Matchday 1 in Review Around the Copa

Every team at Copa America has now played their first match of the tournament. Here is where things stand, and some of my biggest takeaways from each group.

Group A | Argentina 3, Peru 1, Chile 1, Canada 0

Argentina 2-0 Canada

Peru 0-0 Chile

Preeeeetty much what we expected going into it (except for Brazil), and to be honest there haven’t been nearly as many upsets (except for Brazil) as you would expect or from what we’ve seen at the concurrently active Euros.

Argentina, the number one ranked team in the world and reigning Copa America/World Cup champions were held to a 0-0 draw at halftime against a new look Canada.

Unfortunately for Jesse Marsch and co. it only took four minutes into the second half for Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez to put the Argentinians in front - a place they would never look back from. Inter’s Lautaro Martinez scored his first of the tournament in the 88’ to seal the deal.

In the group’s other match was more boxing fight than soccer match. A collective 37 fouls were committed leading to four yellow cards in a very un-fun 0-0 draw. If I were Argentina right now I would have Messi rocking up to their match against Chile looking like Jake Gyllenhaal in Bubble Boy. By the way can we just take a moment and appreciate that a now A-list actor like Jakey G was this guy…

Group B | Venezuela 3, Mexico 3, Ecuador 0, Jamaica 0

Ecuador 1-2 Venezuela

Mexico 1-0 Jamaica

The biggest moments from this group’s initial matchday were storylines that start with negatives. In the early match between Venezuela and Ecuador, Ecuador’s captain Enner Valencia received a straight red for a high boot straight to a Venezuelan defender’s chest.

Both teams made it interesting as Ecuador actually took the lead before the first half whistle. Venezuela stayed composed and secured the upset with goals in the 64’ and 74’. Venezuela now have to be feeling pretty good about their chances, and Ecuador is about to face a well drilled Jamaica without their most dangerous scorer.

In the late game Mexico had bad news of their own. Captain and West Ham talisman Edson Alvarez went down with an apparent hamstring injury in the 30th minute and could not continue. His return is unknown.

Mexico did what Mexico has done for the past two years and underwhelmed on their way to a narrow victory. An absolute banger from Gerardo Arteaga was enough for our CONCACAF rivals to get the three points.

Jamaica will be quite pleased with their performance which included stalwart defending and some dangerous attacks that couldn’t be finished. We knew this before the tournament started but this is easily the most wide open group where every team still has their eyes on qualifying for the quarter-final.

Group C | Uruguay 3, USA 3, Panama 0, Bolivia 0

USA 2-0 Bolivia

Uruguay 3-1 Panama

Ye shall be entertained! The USMNT kicked off their Copa America with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Bolivia. After Pulisic’s entry into the bangers only club in the 3’ the game was never in doubt. Fans online are barely even complaining about Gregg Berhalter! It’s a Copa miracle.

No but really the US could have easily made this 4 or 5 in their favor. Ricardo Pepi alone could have added two in his short stint on the pitch. Overall the match has to give the US confidence going into their now crucial match against Panama where they can clinch a quarterfinal appearance with a win.

Not so fast though. Uruguay’s 3-1 win was not a comfortable two-goal margin like the US’. For much of the match Uruguay led 1-0 over the pesky Panamanians. For a lot of the second half, Panama were the stronger team with the better chances, but quality prevails and Uruguay found two more goals late in the 85’ and 91’ minutes. Former Red Bull Michael Murillo scored the lone goal for Panama in the 94’.

Panama looked good, but Uruguay looked better. With a win under their belt and the next match against the tournament’s weakest team, Uruguay will be feeling great about their chances and might just be looking to run up the score incase goal difference is the factor that decides group C.

For the US, they’ll be hoping for another comfortable three points to see them through, but Panama will have their say.

Group D | Colombia 3, Costa Rica 1, Brazil 1, Paraguay 0

Colombia 2-1 Paraguay

Brazil 0-0 Costa Rica

Outside of Brazil and Argentina, Colombia and Uruguay have the next spots for tournament favorites. If we were going to place a “disappointing win” moniker to any of these matches from the first matchday, it’s likely Colombia 2-1 Paraguay.

Colombia went into the half up 2-0, but the performance was lacking. Paraguay came roaring back in the second half and cut Colombia’s lead in the 69’ to only 1 goal. This game ended up being a Premier League bloodbath. Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz and Jefferson Lerma scored for Colombia while Brighton’s Julio Enciso scored for Paraguay.

The match finished with three points to Colombia but Paraguay will take confidence knowing they won the xg, shots and big chances battle against their CONMEBOL brothers.

WOAH! Brazil’s draw with Costa Rica started at a snail’s pace. Frustrated by an organized Costa Rican defense and multiple questionable calls from the referee, they were never able to break through in the second half.

I will say the goal overturned by VAR in the 30’ had one of the strangest review protocols I’ve witnessed in my short time on earth. The referee delayed the restart while listening to the invisible man in his headset, and after about three minutes of standing at the center-circle signaled that he would be going to the screen to review. Then on his way to the screen he called the goal offside without ever looking for himself.

Why can’t we just have semi-automated VAR review like the Euros? Get CONCACAFed nerds.

The second half went much the same way, with Brazil frustrated by our CONCACAF brethren and denied by a goalkeeper channeling his inner Keylor Navas. A comment on reddit explained my feelings perfectly: This is by far the most I've ever enjoyed a scoreless draw as a neutral fan. A bizarre mix of pride and schadenfreude.