A few hours before the start of the third and final group match of the Copa America broadcast on L’Equipe live, there are still five tickets to win to reach the quarter-finals.
As for the competition favourites who have not yet qualified, Brazil finally woke up on the night of Friday to Saturday, after a disappointing draw against Costa Rica (0-0). Vinicius Jr’s teammates, who scored twice, largely dominated Paraguay, the officially eliminated nation, (4-1). They will face Colombia on the last day of the group, to validate their place in the quarter-finals. A draw is enough for Dorival Junior’s men.
Despite its two victories in two matches against Panama (3-1) and Bolivia (5-0), Uruguay (6 points) has not officially made it out of the group stage. The rather spectacular performances put on by Marcelo Bielsa’s players, however, leave little doubt about the Celeste’s qualification on Tuesday against the United States.
Mexico-Ecuador, a meeting that looks like a round of 16
The United States (3 points) will have to give their all against Uruguay after their poor performance against Panama (2-1) if they want to hope to see the final stages on home soil. The second match of the last day of Group C will pit Bolivia (0 points) against Panama (3 points), who are also playing for their place in the quarter-finals.
With Venezuela already qualified and Jamaica eliminated, there is only one place left for two teams in Group B: Mexico and Ecuador. Coincidentally with the calendar, the last match of the group will pit the two nations against each other and will therefore determine who gets the last ticket from Group B for the top 8 of the Copa America. The meeting, scheduled for the night of Sunday to Monday (2 hours), will have the feel of the round of 16.
Argentina, Venezuela and Colombia already qualified
For their part, Argentina, Venezuela and Colombia have nothing more to play in this final day.
Indeed, Lionel Messi’s team was the first nation to qualify for the quarter-finals after its two victories against Canada (2-0) and Chile (1-0). Then, the only South American team, along with Ecuador, to have never won the Copa America, Venezuela also obtained its ticket. Finally, after its success against Paraguay (2-1) and its large victory against Costa Rica (3-0), Colombia is the last nation to qualify on the second day of the group stages.
