As well as the Colombians, the Americans face World Cup quarter-finalists Costa Rica and last year’s Copa America semi-finalists Paraguay in Group A, easily the toughest group in the 16-team tournament.
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The Centenary Copa America gets underway on Friday in the United States with the host taking on Colombia in the opening match. So why is this the case this year?
Copa America Centenario celebrates the tournament’s 100-year existence.
A below-par showing may mean that there is time for a change at the helm and so a good start to the Copa America is needed.
While Colombia have recovered somewhat from their poor start to World Cup qualifying, they remain defensively susceptible, having kept just one clean sheet in eight games since being eliminated from the tournament on penalties by Argentina a year ago.
Group B will see the Brazilian team begin as favourites, however they will be missing their talismanic captain Neymar, who will miss the tournament after his club side Barcelona gave him permission to compete in the Olympic football tournament in Rio de Janeiro in August instead.
Despite some of the premier talents from both continents being on display. the attention – at least domestically – will once again be on Klinsmann, his lineup choices, his tactics and, ultimately, his results. Some of the world’s best players will be on show around the US, but all eyes will be on Levi Stadium on Friday night for the opening game of the month long festival of soccer. Colombia is ranked fourth in the world, led by Real Madrid star James Rodriguez. It was in fray for the 2022 event before Qatar pipped it. The Copa also offers the best chance to silence critics who panned it for the 1994 World Cup, which was held in midday heat to accommodate European television audience. The support system has waned since the 2014 World Cup as Klinsmann ushered in a new group of players that will be expected to help the United States qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
The MNT will participate in Group A as hosts of Copa America Centenario.
CAC contains all 10 teams from the CONMEBOL (South American League) and 6 from the CONCACAF (North American League), which is an increase from the usual 12 teams.
The United States meanwhile will aim to build on their encouraging performance at the 2014 World Cup, when they reached the knockout round, by progressing from a “Group of Death” which includes Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay.
Now then, never say we don’t treat you lot, because we’re all off to the Copa America for the next few weeks.
While the extent of Suarez’s injury and recovery time remains unclear, the general consensus is that he will miss Uruguay’s Group C matches against Mexico, Venezuela and Jamaica. On Friday, June 3 at 9:30PM ET, USA vs. Colombia will happen in Levi’s Stadium.
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‘We always have the obligation to win the title for the quality of players we have. They will play those three teams in order starting on June 3, with the first match against Colombia the one to watch.
