Copa America
Copa America: Messi takes lead in Golden Boot race, Cavani scores crucial goal
The final two games of the Copa America group stages were played last night, and we now know our lineup for the knockout rounds. Argentina finished their Group A fixtures with a clash against Bolivia, while Paraguay and Uruguay competed against each other. Here is how the two games went. Bolivia 1-4 Argentina Messi scores his first of two from the penalty spot Argentina went into the final game unbeaten, knowing that a win would secure their place at the top of Group A. As for Bolivia, they had suffered three straight defeats and were already eliminated. The first half was the Lionel Messi show, as the 34-year-old directly contributed to three goals. He began in the sixth minute by scooping a beautiful pass for Papu Gomez to volley home off the underside of the crossbar. In the 33rd minute...
Copa America: Ecuador ends Brazil’s winning run, qualify for quarterfinals
Brazil’s ten-game winning run came to an end after Ecuador earned a 1-1 draw in the final Copa America group game in Goiania. Coach Tite made ten changes from the midweek win over Colombia as Neymar, Casemiro, Thiago Silva and Richarlison were rested. The reigning champions had already booked their spot in the next round as group winners and Venezuela’s defeat to Peru, means Ecuador join Brazil in the final eight. And it was nearly the perfect start for Brazil as Renan Lodi broke clear down the left and looked to be bundled over inside the box within the opening minute. The referee and VAR disagreed. Brighton’s Moises Caicedo was then stretchered off on 17 minutes with a knee injury in a blow to Ecuador, with Angel Mena coming on. Then Ecuador skipper Enner Valencia came close to scoring t...
Brazil vs Ecuador – Copa America 2021 Preview, Head To Head, Players to Watch & Predicted Line-ups
Brazil and Ecuador will trade tackles at the Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico on Sunday in the final round of the Copa America 2021 Group B fixtures. The Brazilians have already nailed down the top place in Group B as they continue to build momentum ahead of the knock-out stages. Meanwhile, the Ecuadorians could miss out on the tournament’s quarter-finals for the second time in a row if they fail to secure a positive result here. Brazil Preview Brazil staged a stunning second-half comeback to beat Colombia 2-1 last time out and maintain their perfect start to Copa America 2021. Even though they have already sealed a top place in Group B, the Selecao won’t be lacking motivation against Ecuador as they look to conclude a group stage at Copa America with a 100% record. Brazil’s attacking set-u...
Venezuela vs Peru – Copa America 2021 Preview, Head To Head, Players to Watch & Predicted Line-ups
Venezuela’s hopes of advancing to the Copa America 2021 knockout stage are on the line as they take on Peru at the Estadio Nacional de Brasília on Sunday. The Venezuelans can find some courage in their recent Copa America appearances as they have progressed into the quarter-finals in four of their last five attempts. Meanwhile, the Peruvians are on the cusp of reaching the knock-outs for the tenth Copa America finals in a row. Venezuela Preview Despite going winless in their opening three group stage games (D2, L1), Venezuela can still qualify for the quarter-finals if they better Ecuador’s result against Brazil. Despite heading into the tournament as underdogs following a Covid-19 outbreak within the squad, La Vinotinto must be enjoying their chances of making it out of the group phase. B...
Leeds United target fancied to face Newcastle star at Copa America
The Copa America 2021 returns to action on Friday night as Chile and Paraguay lock horns at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia. Seeking their first continental success since 2016, Chile have already sealed a place in the knock-outs after avoiding defeat in their opening three Group A matches. Meanwhile, Paraguay could join the Chileans and Argentina in the quarter-finals with a win here. Chile Preview Despite a paltry goalscoring return of three goals from as many Copa America 2021 matches, the Chileans have qualified for the quarter-finals with a game to spare. Identical 1-1 draws with Argentina and Uruguay accompanied by a narrow 1-0 win over Bolivia have been sufficient for Chile to reach the Copa America knockout stage for the sixth time in a row. Martin Lasarte’s men have found the net ...
Late goal gives Brazil controversial win over Colombia in Copa America
Brazil continued their winning romp through the Copa America on Wednesday, eking out a controversial 2-1 victory against Colombia after struggling most of the match to answer a magnificent bicycle-kick goal by Luis Diaz. The 11th-hour win gave the “Selecao” a perfect nine points from three matches in the South American championships, and extended their current winning streak to 11 matches. However, the victory was steeped in controversy: Brazil’s second-half equalizer, a Roberto Firmino header, was preceded by a Neymar pass that glanced off Argentine referee Nestor Pitana. Colombia heatedly argued afterward that play should have been stopped, but Pitana ruled neither side was hindered and allowed the match to continue. Disgruntled Colombia fans on social media turned the referee’s name int...
Ecuador vs Peru – Copa America 2021 Preview, Head To Head, Players to Watch & Predicted Line-ups
Ecuador’s hopes of reaching the Copa America 2021 knock-outs are on the line as they meet Peru at the Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico. CONMEBOL’s second-lowest FIFA ranked nation dropped the lead twice against Venezuela to enter this round winless in their opening two Copa America matches. Meanwhile, the Peruvians are very much in contention for a knock-out finish after putting together a spectacular display against Colombia last time out. Ecuador Preview Ecuador’s Copa America 2021 campaign has started with a whimper rather than a bang. After failing to win their opening two Group B fixtures (D1, L1), the Ecuadorians stare at the prospect of exiting the tournament in the group stage for the second time in a row. La Tri will have to improve their recent Copa America record if they want to ...
Brazil vs Colombia – Copa America 2021 Preview, Head To Head, Players to Watch & Predicted Line-ups
Brazil’s imperious Copa America 2021 charge continues on Thursday as they take on out-of-sorts Colombia at the Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos. Saying the Brazilians have impressed at the tournament would be an understatement, given their +7 goal difference from their opening two Group B matches are off the charts. Meanwhile, Colombia will surpass Brazil in the standings with a win here despite enduring a torrid Copa America 2021 campaign so far. Brazil Preview Reigning Copa America champions Brazil have become the first nation to qualify for the 2021 knock-out stages following a perfect start to their Group B campaign. After dismantling Covid-hit Venezuela 3-0 in their Copa America 2021 opener, the Brazilians put four unanswered goals past Peru to claim a place in the quarter-finals. Despi...
Copa America: Lionel Messi equals record as Argentina progress
Lionel Messi earned a record-equalling 147th cap for Argentina as they progressed to the Copa America quarter-finals with victory over Paraguay. Papu Gomez scored the decisive goal early on, meeting a pass from Angel Di Maria before producing a fine finish. Messi, 34, equalled Javier Mascherano’s appearance record for the national team in the hard-fought win in Brasilia. Argentina top Group A ahead of Chile, who drew 1-1 with Uruguay to also advance to the knockout stage. The hastily-rearranged tournament in Brazil, which was moved from Argentina just two weeks before it was scheduled to start because of a surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, is Messi’s latest chance to win silverware with the senior team. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner was typically influential, playing a part in the ...
Copa America: Argentina continue bright start, Uruguay and Chile draw
It was a star-studded night of Copa America action, with some of the biggest names in the tournament lining up for their countries in Group A. Lionel Messi made history as he appeared for his side for a record-equalling 147th time, alongside the likes of Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria. Meanwhile, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani were out on the pitch for Uruguay’s second group stage game against Chile. Here is how things unfolded. Uruguay 1-1 Chile Vargas and Brereton combined for the opener Chile went into the game top of the group, having accumulated four points from their opening two games. Uruguay, on the other hand, were looking to bounce back after their defeat against Argentina in game one. Ben Brereton continued his promising start to life as a Chile international, combining with E...
Copa America: Venezuela and Ecuador entertain, Peru defeat Colombia
Group B in Copa America continued last night, with two more exciting games. Venezuela and Ecuador faced each other, with both sides looking for their first win of the tournament. Meanwhile, Peru came up against Colombia, hoping to recover after their 4-0 defeat against Brazil in their opener. Here is how it all went. Venezuela 2-2 Ecuador Ronald Hernandez celebrates his late equaliser Both sides remained winless after the game following an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos. Ecuador went into half time ahead, having taken the lead through Ayrton Preciado’s scrappy opener. But they were pegged back early in the second half when Edson Castillo headed in an equaliser. Ecuador retook the lead with 20 minutes remaining after Gonzalo Plata tapped in following a fine solo...
Tottenham and Everton defenders hold key to Copa America clash
Colombia and Peru return to action at the Copa America 2021 as they meet each other at the Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico on Monday. Both teams will be looking to trouble the scoreboard after drawing a blank in Thursday’s Copa America doubleheader, as the Colombians enter this round unbeaten in their last five group stage matches at the tournament (W4, D1). Meanwhile, seeking their tenth consecutive qualification for the Copa America knock-outs, the Peruvians will be desperate to halt their bleak form against Colombia. Colombia Preview The Colombians have accrued a win and a draw from their opening two Copa America 2021 fixtures, with each match featuring under 1.5 total goals. Heading into this meeting, Los Cafeteros are unbeaten in their last four international games (W2, D2), a sequenc...
