People switching on their screens on the evening of July 1st to watch the USA’s do-or-die game against Uruguay were greeted by an extremely odd telecast from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, well known as the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. The camera angle made viewers feel like they were watching the match from atop a skyscraper. Soccer Twitter blew up in no time.
The USA and soccer have a considerably long relationship, but all the incidents in the ongoing Copa America show that it is not a solid one yet. Otherwise, why do the people in charge of various aspects of the sport frequently get up to activities that are not very fan-friendly?
In the tournament’s first match, Argentina played Canada, and immediately after the match, the players complained about the terrible quality of the field. This became a recurring event as the tournament progressed.
“The Copa America is always difficult because of the pitches, because of the referees — who always go against us — and because of the way CONMEBOL treats people.” — said Vinicius after Brazil’s match in Allegiant Stadium at Las Vegas.
Unfortunately for Vinicius, Brazil’s quarterfinal against Uruguay will be held in the same stadium in Las Vegas on July 6th.
As the Copa America and Euro are taking place almost at the same time (finals on the same Sunday!), there are a lot of comparisons going on between the two. UEFA has been hailed for having strong control over ticket prices. CONMEBOL, on the other hand, has none. Ticket prices in Copa America can fluctuate severely based on the location and the local organizers.
Group Stage Wrapped: Of Resurgence and Surprises
Moving on to the good part of the tournament, which is (as you have rightly guessed) the game on the field. As expected, Argentina has progressed to the quarterfinals as group champions, with Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martínez leading the goals chart with 4 goals in 3 matches. Apart from Argentina, no team’s performance has been up to general expectations.
Colombia’s journey so far in the Copa America 2024 can also be termed the comeback of (former) star James Rodriguez. The boy who charmed the world in the 2010 World Cup, then went on to play for Real Madrid, is now playing in Sao Paolo, Brazil. His performance had deteriorated so much in the last few years that it was doubtful he would ever return to the national team despite being only 32 years old.
Well, he has returned. He picked himself up, got help from the Colombian federation, and cared for his health. He has bagged a man-of-the-match award and has restored himself as a power player for the Colombian men’s soccer team. James’ Colombia will play Panama in the quarterfinal.
Another person who has made a comeback is Marcelo Bielsa. Bielsa sitting on a water cooler and shouting instructions at his players during matches is one image that nearly all soccer fans are familiar with. So, Bielsa is back with his charm, and Uruguay is shining bright under his management.
Mexico further disappointed their already indifferent fans with a group stage exit. Mexico had not been flying high recently, so supporters were not expecting a masterclass, but they were not expecting a group-stage exit with just one goal scored in three matches. The USA is also out of the tournament after a string of underwhelming performances.
The Unlikely Ones
For starters, Canada qualified for the quarterfinals in a group with Chile and Peru (along with Argentina). Chile and Peru, two neighboring countries with a sporting rivalry nearly as fierce as South American powerhouses Brazil and Argentina, played a subpar game against each other and crashed out of the tournament together.
This is Panama’s second appearance in Copa America and the team is in the quarterfinal. Panama achieved a historic 1–0 victory against the USA, but the possibility of making it out of the group stage was still in doubt because the USA and Panama were tied on points as they prepared for the last match of the group stage. Only a win over Bolivia would remove the doubts, so Panama did just that by registering a 3–1 win.
The quarterfinals kick off with a face-off between Argentina and Ecuador in Houston on July 4th, Independence Day. Last month, the author met a gentleman from Ecuador on a flight who spoke to her enthusiastically about Moises Caicedo, the midfielder from Chelsea, now the face of soccer in Ecuador, and about Argentine players and coaches in the Ecuadorian domestic league. Ecuador might not be as good as Argentina, but on July 4th, the team will not go down without a fight.