Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez was arguably Argentina's breakout star at the 2019 Copa America. The Copa America will showcase South America's biggest names.Īnd there are plenty. Who are the star names to watch out for? Lautaro Martinez, Roberto Firmino, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez Though they haven't lifted the trophy since 2011, Uruguay will still be a team to watch, especially given the impressive seasons that strikers Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani have enjoyed.Ĭurrent holders Brazil are also among the contenders as they seek to clinch a 10th title, with Neymar hoping to make amends for missing out on their 2019 triumph with a ruptured ankle ligament. Victory for Argentina would put them level with 15-time winners Uruguay as the competition's most successful nation. The penalty miss prompted Messi's retirement from international football, before he reversed his decision two months later. The forward has been on the losing side in three Copa America finals, most recently missing a penalty in the 2016 shootout against Chile. Messi, 33, has won 10 La Liga titles and the Champions League four times with Barcelona, but is yet to lift a major trophy with his country. Who are the favourites? Lionel Messi missed a penalty in the 2016 Copa America final shootout against Chileĭespite no longer playing on home soil, Argentina are among the favourites, with Lionel Messi looking to deliver silverware. Matches will be played across the cities of Brasilia, Goiania, Cuiaba and Rio de Janeiro, with the iconic Maracana stadium hosting the final.
The Copa America usually features 12 teams, with two guest nations from North America or Asia invited to play alongside the 10 members of South America's football confederation.Īs the two previous winners of the Asian Cup, Australia and Qatar were set to take part this year, but both countries later withdrew because of a clash of fixtures with rearranged 2022 World Cup qualifiers. It also has the third-highest number of recorded coronavirus cases, at more than 16 million.īolsonaro said: "From the beginning I have said about the pandemic: I regret the deaths, but we have to live." Which teams are involved? Colombia beat Argentina 2-0 in the group stage in 2019 Brazil players criticise decision to host event but rule out boycottīrazil has registered more than 460,000 Covid-19 deaths - the second-highest toll in the world, after the United States.Jair Bolsonaro, the country's president, said the decision to host the tournament was not up for discussion, despite receiving widespread criticism. Governing body Conmebol said Argentina was removed as host because of the "present circumstances", with the country experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases.īrazil - itself hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic - stepped in to host the event, although no fans will be able to attend matches.
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South America's historic competition was set to be hosted by more than one country for the first time since 1983, but will now be hosted by Brazil for the second time in a row.Ĭolombia's games were taken off them in May amid ongoing civil unrest, with a series of protests held against the country's government after it tried to implement a controversial tax plan.Īrgentina had offered to host all matches, but was stripped of the tournament on 30 May, just two weeks before the opening game. The final takes place on 10 July - although the time difference means that in Europe, it will be seen in the early hours of 11 July, the same day as the Euro 2020 final.Īrgentina and Colombia were originally set to co-host the tournament, before it was moved to Brazil on 31 May. Largely mirroring the Euros, the Copa America kicks off on 13 June when Brazil take on Venezuela in the opening game. The competition was originally scheduled to take place in 2020, but was postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.
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