Organizers of the 2016 Copa America unveiled the final 23-man rosters for the tournament, and the level of competition should be high.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, James Rodriguez, Chicharito Hernandez and Arturo Vidal are among the players named to their respective squads. Rosters were submitted on Friday, and teams have until 24 hours before the opening match on June 3 to make replacements due to serious injury.
Here are the Copa America rosters:
ARGENTINA
GOALKEEPERS (3): Mariano Andújar (Estudiantes La Plata, ARG), Nahuel Guzmán (Tigres UANL, MEX), Sergio Romero (Manchester United, ENG)
DEFENDERS (7): Victor Cuesta (Independiente, ARG), Ramiro Funes Mori (Everton, ENG), Jonathan Maidana (River Plate, ARG), Gabriel Mercado (River Plate, ARG), Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City, ENG), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United, ENG), Facundo Roncaglia (Fiorentina, ITA)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Éver Banega (Sevilla, ESP), Lucas Biglia (Lazio, ITA), Augusto Fernández (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Matías Kranevitter (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona, ESP), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, ESP), Javier Pastore (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA)
FORWARDS (6): Sergio Agüero (Manchester City, ENG), Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli, ITA), Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur, ENG), Ángel Di María (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Nicolás Gaitán (Benfica, POR), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Hebeir China Fortune, CHN)
BOLIVIA
GOALKEEPERS (3): Carlos Lampe (Sport Boys, BOL), Rómel Quiñónez (Bolívar, BOL), Guillermo Viscarra (Oriente Petrolero, BOL)
DEFENDERS (7): Diego Bejarano (The Strongest, BOL), Marvin Bejarano (Oriente Petrolero, BOL), Nelson Cabrera (Bolívar, BOL), Ronald Eguino (Bolívar, BOL), Luis Gutiérrez (Ironi Kiryat Shmona, ISR), Mario Saavedra (Bolívar, BOL), Edward Zenteno (Wilstermann, BOL)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Pedro Azogue (Oriente Petrolero, BOL), Jhasmani Campos (Kazma, KUW), Raúl Castro (The Strongest, BOL), Samuel Galindo (Petrolero, BOL), Cristhian Machado (Wilstermann, BOL), Alejandro Meleán (Oriente Petrolero, BOL), Fernando Saucedo (Wilstermann, BOL), Martín Smedberg-Dalence (Goteborg, SWE), Wálter Veizaga (The Strongest, BOL)
FORWARDS (4): Juan Carlos Arce (Bolívar, BOL),Yasmani Duk (New York Cosmos, USA), Bruno Miranda (Universidad de Chile, CHI), Rodrigo Ramallo (The Strongest, BOL)
BRAZIL
GOALKEEPERS (3): Alisson (Internacional, BRA), Diego Alves (Valencia, ESP), Ederson (Benfica, POR)
DEFENDERS (8): Dani Alves (Barcelona, ESP), Rodrigo Caio (São Paulo, BRA), Fabinho (Monaco, FRA), Gil (Shandong Luneng, CHN), Filípe Luís (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Miranda (Inter Milan, ITA), Douglas (Atlético Mineiro, BRA)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan, CHN), Casemiro (Real Madrid, ESP), Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich, GER), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool, ENG), Elias (Corinthians, BRA), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg, GER), Lucas Lima (Santos, BRA), Rafinha (Barcelona, ESP), Willian (Chelsea, ENG)
FORWARDS (3): Gabriel (Santos, BRA), Hulk (Zenit St. Petersburg, RUS), Jonas (Benfica, POR)
CHILE
GOALKEEPERS (3): Claudio Bravo (Barcelona, ESP), Johnny Herrera (Universidad de Chile, CHI), Christopher Toselli (Universidad Católica, CHI)
DEFENDERS (7): Jean Beausejour (Colo-Colo, CHI), Paulo Díaz (San Lorenzo, ARG), José Pedro Fuenzalida (Universidad Católica, CHI), Mauricio Isla (Marseille, FRA), Gonzalo Jara (Universidad de Chile, CHI), Gary Medel (Inter Milan, ITA), Eugenio Mena (São Paulo, BRA), Enzo Roco (Espanyol, ESP)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Charles Aránguiz (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Marcelo Díaz (Celta de Vigo, ESP), Matías Fernández (Fiorentina, ITA), Pedro Pablo Hernández (Celta de Vigo, ESP), Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich, GER), Erick Pulgar (Bologna, ITA), Francisco Silva (Chiapas, MEX)
FORWARDS (6): Nicolás Castillo (Universidad Católica, CHI), Fabián Orellana (Celta de Vigo, ESP), Maurico Pinilla (Atalanta, ITA), Edson Puch (LDU Quito, ECU), Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal, ENG), Eduardo Vargas (Hoffenheim, GER)
COLOMBIA
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Cristian Bonilla (Atlético Nacional, COL), David Ospina (Arsenal, ENG), Róbinson Zapata (Santa Fe, COL)
DEFENDERS (8) : Felipe Aguilar (Atlético Nacional, COL), Santiago Arias (PSV, NED), Farid Díaz (Atlético Nacional, COL), Frank Fabra (Boca Juniors, ARG), Stefan Medina (Pachuca, MEX), Jeison Murillo (Inter Milan, ITA), Oscar Murillo (Pachuca, MEX), Cristián Zapata (AC Milan, ITA)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Edwin Cardona (Monterrey, MEX), Guillermo Celis (Junior, COL), Juan Cuadrado (Juventus, ITA), Sebastián Pérez (Atlético Nacional, COL), Andrés Felipe Roa (Deportivo Cali, COL), James Rodríguez (Real Madrid, ESP), Carlos Sánchez (Aston Villa, ENG), Daniel Torres (Independiente Medellín, COL)
FORWARDS (4): Carlos Bacca (AC Milan, ITA), Roger Martínez (Racing Club, ARG), Marlos Moreno (Atlético Nacional, COL), Dayro Moreno (Club Tijuana, MEX)
COSTA RICA
GOALKEEPERS (3): Leonel Moreira (Herediano, CRC) Keylor Navas (Real Madrid, ESP), Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense, CRC)
DEFENDERS (9): Johnny Acosta (Alajuelense, CRC), Francisco Calvo (Saprissa, CRC), Oscar Duarte (Espanyol, ESP), Cristian Gamboa (West Bromwich Albion, ENG), Ronald Matarrita (New York City FC, USA), Bryan Oviedo (Everton, ENG), José Salvatierra (Alajuelense, CRC), Michael Umaña (Persepolis, IRN), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps FC, CAN)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Randall Azofeifa (Herediano, CRC), Christian Bolaños (Vancouver Whitecaps FC, CAN), Joel Campbell (Arsenal, ENG), Celso Borges (Deportivo La Coruña, ESP), Esteban Granados (Herediano, CRC), Bryan Ruiz (Sporting Lisbon, POR), Yeltsin Tejeda (Évian Thonon Gaillard, FRA), Johan Venegas (Montreal Impact, CAN)
FORWARDS (3): Ariel Rodríguez (Bangkok Glass, THA), Álvaro Saborio (D.C. United, USA), Marco Ureña (Midtjylland, DEN)
ECUADOR
GOALKEEPERS (3): Máximo Banguera (Barcelona, ECU), Alexander Domínguez (LDU Quito, ECU), Esteban Dreer (Emelec, ECU)
DEFENDERS (7): Gabriel Achilier (Emelec, ECU), Robert Arboleda (Universidad Católica, ECU), Walter Ayoví (Monterrey, MEX), Frickson Erazo (Atlético Mineiro, BRA), Arturo Mina (Independiente del Valle, ECU), Juan Carlos Paredes (Watford, ENG), Cristian Ramírez (Ferencváros, HUN)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Michael Arroyo (Club América, MEX), Fernando Gaibor (Emelec, ECU), Carlos Gruezo (FC Dallas, USA), Pedro Larrea (El Nacional, ECU), Fidel Martínez (Pumas UNAM, MEX), Ángel Mena (Emelec, ECU), Jefferson Montero (Swansea, WAL), Christian Noboa (Rostov, RUS), Antonio Valencia (Manchester United, ENG)
FORWARDS (4): Jaime Ayoví (Godoy Cruz, ARG), Miler Bolaños (Grêmio, BRA), Juan Cazares (Atlético Mineiro, BRA), Enner Valencia (West Ham United, ENG)
HAITI
GOALKEEPERS (3): Steward Ceus (Minnesota United FC, USA), Luis Valendi Odelus (Aigle Noir, HAI), Johny Placide (Reims, FRA)
DEFENDERS (8): Jean Sony Alcénat (Voluntari, ROM), Judelin Aveska (Atlético Uruguay, ARG), Alex Christian (Vila Real, POR), Romain Genevois (Nice, FRA), Reginal Goreux (Standard Liège, BEL), Kim Jaggy (Aarau, SUI), Mechack Jerome (Jacksonville Armada, USA), Stéphane Lambese (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Jean Marc Alexandre (Fort Lauderdale Strikers, USA), Max Hilaire (Cholet, FRA), Kevin Lafrance (Chrobry Głogów, POL), James Marcelin (Carolina RailHawks, USA), Pascal Millien (Jacksonville Armada, USA), Soni Mustivar (Sporting Kansas City, USA), Sony Norde (Mohun Bagan, IND)
FORWARDS (5): Kervens Belfort (1461 Trabzon, TUR), Wilde-Donald Guerrier (Wisła Kraków, POL), Jeff Louis (Caen, FRA), Jean-Eudes Maurice (Hà Nội T&T, VIE), Duckens Nazon (Laval, FRA)
JAMAICA
GOALKEEPERS (3): Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union, USA), Duwayne Kerr (Stjarnan, ISL), Ryan Thompson (Saint Louis FC, USA)
DEFENDERS (7): Rosario Harriott (Harbour View, JAM), Michael Hector (Reading, ENG), Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls, USA), Adrian Mariappa (Crystal Palace, ENG), Wes Morgan (Leicester City, ENG), Damano Solomon (Portmore United, JAM), Jermaine Taylor (Portland Timbers, USA)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Rodolph Austin (Brondby, DEN), Michael Binns (Portmore United, JAM), Chevonne Marsh (Cavalier, JAM), Joel McAnuff (Leyton Orient, ENG), Garath McCleary (Reading, ENG), Andrew Vanzie (Humble Lions, JAM), Je-Vaughn Watson (New England Revolution, USA), Lee Williamson (Blackburn Rovers, ENG)
FORWARDS (5): Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo, USA), Simon Dawkins (San Jose Earthquakes, USA), Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City, ENG), Dever Orgill (Marieham, FIN), Allan Ottey (Montego Bay United, JAM)
MEXICO
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jesús Corona (Cruz Azul, MEX), Guillermo Ochoa (Málaga, ESP), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca, MEX)
DEFENDERS (9): Paúl Aguilar (Club América, MEX), Néstor Araujo (Santos Laguna, MEX), Yasser Corona (Querétaro, MEX), Héctor Moreno (PSV, NED), Miguel Layún (Porto, POR), Rafael Márquez (Atlas, MEX), Jesús Molina (Santos Laguna, MEX), Diego Reyes (Real Sociedad, ESP), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres UANL, MEX)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Jesús Dueñas (Tigres UANL, MEX), Andrés Guardado (PSV, NED), Héctor Herrera (Porto, POR), Carlos Peña (Guadalajara, MEX)
FORWARDS (7): Javier Aquino (Tigres UANL, MEX), Jesús Corona (Porto, POR), Jürgen Damm (Tigres UANL, MEX), Javier Hernández (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Raúl Jiménez (Benfica, POR), Hirving Lozano (Pachuca, MEX), Oribe Peralta (Club América, MEX)
PANAMA
GOALKEEPERS (3): José Calderón (Plantense, HON), Jaime Penedo (Saprissa, CRC), Alex Rodríguez (San Francisco, PAN)
DEFENDERS (6): Felipe Baloy (Atlas, MEX), Harold Cummings (Alajuelense, CRC), Fidel Escobar (Sporting, PAN), Luis Henríquez (Tauro, PAN), Adolfo Machado (Saprissa, CRC), Roderick Miller (San Francisco, PAN)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Ricardo Buitrago (Juan Aurich, PER), Miguel Camargo (Mineros de Guayana, VEN), Armando Cooper (Árabe Unido, PAN), Aníbal Godoy (San José Earthquakes, USA), Gabriel Gómez (Cartaginés, CRC), Amílcar Henríquez (América, COL), Valentín Pimentel (La Equidad, COL), Alberto Quintero (San José Earthquakes, USA)
FORWARDS (6): Abdiel Arroyo (RNK Split, CRO), Ismael Díaz (Porto, POR), Roberto Nurse (Mineros de Zacatecas, MEX), Blas Pérez (Vancouver Whitecaps, CAN), Luis Tejada (Juan Aurich, PER) Gabriel Torres (Zamora, VEN)
PARAGUAY
GOALKEEPERS (3): Diego Barreto (Olimpia, PAR), Antony Silva (Cerro Porteño, PAR), Justo Villar (Colo-Colo, CHI)
DEFENDERS (6): Pablo Aguilar (Club América, MEX), Fabián Balbuena (Corinthians, BRA), Paulo Da Silva (Toluca, MEX), Gustavo Gómez (Lanús, ARG), Miguel Samudio (Club América, MEX), Bruno Valdez (Cerro Porteño, PAR)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Nestor Ortigoza (San Lorenzo, ARG), Celso Ortiz (AZ Alkmaar, NED), Robert Piris Da Motta (Olimpia, PAR), Blas Riveros (Olimpia, PAR), Rodrigo Rojas (Cerro Porteño, PAR), Oscar Romero (Rácing Club, ARG)
FORWARDS (8): Miguel Almirón (Lanús, ARG), Edgar Benítez (Querétaro, MEX), Jorge Benítez (Cruz Azul, MEX), Derlis González (Dynamo Kiev, UKR), Juan Iturbe (Bournemouth, ENG), Darío Lezcano (Ingolstadt, GER), Antonio Sanabria (Sporting de Gijón, ESP), Nelson Valdez (Seattle Sounders FC, USA)
PERU
GOALKEEPERS (3): Carlos Cáceda (Universitario, PER), Pedro Gallese (Juan Aurich, PER), Diego Penny (Sporting Cristal, PER)
DEFENDERS (8): Luis Abram (Sporting Cristal, PER), Jair Céspedes (Sporting Cristal, PER), Aldo Corzo (Deportivo Municipal, PER), Christian Ramos (Juan Aurich, PER), Renzo Revoredo (Sporting Cristal, PER), Alberto Rodríguez (Sporting Cristal, PER), Renato Tapia (Feyenoord, NED), Miguel Trauco (Universitario, PER)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Armando Alfagme (Deportivo Municipal, PER), Adán Balbín (Universitario, PER), Cristian Benavente (Charleroi, BEL), Luiz da Silva (PSV, NED), Alejandro Hohberg (Universidad César Vallejo, PER), Andy Polo (Universitario, PER), Óscar Vilchez (Alianza Lima, PER), Yoshimar Yotún (Malmö, SWE)
FORWARDS (4): Christian Cueva (Toluca, MEX), Edison Flores (Universitario, PER), Paolo Guerrero (Flamengo, BRA), Raúl Ruidíaz (Universitario, PER)
URUGUAY
GOALKEEPERS (3): Martín Campaña (Independiente, ARG), Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray, TUR), Martín Silva (Vasco da Gama, BRA)
DEFENDERS (6): Jorge Fucile (Nacional, URU), Jose Giménez (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Diego Godín, (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Maximiliano Pereira (Porto, POR), Gastón Silva (Torino, ITA), Mauricio Victorino (Nacional, URU)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Egidio Arévalo Rios (Atlas, MEX), Matías Corujo (Universidad de Chile, CHI), Álvaro González (Atlas, MEX), Alvaro Pereira (Getafe, ESP), Gastón Ramírez (Middlesbrough, ENG), Cristian Rodríguez (Independiente, ARG), Carlos Sánchez (Monterrey, MEX), Matías Vecino (Fiorentina, ITA)
FORWARDS (6): Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-German, FRA), Abel Hernández (Hull City, ENG), Nicolás Lodeiro (Boca Juniors, ARG), Diego Rolán (Bordeaux, FRA), Cristhian Stuani (Middlesbrough, ENG), Luis Suárez (Barcelona, ESP)
USA
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, ENG), Ethan Horvath (Molde, NOR), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids, USA)
DEFENDERS (7): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City, USA), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United, USA), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin, GER), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City, ENG), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt, GER), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana, MEX), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland, ENG)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake, USA), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes, FRA), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC, CAN), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach, GER), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids, USA), Perry Kitchen (Hearts, SCO), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers, USA), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund, GER), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City, USA)
FORWARDS (4): Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC, USA), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes, USA), Bobby Wood (Hamburg, GER), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy, USA)
VENEZUELA
GOALKEEPERS (3): José Contreras (Tachira, VEN), Wuilker Faríñez (Caracas, VEN), Dani Hernández (Tenerife, ESP)
DEFENDERS (7): Wilker Ángel (Tachira, VEN), Rolf Feltscher (MSV Duisburg, GER), Alexander González (Huesca, ESP), Roberto Rosales (Málaga, ESP), Jose Manuel Velazquez (Arouca, POR), Mikel Villanueva (Atlético Malagueño, ESP), Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (Nantes, FRA)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Juan Pablo Añor (Málaga, ESP), Arquímedes Figuera (La Guaira, VEN), Alejandro Guerra (Atlético Nacional, COL), Yangel Herrera (Atlético Venezuela, VEN), Rómulo Otero (Huachipato, CHI), Adalberto Peñaranda (Granada, ESP), Tomás Rincón (Genoa, ITA), Luis Manuel Seijas (Santa Fe, COL), Carlos Suárez (Carabobo, VEN)
FORWARDS (4): Yonathan Del Valle (Kasimpasa, TUR), Josef Martínez (Torino, ITA), Salomón Rondón (West Bromwich Albion, ENG), Christian Santos (NEC Nijmegen, NED)
What do you think of the rosters? Who is your pick to win the tournament? Who do you see being the surprise of the field?
Share your thoughts below.
Marquez keeps getting picked for Mexico. I can’t believe it. He was the most unprofessional player for Red Bulls during his time in MLS. He is the cheapest player of all time. But I will say, I love seeing him as a familiar name. But seriously, how long will the coach keep calling this guy up?
Got to keep it real…NOT DISAPPOINTED at these rosters.
Maybe Copa Pan-America can become a great thing. No more Euros, we got our own?
This tournament is to Copa American what the International Champions Tournament is to the FIFA Club World Cup. Just a bunch of exhibition games for somebody to make a lot of money.
This tournament with these teams will never fly in South America proper.
Think UEFA tournament played in Qatar in an off year with Asian teams and you have the Copa America Centenario. Simple as that.
I think you are low balling it a little bit. As passionate as South Americans are about their soccer and national teams they are going to be watching. Maybe there won’t be a lot of people traveling to the US for it, but with many South Americans living in the US they will still be well represented. You can bet the fans of teams that do well will be into it.
Rob, do FIFA seeding points get allocated based on the outcomes of these games? Is there a trophy? Ok then.
Guys, Rob just hates America. If this tournament were in Mexico and didn’t have the USMNT he’d be saying it’s the greatest thing ever.
More importantly, we actually had an Ives siting. Who knew?
Suarez has three weeks. He better hope that it’s not that bad.
Probably still have enough to get out of their group since it is weaker, that gives him until June 18th and a possible meeting with Argentina.
Weird not seeing Santa Cruz for Paraguay or Farfan and Pizarro for Peru.
Even the best get old, I guess.
Hmm and a few of you on this site kept telling me something like, “watch when the rosters are released there will be no stars, nobody is taking this tournament seriously it is just glorified friendlies blah blah.” Yea ok. I laughed then and I laugh now. You know who you are.
Concacaf should get rid of one of their two Gold Cups, and this tournament should be played every cycle. So 1 Gold Cup for Concacaf each cycle, 1 Copa America for Conmebol each cycle, and a Concacaf+Conmebol tournament like this one each cycle. Of course the name needs to be changed. Maybe the Copa Panamerica/ Pan-Am Cup.
Personally, I include the name of the individuals I’m talking to (or about) rather than being passive, but to each their own.
“seriously it is just glorified friendlies blah blah.”
There’s was a lot more than the “blah blah” to that conversation. As a reminder, it arose when someone said Jurgen Klinsmann should be fired if we’re not successful in the Copa Centenario. To which I clarified these are “glorified friendlies” and any talk of a dismissal because of the results is absurd.
Then you went and actually compared the Copa Cenetario to the World Cup and the conversation was never the same.
As for the “watch when the rosters are released there will be no stars, nobody is taking this tournament seriously” I can only assume you’re paraphrasing others because that was never said by me.
Old School, haven’t you learned that you shouldn’t assume things?
“Personally, I include the name of the individuals I’m talking to (or about) rather than being passive” –
There you go assuming that this is all about you. There are quite a few names to list, some of which I forgot already, because I discussed this topic with other people besides you. If I was talking only about you I would have called you out directly. Besides this is a subjective topic (the significance of this tournament) where there is no definitive right or wrong answer. But going off of the only thing you can judge it by, which are the people that matter the most (players/coaches/majority of the fans); you can say that I have been proven right.
“As for the “watch when the rosters are released there will be no stars, nobody is taking this tournament seriously” I can only assume you’re paraphrasing others”-
Yes exactly, someone else. At least this time you assumed correctly.
Old School, haven’t you learned that you shouldn’t assume things?
“Personally, I include the name of the individuals I’m talking to (or about) rather than being passive” –
There you go assuming that this is all about you.
Well, that’s a relief. I enjoy your fervor in debating but I would have lost respect for you if you became passive.
Understandably, I made that exact statement (first I saw anyone on the board do so) and had a lengthy back and forth with you about the specific quote I referenced before anyone on the board so the assumption was very reasonable.
I still believe it’s respectful cite those you’re addressing when paraphrasing/responding, but to each their own. However, I suppose there’s some relief knowing you had this same discussion with quite a few people. Hopefully the repetition served it’s purpose.
Glad to know it wasn’t all about me.
@ucla how about the New World Cup..take that FIFA!
very excited about reading all of these names. Our first two games are going to be really tough but our roster looks competitive next to most of these others. Looking at previous Copa’s two things happen consistently favorites like Brazil and Argentina often slip and the host often overachieves. Hoping that happens again.
Our roster looks competitive? I want to channel Dick Vermeil…
Certainly Argentina, Chile, and Mexico (-Gio) brought their best possible team, for Chile this might be a last chance in a somewhat golden generation to get more hardware. Brazil has left some guys off, but its Brazil so they are very deep. Colombia has most of their stars, but about half the team are Olympic players. Costa Rica should be tough especially if Navas is on point. A quarterfinal with a competitive match would be a good result, a semifinal run would be a huge success, and a trip to the final would be a miracle.
I like the idea of the Copa Panamerica. Let’s take the 6 teams who qualify for the Hexagonal and the top 8 teams from Conmebol. Then have 7th place Concacaf vs 10th Conmebol and 8th Concacaf vs 9th Conmebol to start off the tournament in play in games.
We don’t need to change names or anything. Copa America works just fine (if anything, just add an “S”). I also definitely think that the Copa needs to be turned into a single event, like the Euros played in year 2 of the cycle. Mo money, mo prestige, mo competition…
I said that this is “not a real Copa America.” It isn’t, the real one was last year. This time it is strictly a commercial venture. It’s still going to be fun, but if I have to choose between the Euros and the the Copa I’ll choose a Euro match because it’s more important. Never said anything about the best players not coming, but I did reply to one poster who was disappointed with Brazil’s roster. I said that it’s too bad that most Americans don’t know guys like Casemiro or Douglas Costa because they are the best in the world right now in their positions. I thought, there is a problem if fans think they are being sold short because Neymar isn’t there. The soccer will be really good and that’s all that matters.
I agree with you that they should merge with one of the Gold Cups, or both, and do it on even, non WC years like this one.
I whined once, but they were advertising specific names that are not here now.
I do think that is very bad.
Announce the schedule, guy gets excited….Brazil plays close to me and it says I can see Neymar. Nope, but thanks for your $200
To be clear, never and still don’t have a problem with the rosters.
Just didn’t/don’t like the advertising method
Yesterday you were whining Suarez wasn’t there – because he’s injured. Apparently this tournament should have money back guarantees is players get hurt beforehand.