Copa America 2024: Can Argentina's continental dominance continue?

euronews (in English)

With 16 participating nations played across 14 host cities, the 2024 Copa America is the biggest edition of the tournament in its 108-year history.

Transcript

00:00The 2024 Copa America is about to kick off.

00:0416 teams are competing to be the continental champions.

00:08Can Messi's Argentina retain the title?

00:11Or will their trophy winning streak come to an end?

00:19Hello and welcome to Football Now.

00:22The 2024 Copa America is the latest tournament to begin

00:26in what is a very busy summer for football.

00:29Due to the multi-city venues, the hosts, the USA,

00:33will be using this competition as a dress rehearsal

00:36for hosting FIFA World Cup games in just two years' time.

00:40Let's take a look at just what is to come.

00:43Reigning champions and 15-time winners Argentina

00:47meet Canada in the opening game in Atlanta.

00:50Peru and Chile will provide stern competition in Group A,

00:53having both won the tournament twice.

00:56They will both expect to make it through to the knockout rounds.

00:59Group B contains four teams that have never won the competition before.

01:03Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela and Jamaica will be looking

01:07to fix that this time around.

01:10Hosts the USA are joined by 15-time champions Uruguay,

01:14Panama and Bolivia in Group C.

01:17Brazil meet their equals in Group D.

01:19Their skill will be tested by Colombia, Paraguay and Costa Rica.

01:24A mix of teams from the CONMEBOL and CONCACAF federations

01:28means that only for the second time in the tournament's history,

01:312024's Copa America starts with four groups of four teams.

01:35It's a six-team increase from the last edition in 2021.

01:40I think overall for me this tournament is interesting

01:43because of the mix of the CONCACAF teams that are invited

01:47and the aspirations of specifically the United States and Mexico

01:50to show that their next generations can compete with these big boys

01:53like Argentina, like Brazil and like some of the other

01:56South American countries, Uruguay, Colombia who have been

01:59consistent presences on the international stage.

02:02It's entirely possible we have a semi-final that looks like

02:05the Copa America in Brazil a few years ago and Copa Americas of the past

02:09but it's also possible that there's a bit of a spoiler in the US,

02:12in Mexico or even one of the other CONCACAF teams.

02:14So I think that blend is really interesting.

02:16Can those greats of the past continue to show why they're great

02:21or is it time for a new team, a new generation of players to emerge

02:25whether that's the US, whether that's Mexico or whether that's

02:28Uruguay, Colombia or the rest.

02:30So I think that's what intrigues me overall about the tournament

02:33is that you have a lot of questions about the hierarchy that's existed

02:38in the Americas for so long.

02:40It's been an excellent few years for Argentina.

02:43They picked up the Copa America trophy in 2021

02:47before famously winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

02:52After which there were rumours that Lionel Messi could hang up his boots

02:56and retire at international level but now at 36 years old

03:00he's set to captain his nation at yet another international tournament.

03:05It's incredible, it's incredible.

03:06I think it shows how important Argentina is for Messi.

03:09If you look back there was always that perception that maybe for Argentina

03:13he had to work twice as hard to have an impact on games.

03:17And there was always that tension of him trying to carry the team.

03:19But I think over the last four years we've seen Messi feel more comfortable

03:23in his surroundings, feel he has the trust and feel he can trust in his teammates

03:27to carry their part at the side.

03:29So I think if this was the Argentina of three or four years ago

03:31there would obviously be a question whether Messi would still be playing.

03:33Not because he doesn't love Argentina or doesn't love playing for the national team

03:36but it required him doing the job of three or four people

03:39and that definitely isn't the case nowadays.

03:41He can pick his moments and they're incredible, spectacular moments

03:45but he trusts the guys around him.

03:46Well Argentina's continental rivals Brazil are facing a few challenges

03:51in their preparations for this tournament.

03:54They'll be without their star man Neymar

03:57who is still struggling with a knee injury

03:59that has kept him out for almost the entire club season.

04:02It was thought that this could be his last international tournament

04:06so have we already seen the last of him in that iconic yellow shirt?

04:11I think he's going to the World Cup in 2026

04:14and I hope he recovers well from all the injuries

04:17all the things that is happening outside from the field.

04:20We are going to miss Neymar and all the good talent that he has

04:24and the magic on the field.

04:25So I think for the show we need Neymar also

04:28because Brazil is also being known for the stars

04:31and these new names that we are knowing every match and every tournament

04:35so I think he's going.

04:37These maximum stars that we have, they're going to their last tournament

04:41but I think Neymar is going to be

04:44and it could be his last World Cup.

04:47Well Argentina and Brazil are the favourites

04:50but the likes of Ecuador, Venezuela and Costa Rica

04:54have never seen glory at the Copa America

04:56and could be the teams to watch.

04:58So what are the chances of a new name on the trophy this time around?

05:03I think that's a surprise to be Venezuela

05:06because in the national qualifiers for the World Cup

05:09it is the new surprise that we have.

05:11So I think it could be Venezuela, it could be Ecuador, Mexico

05:14also that is part of our group

05:16and it's also a national team that will have a lot of support

05:19from everybody that is going to be in the stadiums

05:22because Mexico has a lot of people living there in the United States.

05:25Also Colombia because it is a national team that is growing up so fast

05:29it has a lot of other stars and young stars

05:32that if I have to pick one national team that could be a surprise

05:35I will go to Venezuela.

05:372024's latest festival of football is about to begin

05:41but who will be crowned Copa America champions?

05:44Let us know your thoughts using the hashtag

05:47FootballNowCopaAmerica

05:49That's all we have time for from our studio here in Gohar

05:52we'll see you next time, bye for now.

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