(6/29/2024)

Our coverage will have most recent games at the top of the story, for the full Group Schedule Table scroll to the bottom of the story.

Group A finished today with Argentina and Canada advancing. Argentina is looking to repeat as champs and Canada makes it out of the group stage of Copa America for the first time ever.

Group A Game 3

Canada 0, Chile 0
For the full story on Canada’s advancing here is the story from Sportsnet

Argentina 2, Peru 0
To read more about Argentina’s big win here is a story from USAToday

Group D Game 2

Brazil 4, Paraguay 1
For full coverage check out the story from The BBC here

Columbia 3, Costa Rica 0
To read more here is a story from The Dailymail

Group C Game 2

Panama 2, USA 1

(6/27/24) The U-S came into the match looking to secure a spot in the next round coming off a big win in game one.  The match started out with a bang 5 minutes in when Weston McKinnie scored off a Tim Ream pass only to have the  Video Assistant Referee (VAR) overturn the goal due to Ream being offsides.

Then in the 12th minute there was a collision in the 18-yard box that sent US Keeper Matt Turner to the ground hard that led to a bit of a delay. Six minutes later and another blow to the US when off ball antics has Tim Weah get a yellow card at first. Upon further review from the VAR Weah struck the Panama defender and was issued a red leaving the US down a man for the rest of the match.

In the 22nd minute fans of the host nation got a glimmer of hope off the left foot of Folarin Balogun putting the US up 1-0 for real this time. The joy was short lived as Panama scored the equalizer just 4 minutes later. The rest of the half saw the US pick up the defense and withstand a barrage of attempts from The Canal Men ending the half in a 1-1 tie.

Coach Gregg Berhalter made 3 subs coming out of the half most notably was Ethan Horvath in goal as Turner was unable to go. Horvath was tested early with a rocket of a shot sent his way only to deflect and smother the attempt. In the 64th minute it was Panama’s turn to be disappointed by VAR calling off a potential go ahead penalty kick after a flop in the US box.

The Stars and Stripes were pressed into playing a defend and counter style late in the game down a man for a majority of the match. That style almost worked in the 81st minute when Weston McKinnie found a streaking Ricardo Pepi whose glancing header was stopped short by the Panama goalie. That gut punch was followed by the knockout blow in the 83rd when Jose Fajardo sealed the match with a quick shot that went off the hands of second half keeper Horvath and into the back of the net for the 2-1 final score.

The loss forces the U-S into a must win against 15 time Copa America Champion Uruguay on Monday. Uruguay has 6 points and leads Group C after their big 5-0 win over Bolivia. A link to that story from Deadspin can be found here.

Uruguay 5, Bolivia o

Group B Game 2

Venezuela 1, Mexico o
Here is the full story from USA Today

Ecuador 3, Jamaica 1
To read more about this here is the story from The Athletic

Group A Game 2

Argentina 1, Chile 0
Canada 1, Peru 0
Check out the story on both wins from The Guardian here

Group D

Columbia 2, Paraguay 1
For more coverage check out the story from Fox Sports here

Brazil 0, Costa Rica 0
To get more on the match here is a link to The Guardian’s story

Group C

USA 2, Bolivia 0

(Arlington, TX) The US wanted to make a statement as the hosts of Copa America and took a shot less than a minute into the match that led to an early corner kick. Tim Weah sent a short pass to Christian Pulisic and one side step later the US Captain fired a shot that skimmed off the Bolivian keepers hand and in to the net for the 1-0 lead 3 minutes into the match. I think that turned some heads and got people paying attention.

After the initial burst both teams would settle into the game with the US controlling a majority of the possession. When Weston McKennie moved to a more attacking midfield role it gave the team a much needed spark of energy.  That spark led to a run in the 44th minute when Folarin Balogun sent a low shot off a Pulisic pass and put the Stars and Stripes up 2-0 going into halftime.

The US made some changes at the half and showed off some young talent in Ricardo Pepi (21) , Brenden Aaronson (23)  and Yunus Musah (21). Pepi, who grew up in the Dallas area, had multiple chances to add to the score but Bolivian goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra made huge saves including a point blank shot by Pepi in the 90th minute to shutout the US in the 2nd half.

Although the US got the win they are gonna have to do a better job converting their scoring chances with a tough Panama squad and 15 time Copa America Champion Uruguay left to play in group C. The positive takeaway is the maturing of Pulisic who showed strong leadership from start to finish, the ability to score on more than just set pieces and the improved play of the backline and keeper Matt Turner. The US took 20 shots with 8 on goal while also taking 8 corners. Bolivia took 1 corner and were held to 6 shots 3 of which were on frame.

Group C plays again on Thursday June 27th when team USA plays Panama and Bolivia takes on Uruguay.

Uruguay 3, Panama 1
To read more on Uruguay’s win here is the story by The Athletic

Group B

Venezuela 2, Ecuador 1
For the full story here is a link to the AP’S story 

Mexico 1, Jamaica 0
To read more on the game here is a link to The Sporting News Story

Group A

Argentina 2, Canada 0
For a full report here is a link to the Sporting News Story on Argentina’s win.

Peru 0, Chile 0
For the full story on the Peru/Chile draw here is a link to the A-P’s story.

 

Photo USMNT Website

 

Copa America is the 3rd most watched soccer tournament in the world behind only the World Cup and Olympics. It mostly features national teams from South and North America. Japan (1999,2016) and Qatar (2016) are the only teams from outside of the Americas to compete in the tournament.

This year is special because the United States is hosting the tournament. It’s only the 2nd time a non South American country has hosted. The first time it was in the US in 2016 they finished 4th tying their best finish in the tournament with the 1995 USMNT. Argentina is the defending champion and tied Uruguay with the most cup wins at 15 a piece. Uruguay’s last cup win came in 2011.

Argentina is the favorite at +175 to repeat as Champs coming off a huge World Cup win and a #1 FIFA ranking. La Albiceleste’s star player Lionel Messi would play the final in front of his MLS home fans in Miami. Brazil is the second favorite at +225 but without Neymar playing a new superstar will have to step up for the blue and yellow.

Other teams to keep an eye on include Uruguay +500 and Columbia ranks 12th in FIFA and is +1000. The USA is the 5th favorite at +1200. After a humbling 5-1 loss to Columbia a steadying draw against Brazil in the final warmup showed promise for the Stars and Stripes who are looking to get to the semis for the 3rd time in tournament history.

Copa America starts on Thursday June 20th with a match between Defending Champion Argentina and Canada with the other 2 group A teams Peru and Chile playing Friday June 21st. All other group round matches are in the chart below. 14 US cities will host games with the semifinals being played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey and Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Finals will be played on July 14th in Miami Gardens, Florida at the Hard Rock Stadium.

We will be updating scores and giving a rundown of the USA games after each match. We will also update the scores for each team for the entire run of the tournament. 

Group Play Matches:

Group A Result Result Result Points
Argentina 6/20 Canada 2-0 W 6/25 Chile 1-0 W 6/29 Peru 2-0 W 6 Advance
Canada 6/20 Argentina 0-2 L 6/25 Peru 1-0 W 6/29 Chile 0-0 T 4 Advance
Peru 6/21 Chile 0-0 T 6/25 Canada 0-1 L 6/29 Argentina 0-2 L 1 Eliminated
Chile 6/21 Peru 0-0 T 6/25 Argentina 0-1 L 6/29 Canada 0-0 T 2 Eliminated
Group B Result Result Result Points
Venezuela 6/22 Ecuador 2-1 W 6/26 Mexico 1-0 W 6/30 Jamaica 6
Mexico 6/22 Jamaica 1-0 W 6/26 Venezuela 0-1 L 6/30 Ecuador 3
Ecuador 6/22 Venezuela 1-2 L 6/26 Jamaica 3-1 W 6/30 Mexico 3
Jamaica 6/22 Mexico 0-1 L 6/26 Ecuador 1-3 L 6/30 Venezuela 0
Group C Result Result Result Points
Uruguay 6/23 Panama 3-1 W 6/27 Bolivia 5-0 W 7/1 USA 6
USA 6/23 Bolivia 2-0 W 6/27 Panama 1-2 L 7/1 Uruguay 3
Panama 6/23 Uruguay 1-3 L 6/27 USA 2-1 W 7/1 Bolivia 3
Bolivia 6/23 USA 0-2 L 6/27 Uruguay 0-5 L 7/1 Panama 0
Group D Result Result Result Points
Columbia 6/24 Paraguay 2-1 W 6/28 Costa Rica 3-0 W 7/2 Brazil 6
Brazil 6/24 Costa Rica 0-0 T 6/28 Paraguay 4-1 W 7/2 Columbia 4
Costa Rica 6/24 Brazil 0-0 T 6/28 Columbia 0-3 L 7/2 Paraguay 1
Paraguay 6/24 Columbia 1-2 L 6/28 Brazil 1-4 L 7/2 Costa Rica 0

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By tonyd

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