HomeCopa AmericaCOPA'S QUARTERS CATALOGUE

COPA’S QUARTERS CATALOGUE

By Shreyas Rai

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Copa America knockout fixtures

 

With the Euros delivering a mouth-watering football fiesta, the South American fans expected Copa America to match the earlier legacies. With the group stages ending with Argentina’s and Uruguay’s, we take a glance at the Copa America knockout round fixtures.

 

 

A tournament known for publishing fantasies for the world to reminisce a hundred years down the line, the competition has sneaked its way up to the business end of the tournament. The group stages of the prestigious championship ended with two-tournament favourites Argentina conquering Group-A and Brazil bashing outfits in Group-B.

 

 

Paraguay and Peru stunned the footballing world by weaving their sorcery in Brazil, while successful and experienced campaigners Uruguay and Chile have been riding on a roller-coaster in the concluded segments of the competition.

We at FootTheBall dig deep to figure out who will lock horns with whom in the knockout stage of the oldest tournament of South America.

 

 

GROUP A’s SUMMARY 

 

Another star-studded squad, the astounding Albicelste looked to replicate their ancestor’s heroics in Copa America. Argentina kicked off their campaign with a nervy standstill against a popular enemy La Roja. But since then Lionel Messi’s charismatic outings have aligned the stars for Argentina. Paraguay was engaged with writing a fairytale story for their history books, finishing second in the section.

 

 

 

 

Uruguay’s Copa America 2021 has been shambolic for multiple factors. An outdated outfit, Uruguay’s final matchday triumph against Paraguay helped them avoid Brazil in the quarterfinals and present the challenge to two-time champions Chile. Unfortunately, Bolivia was thrashed by every rival it encountered in the first phase. Four humiliating defeats booked them on the flight back home along with a depleted Venezuela team. 

 

GROUP B’S SUMMARY

 

With Tite’s Brazil seeded in Group-B, the other outfits had a daunting task lying in front of them. After just the opening day contest the Selecao announced their arrival in South America. Brazil had already occupied the throne in the second bracket. Columbia were favourites to capture the silver-medal but Peru astonished them by inhabiting second place just behind ringmasters Brazil.

 

 

 

But Ecuador’s scintillating stalemate against Tite’s troops and Venezuela’s disheartening defeat sent La Vinotinto back home from the South American championship. Ecuador escaped an embarrassment as they emerged with a point against Brazil solidifying the final spot. Peru and Colombia had already received the quarter-final tickets as the managers prepared for a fierce battle with the teams from the other side of the pond.

 

THE KNOCKOUT ROUND FIXTURES

 

  • Quarter-Final 1- Peru vs Paraguay- Saturday 3rd July (2.30 am)
  • Quarter-Final 2- Brazil vs Chile- Saturday 3rd July (2.30 am)
  • Quarter-Final 3- Uruguay vs Colombia- Sunday 4th July (3.30 am)
  • Quarter-Final 4- Argentina vs Ecuador- Sunday 4th July (6.30 am)

 

PERU VS PARAGUAY

 

Paraguay is mirroring Hungary’s Euro 2020 campaign. Placed in the Group-of-Death, the Hungarians didn’t let the dominant squads bully the underdogs. Eduardo Berizzo La Albirroja’s glamorous playing style in a laborious Group-A has turned the heads of a few pundits.  Giving Argentina a headache, frustrating Uruguay for large parts, and punishing Chile, a Leicester City kind-of-tale could be on the cards. But Peru’s dart this season has been nothing different than Paraguay’s scamper.

 

 

 

Just slipping against Brazil, Peru has been the standout performers in Group-B with two memorable wins and a hard-fought draw. The chronicle of the challengers, Peru’s match-up against Paraguay could be a theatrical contest. Without a doubt, Paraguay’s and Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron could make the Peru defenders dance to his tunes. Falling for his deadly smile could prove lethal for the backline as Almiron’s footballing arsenal is wider than his radiant smile.

 

 

 

 

While Almiron would be fabricating his magic, towering forward Angel Romero could disturb Peru’s glued backline. Peru also has a goal-scoring machine in Andre Carrillo who is tied with some legendary footballing dignitaries in the goal-scoring rankings, just a goal behind the leader Lionel Messi. With a few gleaming, glaring, and lightning players donning their outfits, a goal-scoring feast is predicted. But Paraguay’s experience might bolster their dreams of reaching the Copa America semi-finals.

 

BRAZIL VS CHILE

 

A notorious, fabled, and legendary eleven, Brazil’s progenitors have dropped their blessings on South America’s reigning champions. After the muddled 7-1 defeat 7 years ago against the then World Champions Germany, Brazilian football has experienced a detectable revamp. And with a few experienced campaigners being recalled to Tite’s roster, the Canarinho’s seem inevitable. Other than a stalemate at Ecuador yesterday, Brazil swept their opposite numbers smashing thunderous goals. A 4-0 bashing of Peru complemented with Venezuela’s 3-0 demolition, the Brazilians are the strongest outfit in the Copa America knockout fixtures.

 

 

 

With Chile’s third-place hopes whacked by underdogs Paraguay, the confidence in La Roja’s bunker is currently lying on the floor. A dominant Brazilian obstacle lying in their way, Chile have a humongous task if they want to spring a surprise. The strikers have looked sloppy, the midfielders lack creativity, and the defenders are in sixes and sevens throughout the 90 minutes.

 

 

 

 

Neymar Jr. the brand ambassador, the walking advertisement board of Brazilian football will look to stamp his authority in Rio on Friday. With 2 goals under his belt, the hungry forward has the perfect opportunity to increase his tally and reach the pinnacle displacing his ex-Barca companion Lionel Messi.

 

URUGUAY VS COLUMBIA

 

A roster crowded with work-horses, Oscar Tabarez’s tactics have lacked an injection of flair and creativity. The lacklustre Uruguayan squad is brimming with players who could cover each inch of the pitch for 90 minutes without losing a breath but the deficiency of pompousness and splendour in the team sheet has cost Uruguay the ‘Tournament Favourites’ badge. When the old troops lock horns with Colombia, they’ll be hoping for their grandmasters to deliver a magnificent result for La Celeste. The destructive duo of Suarez and Cavani haven’t duplicated their performances at the Wanda and the Theatre respectively. Bentancur and Valverde were expected to be Tabarez’s mid-field fulcrum.

 

 

But both the mid-fielders play orthodox football and rarely pull a rabbit out of the hat to unlock a defence or uncover an almost invisible goal scoring opportunity. And that has cost Uruguay but a 1-0 triumph against Paraguay would augment their confidence before facing the Colombians in the knockout fixtures of the glorious Copa America. On the other hand, a James Rodriguez-less Colombian army has been a complete shadow of themselves.

 

 

With just a single win in 4 matches, Colombia should consider themselves blessed that they have pocketed a berth at the Copa America knockout fixtures. The pendulum has never leaned in neither Colombia’s favour nor Uruguay’s faction. Although Edinson Cavani’s rehabilitation in front of the goal and Juan Cuadrado’s knack of delivering bombastic crosses could trouble the backlines of both the squads. Although Uruguay’s chances of winning the knockout round fixture exceed Colombia’s Copa America trophy cravings.

 

 

ARGENTINA VS ECUADOR

Lionel Messi’s wizardry in Brazil has turned back the clocks to his earlier days at Camp Nou. With three jaw-dropping strikes to lead the goal-scoring charts and two world-class assists decorating his Copa America 2021 folder, the electrifying forward is leaving no stone unturned in his hunt for an international laurel. Messi and Man-of-the-Match awards are synonymous with each other with three points for La Albiceleste being dropped in Lionel Scaloni’s keister. The Kings of Group-A, the Argentine poachers are starving for silverware.

 

 

Finishing at the pinnacle earned Argentina a brawl with a nerve-clinging Ecuador side. Winless in the group, Ecuador have completely tiptoed in the knockouts. The only positive for Gustava Alfaro’s squad has been an impasse with hosts Brazil. This might break the hearts of a few Argentine fans but worth remembering is the fact that the Selecao rested some million-dollar names and it was their under-studies donning the yellow jersey on Sunday night.

 

 

A tranquil fixture for Lionel Scaloni’s men, their dazzling and dashing line-up should thrash La Tri without a doubt. Veteran Messi has found solace with Papu Gomez’s newly discovered manifestation as the ‘Lone Warrior’ has located ‘Modern Gladiators’ to quench his silverware thirst.

 

Shreyas Rai

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