Fear not football fans! While the wait for the start of the new Premier League season might seem a million miles away, the international gods have provided us with TWO bumper tournaments this summer.
The giants of Europe will face off in Germany, as England aim to balance their latest Golden Generation™ against the might of Kylian Mbappe’s Les Bleus and a resurgent host nation.
Alongside the thrills and spills in Europe, fans will be spoilt for choice in the weeks ahead, with the Copa America rolling into town in the USA.
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With plenty of late night kickoffs for European based fans, it will be Red Bull and buckets of coffee at the ready time, but that’s all part of the fun, no?
The great powerhouses of Brazil and Argentina are expected go all the way, with Lionel Messi aiming to defend his Copa crown, while the Real Madrid-powered Samba Boys look to dance all the way to the final on July 14.
Ahead of the big kickoff in Georgia on June 20, Paddy has got you covered with all the key 2024 Copa America markets, for four weeks of footie and possibly some eye gouging and fish hooking.
Copa America winner
Ahead of the tournament start, Brazil and Argentina are clear ahead as the two favourites to win it. The latter come in as holders after Angel Di Maria’s clincher in the 2021 final against Brazil in Rio de Janeiro ended Argentina’s 18-year wait for a Copa title.
Argentina of course followed that up with a world title in 2022, as Messi ticked the BIG ONE off his list, and Brazil have entered in a bizarre period since.
Tite’s exit at the start of 2023 triggered a succession of interim/temp/place holders as the Brazilian FA eventually tried and failed to woo Carlo Ancelotti across the Atlantic.
New boss Dorival Junior sealed a 1-0 win over England on his debut, but he is unproven outside of Brazil, and the Samba Boys will be relying on the force of their star players to mount a push for the final.
Argentina still have their World Cup core together, with Rodrigo De Paul and Cristian Romero ready to fight anyone who speaks to Messi, and that consistency and the likelihood of this being Messi’s Copa goodbye should tip the balance for the holders.
Copa America finalists
Six of the last seven finals have featured either Brazil or Argentina with a direct face off in three of those. However, the upheaval for Brazil could mean a struggle for Vinicius Junior and the gang, which leaves the door open for a alternate challenger to Argentina.
Enter Marcelo Bielsa….
Everyone’s favourite bucket sitter has got his Uruguay side 100% Bielsified and he wil relish a crack at Argentina almost 20 years on from leading them to a Copa final defeat to Brazil.
Bielsa has harnessed the grisly Uruguayan spirit into a crack tactical unit and they could be a real threat to the holders if they make it all the way through to the final.
Copa America Winner/Golden Boot double
The natural move here is for a Argentina/Messi double, but let’s think a little off menu, eh. Eight of the last nine Copa winners have had a Golden Boot winner in their squad either as outright or joint hotshot.
That honour went to Messi in 2021, as he lifted the trophy, and shared the goal gong with Colombia’s Luis Diaz.
Messi finished just behind Kylian Mbappe in the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot race and he will be the golden goose again for Argentina. However, the man in form for the defending champions is Lautaro Martinez.
His 24 league goals sealed a Serie A title for Inter Milan this season, plus he only finished one behind Messi in Argentina’s 2021 win, and he will be at the point of the attack again.
To reach the semi-finals
The USA have been welcomed back into the Copa fold for 2024 after agreeing to host the house party this time. However, this time it’s different, with Gregg Berhalter’s side qualifying for the tournament as opposed to landing an invite.
They marched to the semifinals in their last appearance in 2016 and have continued to improve year on year.
Two CONCACAF Gold Cup wins since then, including a historic victory over Mexico, and a run to the last 16 at the 2022 World Cup shows their progress.
If they can edge Uruguay and finish top of Group C, they will avoid a likely quarter-final against Brazil, and the wind will be in their favour to push on to the final four.
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