colombia vs. Costa Rica
According the the FIFA rankings, Columbia and Costa Rica should go through.
R2Dad, are u serious; rankings will determine results?
Good thing FIFA rankings are completely worthless. Teams like Austria and Wales in the top 10? LOL!
Every tournament the USA is in, the pundits are always referring to their drawing as the group of death or words to that effect. What do you think they are insinuating?
Al, this is the only group where you can realistically see any of the four teams being capable of advancing to the quarterfinals. You can’t say that about any other group in this Copa America. So while this group probably does not have a serious title contender, it is the most evenly balanced.
Who cares about the groupings! NTs that are cohesive and make things happen with efficacy and consistency make their own destiny, nothing else matters.