The 2024 Copa America is just over 10 weeks away and, with domestic football reaching a climax, those weeks will go in a flash.
While the best European nations will be in Germany for Euro 2024, the continents of North and South America will come together in the USA for the 48th Copa America, with the opening match in Atlanta, Georgia.
Of course, the South Americans will expect to continue their dominance since they have won all 47 of the previous tournaments, so can any of the CONCACAF teams live with the South American powerhouses?
As well as Argentina and Brazil, the World Champions and the FIFA top ranked nation, the South continent has the likes of Uruguay, Colombia, and Chile to throw into the mix.
And when you look at the rankings of South America’s top four, the strength in numbers becomes clear. With Brazil first, Argentina fourth, Uruguay 13th, and Colombia 17th, they are streets ahead of the CONCACAF quartet of Mexico in ninth, USA 15th, Costa Rica 31st, and Canada 38th.
The CONCACAF crowd certainly have plenty of quality, but the sheer weight of talent from South America should once again prove too much, and the Copa America 2024 betting odds are looking in the direction of Argentina and Brazil.
South America’s finest
Lionel Messi’s Argentina, World Champions in 2022, are the Copa America holders too after they broke a 28-year spell without a trophy in 2021.
La Albiceleste are incredibly strong from back to front. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez is Argentina’s last line of defence, and he was the penalty shootout hero in the World Cup final win over France. Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister has become one of the best attacking midfielder’s in world football, while in Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez, Argentina have a top drawer front two.
And then there’s Messi. At 36 years of age, he is still box office stuff and, while he may have lost a fraction of his pace, Messi still has all the skill, trickery, and dynamism which has made him, arguably, the greatest player of all time.
Brazil, now coached by Dorival Junior, have made a slow start to their World Cup qualifying campaign. But in the recent international break, the Selecao showed they are still the A team by beating England and drawing with Spain.
With Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo in attack, Brazil can score at will, when on song, and they will push Argentina all the way.
15-time winners Uruguay are now managed by Marcelo Bielsa, and La Celeste boasts Napoli’s highly-rated left-back Mathias Oliveira and Spurs midfield general Rodrigo Bentancur in its ranks.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Luis Diaz will make Colombia a dangerous opponent, and Los Cafeteros are in great form, unbeaten throughout 2023 and on a run of six consecutive wins, including a 1-0 friendly victory over Spain in March.
The cream of the CONCACAF pot
So who can challenge the South American giants? Well it has to be the highest-ranked team Mexico and then the hosts USA.
El Tri are managed by Jaime Lozano, and they have just lost a Nations League match to the USA. But they still rank higher than the Stars and Stripes, and they have a rich history and some experienced players in their ranks.
When they finished third in their 2022 World Cup finals group, it was the first time since 1978 that Mexico had failed to make it to the knockout phase, and that was a blow for legendary keeper Guillermo Ochoa, who has made 150 appearances for El Tri and now plays for Salernitana.
28-year-old Hirving Lozano has been the star player in recent years, now at PSV Eindhoven. He can play as a second striker or a winger and will be at the centre of Mexico’s attacking play.
And then there is West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez, a strong and versatile midfielder who has thrived in the demanding Premier League. He won two Eredivisie titles with Ajax before joining the Hammers, and Alvarez was a key part of Mexico’s CONCACAF Gold Cup winning team.
Greg Berhalter’s USA will have the crowds behind them, and they will have high hopes of going deep into the competition.
The Stars and Stripes are captained by Christian Pulisic, who is back to his best at AC Milan following his switch from Chelsea, and he is the USA’s best creative force.
His Rossoneri teammate, the 21-year-old Yunus Musah is having a breakout season, while Monaco’s young striker Folarin Balogun is also worth keeping an eye on.
Mexico and the USA have the best chance of upsetting the South American monopoly, and this year’s competition is set to be a cracker. So keep it here at SBOTOP for all the Copa America 2024 updates as the June start gets ever closer.
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