Yahoo Sports Preview, predictions as Copa America quarterfinals kick off with Argentina vs. Ecuador
While the hand-wringing continues about the U.S. national team’s early exit from Copa America, the tournament goes on with the first quarterfinal Thursday between defending champion Argentina and Ecuador at a sold-out NRG Stadium in Houston.
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentine team, is expected to be back in uniform after sitting out the game against Peru with a groin strain, but it is unknown if he will start or come off the bench. He practiced with the rest of the team Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and teammates have said they are optimistic he will return.
According to Vivid Seats ticket marketplace, the average ticket price to the Fourth of July Argentina-Ecuador game is $343.
The second quarterfinal is Friday in Dallas between Venezuela and Canada, two surprise teams that have already exceeded expectations. Colombia takes on Panama (the Group C runner-up slot U.S. fans were hoping for) on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona; and quarterfinal action ends late Saturday night with what should be an entertaining Las Vegas show between Uruguay and Brazil.
Here is a preview of the four quarterfinals, and predictions of which four teams will advance:
ARGENTINA vs. ECUADOR (Thursday, 9 p.m., FOX)
Argentina remains the favorite to win a record 16th Copa crown after going through the group stage with a perfect record. La Albiceleste cruised through its three games, did not concede a goal and beat Canada 2-0, Chile 1-0 and Peru 2-0.
Messi, who tied for top scorer with four goals in the 2021 Copa America, has yet to score this time, although he set up a few goals. Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez has been the Argentine hero and leads the Golden Boot race with four goals in three games. He scored in the 88th minute against Canada and Chile and he put in both goals against Peru at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday.
Martinez dedicated the first goal against Peru to Messi and ran over to celebrate with the captain.
Argentina is riding an eight-game win streak across all competitions and has outscored opponents 17-2 during that stretch.
Ecuador, meanwhile, finished second place in Group B with a 1-1-1 record. The Ecuadoreans lost 2-1 to Venezuela in their opener, beat Jamaica 3-1 and tied Mexico 0-0. This is the third time Ecuador reaches the quarterfinals in the past four Copas, but it has never advanced past this round away from home soil.
Ecuador is looking for its first win against Argentina in a Copa America, having lost to La Albiceleste in 11 of their past 16 matches and tying the other five. Argentina beat Ecuador in the quarters in the previous Copa.
▪ Prediction: Argentina 2, Ecuador 1.
VENEZUELA vs. CANADA (Friday, 9 p.m., FS1)
Raise your hand if you predicted these two teams would wind up playing each other in the quarterfinals. Nah, didn’t think so.
Both teams have already gone farther than expected, and reaching the semis would be massive in both cases.
Canada, under American coach Jesse Marsch and with 14 MLS players on its roster, beat Peru, tied Chile, and made Argentina work for its victory. The Canadians had to beat Trinidad & Tobago in a March play-in game just to be here, so surviving the group stage is a major accomplishment.
Venezuela won all three group games against Ecuador, Mexico and Jamaica, scoring six goals and conceding just one. The 3-0 win against Jamaica was its most lopsided win in 57 years. This from a nation that had been bounced in the group stage in 15 of 19 appearances and won just eight of 70 previous Copa America matches dating to 1967.
La Vinotinto (thus named for its wine-colored jerseys) is led by coach Fernando Batista and Salomon Rondon and has scored two goals so far. If you’re looking for a fun place to watch this match, head to Doral, nicknamed “Doral-zuela”, where 35 percent of the population moved there from Venezuela.
▪ Prediction: Venezuela 1, Canada 0.
COLOMBIA v PANAMA (Saturday, 6 p.m., FS1)
Colombia, the Group D winner and a dark horse to win the Copa America title, is riding a 25-game unbeaten streak after two wins and a tie in the group stage.
Los Cafeteros (the coffee makers) beat Paraguay 2-1 in their opener, shut out Costa Rica 3-0 in their second match and got the needed tie against Brazil to clinch the group lead. Colombia’s attack is tough to contain, with James Rodriguez (or just James, pronounced Ham-ess, to his fans), Jefferson Lerma, Luis Diaz, and Richard Rios.
Panama surprisingly outlasted the USA to finish second in their group and has made strides in recent years, having reached the final of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where it lost to Mexico 1-0 on an 88th-minute goal. Panama is playing in only its second Copa America, and did not advance from the group stage last time. Despite the improvement, it will be tough to match the red-hot Cafeteros.
▪ Prediction: Colombia 3, Panama 1.
URUGUAY vs BRAZIL (Saturday, 9 p.m., FS1)
Both teams are among the tournament favorites, making this a must-see quarterfinal.
Uruguay won all three group games, outscoring Panama, Bolivia and the United States by a combined score of 9-1. The plus-eight goal differential is the best among the 16 Copa teams.
Led by the mercurial manager Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay is tied with Argentina with 15 Copa America titles and in excellent form of late, with wins against Argentina and Brazil in World Cup qualifying.
Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez, PSG’s Manuel Ugarte, Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, and Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo are among the big-named stars. This team is so deep that legend Luis Suarez, the Inter Miami star, comes off the bench.
Brazil, typically a lock for the Copa semifinals, has struggled to score goals this time around. Underdog Costa Rica held Brazil to a scoreless tie in their opening match and the Colombia game ended in a 1-1 tie. The only team Brazil had an easy time with was Paraguay, in a 4-1 win.
The Brazil roster is loaded with big-club talent, including Raphinha (Barcelona), Militao (Real Madrid), Alisson (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Marquinhos (PSG) and 17-year-old phenom Endrick (Real Madrid). But so far, they have not lived up to their reputations.
Prediction: Uruguay 2, Brazil 1.
