–
Serious things start with the Copa América which goes into final phase mode with the quarterfinals. The best four teams from the two pools will compete against each other. Who will succeed Brazil? Time, broadcast… Here is the quarter-finals program for this 2021 edition! But first, a little debrief of the group stages.
REVIEW OF GROUP PHASES
LEADING ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL
The two South American enemies finish first in their groups being undefeated in four games, conceding only two goals each. With a draw against their tormentor of 2015 and 2016, Chile, Argentina dominated all their matches and ended with a large victory 4 goals to 1 against Bolivia. Brazil has dominated all of its matches except the last one with a draw against Ecuador (1-1). Never worried, the Seleção confirms its status as the favorite of the competition.
URUGUAY AND PERU BY DOLPHIN
In Group A, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile qualify. Only Bolivia does not pass, having lost all their matches. Uruguay confirms its good form with its infernal duo Suárez-Cavani who scored 3 of the 4 goals of their selection.
Group B was tighter, the qualification having been played on the last day. Thanks to its draw against Brazil (1-1), Ecuador sends Venezuela on vacation and narrowly qualifies. Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador are the four qualified for the quarterfinals.
MESSI IN MVP
Lionel Messi is the best player of these group stages. Author of 3 goals and 2 assists in four games, he is the top scorer and passer in the competition, he also won three man of the match titles. He becomes the most capped player in the Albiceleste with 148 caps for 75 goals.
PLACE FOR QUARTERS!
After three days of rest, competition resumes this Friday at 11 p.m. with the first quarter-final between Peru and Paraguay before a small clash between Brazil and Chile at 2 hours. The next day, Uruguay will face Colombia at midnight before moving on to a confrontation between Argentina and Ecuador at 3 am. The matches will be broadcast on the L’Équipe website. The two leaders of the groups did not fall in the same part of the table. We could then have a potential Argentina-Brazil final!
FINALLY THE YEAR OF MESSI?
Always looking for a trophy with his national team, Messi is determined, at 34, to lead his team to the final victory. With 3 goals and 2 assists in four games, he sends a strong signal to his opponents. After a group stage mastered by him and his family, he is only two matches away from the Maracanã and three matches for the title. With his team, he will face Ecuador on Saturday night.
BRAZIL WILL IMPOSE ITS DOMINATION?
Tite’s men outclassed the group stage with 0 losses and 10 goals scored. Neymar is the strong man of this team, counting 2 goals and 2 assists in two games. La Seleçao is aiming for a double, after winning the last edition in 2019 which also took place in Brazil. They will face Arturo Vidal’s Chile on Friday night.
SUÁREZ AND CAVANI INSUFFICIENT TO GET TO THE END?
After finishing second in Group A, Uruguay haven’t won any international competitions since 2011 and their 3-0 victory over Paraguay in the Copa América final. La Celeste has 4 goals scored and 2 conceded, the goals were all scored by the flagship duo Suárez-Cavani. They may lack offensive solutions to support the two attackers and seek victory. It will be necessary to confirm against Colombia this Saturday evening.
THE PERUVIAN SURPRISE?
With two victories, a draw and a defeat, Peru finished second in group B, after a salty defeat against Brazil (4-0), Ricardo Gareca’s men showed their mentality to recover against Colombia (2- 1), then coming back to score against Ecuador (2-2). Finalist in 2019, Peru wants to take revenge by being the big winner. It will take their top scorer in this competition, André Carrillo, to overcome Paraguay for this first quarterfinal match.
THE OTHER NATIONS HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE
Paraguay, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador could be the surprises of this edition behind closed doors. As at the Euro, the “small” nations can surprise the big ones especially in a stadium without atmosphere and over 90 minutes. Chile wants to rediscover the sensations of a victory in the Copa América final, she who won it twice in a row in 2015 and 2016. Colombia wants to regain its glory of the mid-2010s with a new group, she who had amazed us during the 2014 World Cup.
The quarter-finals of the Copa América 2021 kick off this Friday evening at 11 p.m. on the L’Équipe site.
Cover photo credit: @CopaAmerica
–
–
–
