New Delhi: The 2024 Copa America kicked off on a high note in the United States on Thursday. Matchday 1 witnessed a mix of dominant display, unexpected results and individual brilliance. From defending champions flexing their muscles to underdogs defying expectations, the opening day served as the tournament promises to be an unforgettable spectacle.
Here’s a closer look at the action across the four groups:
Group A: Defending Champions Argentina flex muscles
Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock with a goal early into the second half as Argentina beat Canada 2-0 in Copa America 2024 opener on Thursday. (Photo – X | @Argentina)
Argentina, the defending champions wasted no time asserting their dominance with a 2-0 victory over Canada. Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez found the net for the Albiceleste who controlled the game from start to finish. Canada were left wondering what might have been better on their part as they missed several quality scoring chances.
Chile, on the other hand, ended in a 0-0 draw against Peru. Coupled with that, Canada is on a knife’s edge going into Matchday 2 as it needs four points from its next two group stage games to advance to the quarterfinals. Canada will officially get eliminated from contention if it loses to Peru. Only a win or draw will keep their hopes alive of moving on to the knockout stages.
Group B: Venezuela upsets Ecuador in Group of surprises
Jhonder Cádiz #9 of Venezuela is surrounded by his teammates after scoring a goal during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Group B match between Ecuador and Venezuela at Levi’s Stadium on June 22, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Doug Zimmerman/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
This group witnessed the biggest surprise of the day as Venezuela stunned Ecuador 2-1. Venezuela, often considered underdogs, played with a fighting spirit and capitalised on their chances. Ecuador on the other hand, entered Copa on a major hot streak with just two losses in its previous 10 matches.
The other match of the group was between Mexico and Jamaica which saw the former claiming a 1-0 win. That means Ecuador can not afford to drop any more points starting its Matchday 2 contest against Jamaica.
Unfortunately, the match Ecuador would have won easily isn’t so straightforward now because their star player Enner Valencia was shown a straight red card in the 22nd minute in the match against Venezuela which means he is suspended for Ecuador’s next match.
Group C: United States start strong alongside Uruguay
Panama’s forward #17 Jose Fajardo (C) fights for the ball with Uruguay’s defender #16 Mathias Olivera and Uruguay’s defender #04 Ronald Araujo during the Conmebol 2024 Copa America tournament group C football match between Uruguay and Panama at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida on June 23, 2024. (Photo – AFP)
The United States secured an impressive 2-0 win over Bolivia. Christian Pulisic, the American talisman reached a personal milestone by scoring his 30th international goal. This was a much-needed result for the US after their 5-1 loss to Colombia earlier this month.
In the other Group C clash, Uruguay flexed their muscles with a 3-1 victory over Panama. Darwin Nunez continued his impressive form, adding another goal to his tally. Neither the U.S. nor Uruguay faced any trouble as they strolled to comfortable victories and are firmly in the driver’s seats for progressing to knockouts. The Americans will face Panama and Uruguay will meet Bolivia on Matchday 2. If both teams continue their form and beat their underdog opponents, they will unsurprisingly clinch a quarterfinal berth with one game to spare between them.
Group D: Tight Battles and Missed Opportunities
Jefferson Lerma of Colombia celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Group D match between Colombia and Paraguay at NRG Stadium on June 24, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
The most anticipated match of the day featuring Brazil and Costa Rica ended in a disappointing 0-0 draw. While Brazil dominated possession, they were unable to find a breakthrough against a well-organised Costa Rica defence. All eyes are on Brazil in this group, which is understandable considering its history and reputation.
The other clash of Group D was between Colombia and Paraguay. Colombia earned a 2-1 win over Paraguay and made it 24 games won in a row. Nestro Lorenzo has built a great team that is solid in possession and lethal on the counterattack. Colombia stands poised to secure a spot in the quarterfinals with a win on Matchday 2 over Costa Rica.
Colombia showed why they are considered one of the tournament favourites. Ignoring them will be like ignoring one of the best stories going on in the football world. Brazil need to win their next match and prepare well for the match against Colombia to stake a claim in the quarters.
Looking Ahead
With just one matchday down the Copa America is still wide open. The upcoming matches will be crucial in determining which teams will maintain their momentum and progress to the knockout stages. The battle for individual glory and team supremacy promises to intensify as the tournament unfolds further.
Catch all the highlights from Matchday 1 at Copa America 2024. From Argentina’s dominance to Venezuela’s stunning upset, read about all the key moments, standout performances and what’s next for each group in this comprehensive Matchday 1 recap. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
