Page 66 - Soccer360 Issue 106

ABOVE:
Lionel Messi won Copa America in 2021, and will look to defend Argentia’s title.
LEFT:
Tajon Buchanan, the up and coming star for Canada
TOP (OPPOSITE PAGE):
Rodrygo celebrates after scoring a goal for Brazil
RIGHT 9OPPOSITE PAGE): USAMNT veteran Cristian Pulisic
COPA AMERICA 2024
SUMMER DELIGHT
THE COPA AMERICA IS BACK! HEADING INTO THE 2026 WORLD CUP, THE BIGGEST COMPETITION
OF THE SUMMER WILL BE HEADING NORTH, WITH CONCACAF TEAMS ONCE AGAIN ENTERING THE FRAY.
BY: SEAN MASLIN
This isn’t the first time that South America’s top international tournament left the friendly confines of the continent. In 2016, to celebrate the 100th year of the competition the event was held in the United States with Chile narrowly defeating Argentina 4-2 in penalties to claim top honors.
While there are some similarities to that year’s competition, much has changed in eight
years. Whereas the previous edition was more or less a standalone tournament, this year’s Copa America will be in the United
States for one specific reason: to prepare teams for the World Cup. With Canada, Mexico, and the United States hosting
in 2026 and with teams having less time to play friendlies against non- continental opponents, this year’s
Copa America may be the best chance for players and teams to
prove they have what it takes to succeed in two years. The team that everyone will be looking at is still Argentina and Lionel
Messi. But this is a different
La Albiceleste and a different Messi. In those eight years,
Argentina and their legendary
midfielder have gone on an unprecedented run of success, not just winning the World Cup but also the 2021 Copa America.
The event will undoubtedly be a seminal moment for Messi, who now plays his club football in Miami, but it is a bigger moment for the next generation. Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) and Julian Alvarez (Manchester City) are both primed to play key roles in Argentina’s Copa run this summer.
They will have their hands full in Group
A. The biggest unknown is Canada. While Canadian players are making waves in Europe and MLS, the Canadian Soccer Organization’s heel-dragging means that interim Head Coach Mauro Biello will still be running the side this summer. He will have plenty of talent to work with as Jonathan David (Lille), Tajon Buchanan (who just
won a Serie A title with Inter Milan), and Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) are all expected to play. After making the 2018 World Cup and exiting in the Group Stage, more is expected of Canada during this cycle.
But can they do it with an interim manager? Argentina will prove to be a tough test,
but Chile entered the competition having struggled in World Cup qualification with
a side that is a far cry from the 2016 team that won it all. Peru has also struggled, having yet to win a match so far in World Cup Qualification. 40-year-old talisman striker Paolo Guerrero is still running the attack for Peru, but beyond him, Peru lacks depth which will pose problems against two experienced sides in Canada and Argentina.
64 SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024