This first full day of the Copa America Centenario kicks off with three matches (all times Eastern):
— Group A: Costa Rica vs. Paraguay in Orlando, 5 p.m. (Fox, Univision)
The Ticos‘ underdog image was perhaps retired forever after their World Cup quarterfinal run in 2014. But their chances of getting out of the group dimmed days before the tournament when goalkeeper Keylor Navas — the starter at that for World Cup and for Real Madrid when it won its 11th UEFA Champions League title last month — was ruled out because of an Achilles’ tendon injury. The Ticos are about more than a goalie. Defender Oscar Duarte (Espanyol) and midfielder Celso Borges (Deportivo de La Coruña) also play in Spain’s elite division, and others are with clubs in the English Premier League, French Ligue 1 and Portugal’s top flight. D.C. United forward Alvaro Saborio is the squad’s active scoring leader, with 35 goals in 108 appearances.
Advertisement
Paraguay has gone 37 years without a Copa trophy, but Los Guaranies almost always find themselves in the knockout-stage mix of both the continental tournament and World Cup. They’ve qualified for the Copa quarterfinals in all but one of the past nine tournaments, reaching the final in 2011 and semis last summer. As part of a generational shift, Coach Ramon Diaz did not select career scoring leader Roque Santa Cruz, 34, for this summer’s festivities. He did take goalkeeper Justo Villar, who turns 39 in June and has served the national team since 1999 with more than 100 appearances. Diaz also chose veteran forward Nelson Valdez, who is in his second MLS season with the Seattle Sounders.
— Group B: Haiti vs. Peru in Seattle, 7:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 2, Univision)
Finishing with a point or more in this tournament would be considered a success for Haiti, but it punched above its weight in the 2015 Gold Cup, beating out Panama and back-to-back World Cup side Honduras for second place in Group A behind the United States. Captain Johnny Placide, a former France youth international, is the goalkeeper for French second-division club Stade Reims, and he’ll be shielded here by Standard Liege reserve Reginal Goreux and center back Romain Genevois, a part-time starter in Ligue 1 for Nice.
Advertisement
Peru hasn’t qualified for a World Cup since 1982, but the team has finished third in each of the past two iterations, edging World Cup quarterfinalist Colombia for second in last year’s group stage and Paraguay in the tournament’s consolation match. If it does the same this time around, it will be with a surprising cast: longtime captain Claudio Pizarro of Werder Bremen, former Schalke winger Jefferson Farfan and Wolfsburg center back Carlos Zambrano didn’t even make the preliminary roster. Only three starters from last year’s Copa squad are here: goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, midfielder Christian Cueva of Toluca in Mexico and Flamengo striker Paolo Guerrero, the top scorer two Copas running.
— Group B: Brazil vs. Ecuador in Pasadena, Calif., 10 p.m. (Fox Sports 1, Univision)
Remember the Brazilian team that was humiliated, 7-1, at home by Germany in the 2014 World Cup? This team is not nearly as good, and it’s largely a result. In the aftermath of that loss, the Brazilian federation reappointed Dunga, who had been derided during his previous coaching tenure from 2006 to 2010 for implementing a defensive style that sapped the team of much of its “Jogo Bonito” flair. Sure, Brazil hasn’t given up seven goals since, but Dunga is no more beloved this time around. His player selections are part of the redesign. Barcelona’s Dani Alves is the only defensive holdover from the 2014 team. The three goalkeepers chosen have a combined 14 appearances. Meanwhile, Brazil’s brightest star, Neymar, is staying home to play in the Rio Olympics (not by Dunga’s choice), and one of its next-brightest, Bayern Munich midfielder Douglas Costa, is out injured. Costa’s replacement, Kaka of Orlando City in MLS, was also ruled out by injury last week, the fifth player to withdraw from the Selecao’s Copa America roster.
Advertisement
For Ecuador to advance, it must be better than it was in its lethargic warmup against the United States last week, when it registered just three shots in a 1-0 loss. Manchester United wingback Antonio Valencia, one of the fastest players in the sport, didn’t feature in that one, and his return to the fold should help. Enner Valencia (no relation) of West Ham and Swansea City’s Jefferson Montero provide two more forward-thinking options, as does forward Jaime Ayovi. Captain Walter Ayovi (Jaime’s cousin) of Mexican club Monterrey marshals the back line. Ecuador has made a bit of a push in recent years, playing in its first World Cup in 2002 and making two of the three since. As far as the Copa goes, though, it’s never finished better than fourth.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZLumw9Joqqibk5q%2FbrXNrKCdnaJkxLF7kWlob2dga3xxgI6wn5qsXam8bsPArZqhZaSksaLFjJqrZpufpa5urcyeqaKbkWK9s7HVopywoZ6cerW0xGaeq6elpXqiecCnm2afoqTCsXnBZqapnZ6av7R7