Colombia national team, not to trust any rival in group D: this is how their opponents arrive in the Copa América

Since assuming the technical direction of Colombia, the Argentine Nestor Lorenzo It was clear: their goal is to win the Copa América in the United States and the good moment of the players does not make their idea crazy. Colombia has only lifted the title once: in the 2001 edition played at home, and since then it has not been able to even reach the final.

The team’s level has been superlative until June 15, the day the squad closed its preparation for the Copa América with a 3-0 win over Bolivia. In this great streak, the Colombian team has achieved three resounding victories: against Brazil (2-1) in Barranquilla in the qualifiers and in friendlies with Germany (0-2) and Spain (0-1).

Brazil, favorite

The Brazilian team will be the main rival in group D. It is a team in the process of reconstruction led by the recently arrived Dorival Júnior, but it still trusts in its individual quality to lift its tenth Copa América and take revenge with Argentina after the humiliation of 2021 at the Maracana stadium.

After experiencing a 2023 full of negative records, with more defeats (5) than victories (3) for the first time in more than half a century, Dorival’s Canarinha faces its first litmus test in official tournaments in a context of discredit and without Neymar, due to injury. The team beat England 0-1 at Wembley and drew 3-3 with Spain in Madrid. And in the final stretch of preparation for the Copa América they defeated Mexico 2-3 and tied 1-1 with the United States.

Everything indicates that Dorival will bet on an offensive trident formed by Vinícius, Rodrygo Goes and Raphinha. Lucas Paquetá (West Ham) has a guaranteed place as conductor to replace Neymar. The goal, at least for the fans, is to win the continental title.

Paraguay, renewed

For its part, Paraguay will approach the Copa América as a fine-tuning process to enhance its performance in the resumption of the qualifying rounds. Paraguay is, after Uruguay and Argentina, the third country with the most participations in the Copa América. Next June it will play its 39th edition since its debut in the continental tournament, in 1921. Since then, the Albirroja won the titles in 1953 and 1979.

Paraguay’s coach, Argentine Daniel Garnero, plans to send a renewed squad to the United States, with promising young players who stand out in clubs in the United States and Europe, such as Diego Gómez of Inter Miami; Julio Enciso from Brighton and Enso González from Wolverhampton.

But he will also take players like Miguel Almirón, from Newcastle, and Ángel Romero, from Corinthians. The latest tests for the Copa América showed mixed results: a goalless draw against Peru, they were beaten by Chile in Santiago (3-0), and they defeated Panama by a narrow margin (0-1). The Argentine coach has led Albirroja in four qualifying matches, in which he has achieved only one victory, 1-0 over Bolivia.

Costa Rica, to surprise

The other team in the group is Costa Rica, which will seek to take other steps in its reconstruction in the Copa América, now under the command of Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro, who has arrived with the objective of taking the country to the 2026 World Cup.

Costa Rica will participate in its sixth Copa América after competing in 1997, 2001, 2004, 2011 and 2016, and will do so with a team with new figures, but surrounded by experienced players such as defender Francisco Calvo and forward Joel Campbell.

The presence of the goalkeeper Keylor Navas He vanished in May when he announced his resignation from the national team. Alfaro is carrying out a reconstruction of the squad after the poor participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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