COPA America

loopdokter

Lots of International footy going on this summer…

The COPA America runs pretty much concurrently with the European Cup. However, unlike the European Cup being the championship for the European (UEFA region), the COPA American isn’t only CONMEBOL nations playing this time around. CONCACAF have six teams playing that all qualified through CONCACAF Nations League (top three) or a playoff - USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Panama, Costa Rica and Canada.

It all kicks off Thursday, June 20th with Argentina vs. Canada for the opening game in Atlanta, USA. I expect Canada to get drubbed by Argentina, but I remain hopeful that we can get out of our group that also contains Peru and Chile. Canada have shown they can hold a very good team to a draw when they drew with France yesterday in France.

My hope is that we can draw Argentina and squeek out a couple of 2-1 games against Peru and Chile that provides more opportunities for Canadians to be in the stands than their opponents because the whole tournament is being held in the US. I think we’re good enough to get to the group stages, but that’s I think that’s where it will end for us.

That said, we’ve got a new coach in Jesse Marsch who’s quite literally only had two friendly matches against Netherlands (4-0) and France (0-0) to get us tuned up for the games that matter. He’s had less than a month in charge and there’s not been much to go on other than the two friendlies this past weekend.

Group A - Argentina, Canada, Chile, Peru

Group B - Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Venezuala

Group C - Bolivia, United States, Panama, Uruguay

Group D - Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay

Predictions (other than the obvious Canada slagging)?

RichM

loopdokter I predict Argentina will win their group.

mono-stereo

loopdokter Canada have shown they can hold a very good team to a draw when they drew with France yesterday in France.

I wouldn’t read too much into that result. Pretournament friendlies are meaningless.

hugopal

loopdokter I probably won’t watch many of the games, but hopefully Ismael Kone does well for you so he can add a few more £million to his price tag.

ScottBailey

loopdokter Predictions (other than the obvious Canada slagging)?

I predict no one outside of any of theses teams own fans will be watching if on at the same time as the Euros. Sorry to say.

loopdokter

RichM

I see you’re a big betting man for the underdogs, eh Rich?

RichM

loopdokter they are the underdogs, when the mighty Canada are in the same group 😁

loopdokter

RichM they are the underdogs, when the mighty Canada are in the same group 😁

We’ll bring our hockey sticks next time. 😆

Mad_Cyril

Cuppa what?

loopdokter

mono-stereo

I understand friendlies are the games where you try things you normally wouldn’t in meaningful games. I also understand that France weren’t at their best, but Canada put up a valiant effort and had several scoring chances. Our keeper had a hell of a game on top of it. It was an end to end game with nearly even possession.

Pundit chatter in France is that they were quite surprised at how ‘good’ we were. Considering the drubbing we received last Friday against Netherlands after a putting in a goalless first half, it’s a step in the right direction.

By no means am I claiming that we’ll beat or even draw France on most days. We’re nowhere near that level yet, but it’s a step in the right direction considering the World Cup is on our own soil in two years.

The expectations for Canada from Canadian fans have gone up drastically despite our woeful performance at the most recent World Cup.

loopdokter

hugopal I probably won’t watch many of the games, but hopefully Ismael Kone does well for you so he can add a few more £million to his price tag.

Yeah, he’s one hell of a player and was the player of the match for Canada against France. He’s only 21 and honestly I think he’s a once in a generation talent. I think he has the potential to be on the same level as Alphonso Davies is now - albeit a different position.

He needs to get the hell out of Watford! I hope a higher level league team picks him up in the summer transfer market.

Dan

ScottBailey I’ll be watching Argentina thump Canada tbh.

303abuser

ScottBailey Don’t be sorry, no one will be watching and the canadian team is still awful until they prove otherwise. Holding Argentina to a draw is laughable.

loopdokter

ScottBailey I suspect if you’re a European-based footy fan, that’s very likely. Outside of tracking what’s going on with Canada and if there’s Euro games on, I’m likely to watch those as well.

That said, South America is absolutely football mad and in the other continents like Asia and Africa with poor national team sides, a lot of those fans follow the big South American teams.

The first game in Dallas for Argentina vs. Canada is sold out in an 80,000 seat stadium. That bodes well for the sport in North America and the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

loopdokter

303abuser Don’t be sorry, no one will be watching and the canadian team is still awful until they prove otherwise. Holding Argentina to a draw is laughable.

When is the last time you’ve watched us play out of curiousity? We do have some world class players and others who are quite young and likely to become huge stars like Ismael Kone. This isn’t ten years ago. We have a very young side that’s only going to get better.

Also, I didn’t claim we’ll actually draw Argentina. I said I hope we’re able to do so based on our performance with France. I don’t think Argentina will be taking us as lightly as they probably were after seeing Netherlands manhandle us.

hugopal

loopdokter Yeah, he’s one hell of a player and was the player of the match for Canada against France. He’s only 21 and honestly I think he’s a once in a generation talent. I think he has the potential to be on the same level as Alphonso Davies is now - albeit a different position.

He needs to get the hell out of Watford! I hope a higher level league team picks him up in the summer transfer market.

That’s a hell of a lot of hyperbole there, but if the scouts of some deep-pocketed clubs feel the same then I won’t complain. He’s not even too good a player for us really and is maybe our 3rd best CM at present. The thing is he can currently have 2 mediocre games for every 1 very good one. This should improve with time though but at the moment his floor level as a player isn’t great.

I’d be fine if he stays here to keep developing, as we’re actually a good club for developing young players, but if someone comes in with a big offer I wouldn’t complain too much either.

ScottBailey

loopdokter yeah, I think most of us will probably keep an eye on the scores as we have a vested interest in how the big south American teams (Brazil, Argentina etc) are doing when the World Cup comes around. Most of their players are in European leagues too so good to keep an eye out for injuries during the domestic season.

303abuser

loopdokter I appreciate your enthusiasm, I really do. But you (and a lot of Canadians) were saying the same thing 18 months ago and we know how that worked out. I haven’t watched them play more than a few minutes since, but every time they look like a glorified mls team. I hope they prove me wrong, I’m just not holding my breath.

Millsy

Loops is the king of hyperbole when it comes to all things Canadia. And Blackberry.

Smallman1

And trampolines.

Millsy

Smallman1 Loops is the the tramp trabbed trampoliner from Toronto. Aka an absolute ledge.

loopdokter

303abuser I appreciate your enthusiasm, I really do. But you (and a lot of Canadians) were saying the same thing 18 months ago and we know how that worked out. I haven’t watched them play more than a few minutes since, but every time they look like a glorified mls team. I hope they prove me wrong, I’m just not holding my breath.

I’m by no means claiming that they’re going to beat on Brazil or Argentina in any consistent basis.

We’re finally producing players that play in the top leagues in Europe on a consistent basis and that’s only growing.

Like it or not, the MLS (and to a smaller extent the CPL) has been responsible for a lot of our players going to Europe.