With Colombia on the lookout, the Brazilian team will present its new face in Group D of the Copa América in the United States, a bracket that still includes Paraguay in a bad phase and Costa Rica in formation.
Without the injured Neymar, the five-time world champions intend to end doubts about their current ability in the match against the Costa Ricans next Monday (24), in Inglewood, California.
On the same day, Colombians and Paraguayans open Group D in Houston (Texas).
The teams that finish in first and second place advance to the quarterfinals against those classified in Group C, formed by the United States, Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia.
1. Brazil in recovery
The continental competition sets the stage for Brazil to regain its power after a disastrous 2023, in which it finished sixth in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
“Here in the national team, it’s a new cycle, a new identity that we are trying to create”, said defender Marquinhos, who was part of the winning squad of the 2019 Copa América, Brazil’s ninth victory in the competition, the country’s last title. in the oldest national team tournament in the world.
In charge since January, Dorival Júnior commands a renewed team that faces the medical absences of Neymar and goalkeeper Ederson, as well as the technical absences of Casemiro, Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus.
The coach’s trump card is the three young people who, from the next European season onwards, will lead Real Madrid’s attack together with Frenchman Kylian Mbappé: Vinicius Júnior (23 years old), Rodrygo (23) and Endrick (17).
Vini Jr presents himself as one of the main candidates for the Ballon d’Or and is the highlight of a squad that showed signs of recovery under the new coach: in the victories over England (1-0) and Mexico (3-2), and in the draws against Spain (3 to 3) and the United States (1 to 1).
At the same time, they struggle to avoid goals and regret the lack of reliable playmakers and full-backs.
2. The Colombian threat
Colombia arrives at the tournament with an unbeaten record of 23 games, including 18 victories, eight of them in the last matches.
Without losing since February 2022 (1-0 against Argentina), the Colombians are excited about the idea of winning their second title in the competition (the country won the Copa América at home in 2001).
“We’re dreaming about it,” said captain James Rodríguez.
The 32-year-old ’10’ shirt continues to be the leading figure despite his recurring physical problems, a burden that Argentine coach Néstor Lorenzo has managed to face since he was hired in June 2022.
Rodríguez also has the support of Liverpool star Luis Díaz and other renowned players such as Juan Fernando Quintero, Rafael Santos Borré and Jhon Arias, who placed Colombia in third place in the South American qualifiers.
3. Renaissance of Paraguay?
Paraguay faces problems that have prevented it from returning to a World Cup since South Africa in 2010: the lack of goals and irregularities.
Seventh place in the South American qualifiers, a place that takes them to the play-offs, they have won three of their last 10 games, against Nicaragua, Bolivia and Panama, and scored just four goals.
But the team is always willing to show the famous spirit that won them two Copa América titles (1953 and 1979).
Led by Argentine Daniel Garnero, the Paraguayan team is betting its revival on striker Julio Enciso (Brighton), aged 20, and winger Miguel Almirón (Newcastle), aged 30, as well as on the quality of its defenders, captain Gustavo Gómez and Junior Alonso.
The coach will be without injured midfielder Diego Gómez, Lionel Messi’s teammate at Inter Miami and member of the under-23 team that qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
4. The post-Keylor Navas era in Costa Rica
Argentine Gustavo Alfaro has the thankless task of turning the page on the historic team that took Costa Rica to the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Notable players such as goalkeeper Keylor Navas and midfielders Celso Borges and Bryan Ruiz have hung up their boots or announced their retirement from the team, which will compete in its sixth Copa América, the first since 2016.
“We came to the United States to gain experience. We have the youngest team,” Alfaro told the TUDN channel.
Despite this, the coach will be able to count on experienced figures, such as striker Joel Campell and defender Francisco Calvo, and promises, such as striker Manfred Ugalde (Spartak Moscow) and midfielder Brandon Aguilera (Nottingham Forest), aged 22 and 20. years.
The ‘Ticos’ lead their group in the Concacaf qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, with six points from two games.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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