The event we’ve been waiting years for is finally here as the USMNT gets set to kick off the Copa America Centenario against Colombia Friday. After breaking down all the different players, teams, and groups it’s finally time to play the games.
Here are the picks of the 32 Flags staff for the Copa America Centenario.
Phillip Bupp (Managing Editor)
Group A
Winner: Colombia
Runner up: USA
Group B
Winner: Brazil
Runner up: Ecuador
Group C
Winner: Mexico
Runner up: Jamaica
Group D
Winner: Argentina
Runner up: Chile
Semifinals:
Argentina over Ecuador
Mexico over USA
Winner: Mexico
Phillip: A tournament that mixes teams who are going with a full strength lineup, teams who are not and teams who did but have injuries to their stars. While the group stage should be very straightforward, the knockout stage should be incredibly unpredictable. With there being no extra time in the Quarters and Semis going straight to penalties, it should make for some surprising results. That’s why teams like Ecuador, USA and Mexico are beating teams like Colombia, Brazil and Chile. And given Lionel Messi potentially missing games, and at best case scenario not 100%, may keep Argentina from winning their first title in decades.
Andy Coppens (Associate Editor)
Group A
Winner: Colombia
Runner up: USA
Group B
Winner: Ecuador
Runner up: Brazil
Group C
Winner: Mexico
Runner up: Uruguay
Group D
Winner: Argentina
Runner up: Chile
Semifinals:
Mexico over Chile
Argentina over Uruguay
Winner: Argentina
Andy: I think the group stage is pretty cut and dry…outside of Group A which could go 1 of 3 ways. However, home field advantage to USMNT gets the job done. That said, Brazil isn’t prioritizing this tournament and it will show once it gets out of a pretty easy group. Mexico and Argentina appear the strongest teams and the path to the final should be easy for them.
Jeff Snyder (Associate Editor)
Group A
Winner: USA
Runner up: Costa Rica
Group B
Winner: Brazil
Runner up: Ecuador
Group C
Winner: Mexico
Runner up: Uruguay
Group D
Winner: Argentina
Runner up: Chile
Semifinals:
Brazil over Mexico
Argentina over USA
Winner: Argentina
Jeff: I too think that the USA will put in a good showing, if only because it’s on home turf, and Costa Rica should be strong enough to see off the rest of the group. Brazil should win their group, and it should be a pretty straight forward group. Brazil are bringing a fairly strong side which should be enough to carry them through the knockout rounds. I think Mexico is in good form and will have a lot of support, which will push them above Uruguay, who will be missing Suarez. Finally, Argentina have a strong team coming to the tournament and should roll over their group. I think this may have the shock in it, with Argentina maybe not taking it as serious as they should. As for the knockout rounds, I think they are pretty straight forward, except the final. I think Argentina just has a much strong squad, even if they play their B team.
Randy Capps (Staff Writer)
Group A
Winner: USA
Runner up: Costa Rica
Group B
Winner: Brazil
Runner up: Ecuador
Group C
Winner: Mexico
Runner up: Uruguay
Group D
Winner: Argentina
Runner up: Chile
Semifinals:
Brazil over USA
Argentina over Mexico
Winner: Argentina
Randy: The Americans tend to overachieve in an underdog role, so I can see them surprising Colombia and taking the group. Mexico will ride a massive home field advantage into the semis, where it will once again fall to its bogey team – Argentina. Speaking of the Argentines, Lionel Messi needs seven goals to become the country’s all-time leading scorer. He may do that en route to winning his first senior trophy for Argentina.
Josh Espinal (Staff Writer)
Group A
Winner: United States
Runner up: Colombia
Group B
Winner: Brazil
Runner up: Ecuador
Group C
Winner: Mexico
Runner up: Uruguay
Group D
Winner: Argentina
Runner up: Chile
Semifinals:
Argentina over USA
Colombia over Mexico
Winner: Argentina
Pauly Kwestel (Staff Writer)
Group A
Winner: Colombia
Runner up: USA
Group B
Winner: Brazil
Runner up: Ecuador
Group C
Winner: Mexico
Runner up: Jamaica
Group D
Winner: Argentina
Runner up: Chile
Semifinals:
Colombia over USA
Mexico over Argentina
Winner: Mexico
Pauly: Groups A and D will be pretty straightforward but Groups B and C are where things can get dicey. With the squad Brazil is bringing they left the door wide open for someone to take Group B, unfortunately there’s just no one in Group B good enough to jump at the opportunity. I’m a little skeptical of Ecuador’s ability to win outside of Ecuador and think Haiti could surprise some people and make some noise. In Group C Jamaica will look to build on a solid showing in last year’s Copa America and Gold Cups. Uruguay has an unbelievably difficult travel schedule (Glendale to Philly to Santa Clara) and that could be enough to get the Jamaicans through. In the knockout rounds, with questions over how much the South American teams care, the US topples a not-full-strength Brazil, while Mexico will have an arguably bigger home field advantage than the United States, rides that all the way to a win.
Harrison Prolic (Staff Writer)
Group A
Winner: Colombia
Runner up: USA
Group B
Winner: Ecuador
Runner up: Brazil
Group C
Winner: Mexico
Runner up: Uruguay
Group D
Winner: Argentina
Runner up: Chile
Semifinals:
Argentina over Colombia
Mexico over Ecuador
Winner: Argentina
Harrison: I think the USMNT will put in a good showing in the group stage, but struggle when the tournament enters the knockout stage. Brazil, who can’t seem to be bothered what with the Olympics right around the corner will not fair well but do just enough to make it to the Quarter-finals. Argentina and Mexico, both with deep squads will do well, especially Mexico who will feel like they have a home field advantage. Argentina will nick it at the end, however.
