With the Copa America Centenario only hours away to be held in the United States, we ask our writers to participate in a roundtable of the centenary edition of the oldest soccer tournament in the world. The writers participating are Roberto Rojas, Christian Rodriguez, Kyle Sennikoff, Homar Hernandez, Harry Harris, Liam McMahon, Vijay Vemu, Matt Niksa, Ivan Sanchez-Carrasco, Andrew McDonnell, Joey Leizerowitz and Eevry Goren.
1. What are your expectations of the tournament?
Roberto: It’s clearly going to be a tournament that we have not seen in a generation. To have these amount of stars in a nation as big as the United States with all kinds of fans from all walks of life at these matches can be something that will be remembered for decades to come. In short, it could be something that might change the face of how the general public of this country views soccer forever. With the North, Central and South American community of the United States at an all-time high, fans will come in full force to see all their star players, but also, it’ll be a tournament that we will see shocks, drama, excitement and delight among everyone.
Christian: My expectations for the tournament is that it will be a tournament with many close games and a few surprises. I feel that majority of the stadiums will be at full attendance and that the United States will prove to be a good host for the Copa America.
Kyle: I think this tournament is going to be fantastic. Seeing some of the world's biggest stars playing in our own backyard is a rare treat for sure.
Homar: My expectations for the tournament are stretched into a few key factors including popularity, durability, and dark horses. For instance, I expect this tournament to not receive the same level of coverage and ratings because of the tournament returning after only one year and other massive events such as EURO 2016 and the Olympics taking place all within a two-to-three-month period.
Additionally, the end of the league campaigns across Europe and other locations has seen a lot of injuries brew and has determined some changes in rosters of big names such as Uruguay’s Luis Suarez who may miss a portion of the group stage because of injuries. However, this may cause inferior countries to pose a legitimate threat in the tournament and surprise us all.
Harry: I expect it to be a fantastic tournament, I think that’s what everyone is expecting. While we may not have Neymar, we’re still blessed with the likes of Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez, Sergio Agüero and much more. I expect lots of goals and lots of action.
Liam: I'm really excited for this tournament. Between having the Euros and the Copa at the same time, it'll be awesome to have that much high-level football at the same time. I fully expect a great tournament; Brazil is obviously focusing a bit on the Olympics, but Argentina is desperate to win, Chile wants to defend their title, Colombia is in the midst of a golden generation and wants some silverware, Mexico want to show they're a top team in all of the Americas, and the U.S. want to show the fall and last summer was an aberration. It all means we should be in for a great spectacle.
Vijay: My expectations for this tournament is that this will be a great tournament for the United States to host. The Euros are going on at the same time and I think this will balance perfectly in terms of viewership. Soccer fans will be able to see two very different styles of soccer on TV.
Matt: I expect the tournament to be a really lively affair, with a lot of close matches and some surprises in the group stages. I think there will be sellout crowds at most of the games, and I think a lot of American soccer fans will be really impressed with the quality of play throughout the tournament.
Ivan: I expect a mixed bag for the tournament. The opening stages will be a mix of sluggish soccer and some great games, depending on the match-ups. Adding the fact that almost all these players are coming off their club seasons which have just ended, there will be little time for the teams to work together before the tournaments kick off.
Another factor will be the travel that might hamper the teams and their prep. Once the knockout stages begin and the quality improves I think the fireworks will really start to happen at that point.
Andrew: I expect this to be even bigger than the last tournament, I fully expect the United States to put on one heck of a show from start to finish and I am thoroughly expecting a great standard from all teams above.
Joey: I expect the actual games and soccer to be very exciting, and TV ratings should be very good if FOX’s coverage is up to par. I do expect that the dark side will be empty seats, unfortunately, the draw gave some of the larger stadiums bad matchup and ticket prices are higher than they should be.
Eevry: I think it's going to be wonderful, a once in a lifetime opportunity in terms of the anniversary and the United States hosting, possibly opening up an opportunity for them to participate again. I also don't expect much in the way of defense.
2. Who are your favorites and why do you think they will win?
Roberto: It has to be either Argentina or Uruguay. However, everything will depend on the fitness of various players from both of those neighboring countries. This could be the final time that this generation of the Albiceleste with clearly one of the best players in could win a major international tournament and the first since 1993. Failure at the final hurdle might make it much harder to see them achieve something, even with the 2018 FIFA World Cup happening. As for Uruguay, everything will now depend on how they do in the group stages and what the fitness of Luis Suarez becomes in the knockout stages should they qualify. Have him perfectly fit, you can Uruguay win their 16th Copa America overall.
Christian: My favorites to win the tournament will be Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. First and foremost, I picked Uruguay for their reputation of winning these types of short tournaments and for their winning demeanor what is known as “la garra charrua”. Uruguay has also proved in the World Cup Qualifiers that they could perform without Luis Suarez so, with or without him, Uruguay is still a title contender.
Argentina, in my opinion, will always be favorites due to their strong lineup. Argentina’s attack is one of the best in the world and having Lionel Messi will always grant you the opportunity to make it far in a tournament.
Reigning Copa America champions Chile also have a strong base of players that have plenty of experience playing with each other and with the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Arturo Vidal, and Claudio Bravo this team can be a serious threat. I think Colombia will be hungry to win this tournament and prove themselves the best of the Americas due to their disappointing Copa America in Chile. With James Rodriguez leading a young Colombia, this team will be trying to win their first international trophy since 2001.
Kyle: Brazil is my favorites for the Copa America. After a miserable 2015 edition, they will be hungry and want to get a hold of that trophy.
Homar: It is hard to argue against Argentina being my favorites for the tournament after consecutive second-place finishes in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2015 Copa America. With players like Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, and Sergio Agüero, a lot of teams could be wishing they weren’t on the pitch. Otherwise, Brazil (without Neymar), Chile, and Colombia are my other close options.
Harry: My favorites are Argentina. While their defense is shaky and they are far from convincing back there, they have the greatest player in the world (Messi) and an abundance of firepower. It’s tough to see past them as the favorites.
Liam: I've got Argentina winning the tournament. They came desperately close to the title last summer and have the best strike force in the world in Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, and Angel Di Maria. Chile will contend as will Colombia, but Argentina will end their 23-year trophy drought.
Vijay: The favorites are clearly Argentina. If there ever was a time for Leo Messi and his country to win, the time is now. Brazil is without Neymar and Douglas Costa. Suarez will be limping into this tournament for Uruguay. Colombia still has to solve their own issues as well. That leaves Chile and Argentina and I will give the edge to Argentina. They are deep this year and with Gonzalo Higuain coming off the year he had, they finally have some solidity at striker.
Matt: I think the main favorites are still Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. Argentina is certainly a favorite because of the amount of quality players on their roster, i.e. Di Maria, Agüero, Messi (if he's healthy), and Gonzalo Higuain, while Brazil, even without Neymar and Douglas Costa, are favorites because of a stacked roster which includes Willian, Dani Alves, and Hulk. Mexico are favorites because they have a lot of players playing in top leagues on the back line (Miguel Layun, Diego Reyes, Hector Moreno) and have Javier Hernandez, one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga this season, leading the line.
Ivan: Argentina should probably be the favorites for the tournament. They have the best player in the Americas, their World Cup finalist, and Copa America finalist and have attacking options that make the rest of the world blush. Chile coming off last year's Copa America win is an interesting team considering they aren't playing at home this time and they have a new coach. Mexico will benefit from being the "home" team and are playing some great soccer under Osorio. At the end of the day, Argentina is my pick to win it.
Andrew: I think Brazil go into this as slight favorites, but the standard will be high and anyone can beat anyone on their day. I favor Brazil because they have such a young team and when Dunga stripped the side apart a few years back, he has put together a side that can compete at the highest level once more.
Joey: I think Argentina are the favorites, but if Luis Suarez is healthy I’ll bank on Uruguay winning it. I like the leadership that Godin brings to this team, and defense is something that most of the South American nations are missing the most.
Eevry: Brazil. I know it's cliché especially given some of the missing players but the Brazilian league is really underrated and they've got a couple guys based in Europe in particular that are in excellent form as of late including Hulk and Philippe Coutinho. Plus, Dunga has them actually defending well for once.
3. Who do you think will underwhelm?
Roberto: On a group stage perspective, it could be the United States or Colombia. Both nations pitted in a tough group with Costa Rica and Paraguay will make things difficult for them and make it hard if they fail to get maximum points to advance to the quarterfinals. On an overall tournament, it could be Chile or Brazil. Brazil hasn't been impressive in major tournaments since 2007, discounting the Confederations Cup wins in 2009 and 2013. Dunga clearly is thinking in a different perspective of things having to deal with a bunch of drama such as emotionally imbalanced players and a perfect system. The loss of Neymar will be huge, even with their main focus on winning Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro in August, but in this one, even with an experimental side, could see them not even go to the semifinals for the third straight time. As for the reigning Copa America champions, Juan Antonio Pizzi will have to try to tinker off his new team under his realm following the departure of Jorge Sampaoli, the loss of Jorge Valdivia will see them lack a true center attack midfielder and could hurt them in the United States.
Christian: The teams I feel that would fail to meet expectations are Mexico and Brazil. Brazil is seen in an easy group but they have not been doing well recently in the qualifiers. With Dunga in charge, Brazil hasn’t been seen with an identity and their last Copa America was a failure. Without Neymar and other key players, I feel Brazil won’t have it easy getting out of their group. For Mexico, ever since Juan Carlos Osorio came in, they’ve won all their games and haven’t conceded but they don’t necessarily attract with their style of play. I feel the same way about Mexico having a tough time managing to get out of the group.
Kyle: Costa Rica is going to underwhelm. After their surprising 2014 World Cup, expectations were meant to go through the roof. However, the loss of Keylor Navas is going to shatter the hopes and dreams of that country.
Homar: Brazil may fail to exceed expectations with the absence of Neymar. Although the team is still filled with world class footballers, it could be said that they lack a true leader on the pitch without him. For instance, the devastating 7-1 loss to Germany at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. I believe people are used to Argentina now not winning every major American tournament and Uruguay may be a contender to underwhelm if their quality defensive framework doesn’t perform.
Harry: Unfortunately, I think Colombia will be underwhelming this summer. They were exhilarating at the 2014 World Cup, led by James Rodriguez, their big names have faltered this season and were left out the squad, while Rodriguez himself has struggled with form.
Liam: Brazil will underwhelm. Obviously, the Canarinho is the most famous shirt in the world, and people tend to just expect them to win always. However, with the Olympics this summer, that is the priority. They'll get out of their group, probably make the semifinals, but compared to what many expect of them, they will underwhelm.
Vijay: I think Brazil will be the biggest letdown. They don't have their two best players in Neymar and Douglas Costa and are going to be putting an inexperienced team out there. If Brazil isn't careful, they may be eliminated out of the group stage.
Matt: I personally think Colombia will underwhelm. They have fewer star players on their roster compared to their 2014 World Cup roster, and their forward depth is pretty limited (only Carlos Bacca is quality). James Rodriguez and Carlos Sanchez should play well in the midfield, but their defense is definitely not as strong as Brazil's or Argentina's. I think they will not get out of the group, with the U.S. and Costa Rica finishing above them.
Ivan: Brazil has the most potential to fail. To no fault of the players playing for Brazil, there's an expectation to win the tournament regardless. Dunga did them no favor with a team that isn't as strong as it could be. While they still have some great world Class talent, they look dead for an upset in the knockout stage.
Andrew: Tough one, Paraguay could end up being the team in Group A that suffers, and also Haiti, I fear for them, Panama too.
Joey: Brazil. It is hard to say how good this Brazil team is, especially without Neymar. Some have Brazil as the favorites to win the tournament but don’t be surprised if they fail to make the semifinals.
Eevry: Colombia. I think that a lot of people rate them particularly after the 2014 world cup but their key defenders are in terrible form, at least at the club level, I'm unsure which Carlos Bacca we're going to see and they didn't take a lot of big names.
4. Who are the dark horses?
Roberto: Paraguay. Their consistent performances following the Copa America last year as well as World Cup qualification put them on a good road of preparation for the tournament in the United States. In their group, should they advance, they will most likely play Brazil in the quarterfinals for the third straight time in a Copa America. Having beaten them twice in the past, the third time could be the charm and beat them, then the sky is the limit for La Albirroja.
Christian: The dark horses of the tournament will be Paraguay and Ecuador. Paraguay has been having a good run in the South American Qualifiers and has had recent success in the past Copa Americas. The new talent surging in makes Paraguay a tough threat and a tough team to defend in set pieces. Ecuador has been having an amazing qualifying run alongside Uruguay and has proved they could compete with South America’s best by beating Argentina and Uruguay.
Kyle: I think Mexico is going to be one of the biggest surprises in the tournament. Chicharito Hernandez leads a potent attack and with injuries on other rosters, they could make a deep run.
Homar: The dark horses in this tournament if based on prior tournaments could be Costa Rica, the surprise of the World Cup, or Ecuador, the surprise of CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying. However, a close eye should be focused on Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru, who could make the knockout stages favorably if underestimated on the pitch.
Harry: The dark horses for me are the United States. I think they’ll thrive in the underdog role as per usual and while they may not win the whole thing, being on home soil could certainly play into their hands.
Liam: We've obviously heard a lot about Argentina and Brazil because they're two of the biggest names in world football, and we've heard plenty about Chile, as the defending champions. Having Alexis doesn't hurt them either, of course. I think that people are just overlooking Colombia a little bit, given the players they have in their squad. I don't know that they'll win the tournament, but I really think that people are just forgetting about the quality that they possess.
Vijay: The dark horses will be Ecuador. They gave the US a test in their recent friendly and will give other teams trouble. Enner Valencia will look to continue his solid season after playing at West Ham this season. They play as a team and could find themselves in the knockout stages.
Matt: I believe Chile is a strong dark horse candidate. With Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez, and Eduardo Vargas on the Copa roster, Chile has a chance to beat Mexico and beat Brazil or Argentina. Claudio Bravo is a really solid goalkeeper who can keep them in games, and their defense led by Gary Medel should bend but not break. I see them losing in the round of eight, but I wouldn't be surprised if they upset Mexico or one of the other favorites and moving on to the semifinal round.
Ivan: I think Jamaica could do that. They played in last year's Copa America and played well even though they lost each game 1-0. They showed they can hang with those teams and will have the speed and physical ability to be dangerous on the counter. They will also have revenge on their mind since they did lose to Uruguay in the Copa America and Mexico in the Gold Cup finals.
As a dark horse to win the tournament it's hard to say. Just off of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, you see there's a group of teams who are above the bottom four teams of the region. Also considering how well the Americas did in the last World Cup, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Uruguay should all feel they can take down Argentina and Brazil.
Mexico is the dark horse as they've shown over the last year they're the best team in North America and will now have their chance to play their best against South America's best. They will also have the home field advantage all tournament long which might play a factor as well.
Andrew: The dark horses have to be Colombia or Ecuador, I have recently written a piece on the latter and how they have emerged as one of the favorites for the tournament, but Colombia has some real superstars in their ranks.
Joey: It may be difficult to call them dark horses, but Mexico would be mine. Mexico is going to have incredible support in the stadiums, and if Guardado and Chicharito get the support they need, they could make a very deep run.
Eevry: The United States. Yes, there are questions over Jürgen's selection and some of the defense but I think the front three are starting to find their rhythm and ultimately they're a team that can fight for a result and won't give up.
5. How will the United States do?
Roberto: As the hosts, they should be able to advance out of the group stages. Had it been in an easier, you could have it with much more reassurance. Jurgen Klinsmann is clearly using a mix of youth and experienced players for these three matches and you can’t blame him for saying his goal is to reach the semifinals, and for that, I think he’s 100% correct and they will finish in third.
Christian: I feel the United States will have a tough time making it out of the group as I see the United States going through a rebuilding process. I feel that the other three teams have much more to offer and that the United States lacks talent and defensive solidarity.
Kyle: They will certainly make it out of the group stage while finishing second behind Colombia. But if Brazil wins group B, the quarterfinals opponent might be Brazil and that is going to be a big test.
Homar: It is no joke that the United States are in the ‘group of death’ of the tournament. If the United States wants any realistic chance of getting out of the group stage and into a knockout round, they need to get at least a point in the opening match against Colombia. Otherwise, two wins in three matches are the guess for them to make it into round two where they would have to most likely play Ecuador or Brazil, where the odds drop tremendously to reach the next round.
Harry: While I picked the U.S as my dark horses, I think they reach the quarterfinals before bowing out of the tournament. It’s a talented team but with the potential of facing Brazil after the group stages, it looks to be very daunting for the Americans.
Liam: The U.S. will either flame out in the Group Stage or put together a magical run. They don't have anything resembling the quality of the top teams in this tournament, and the depth of their group means they could well fail to make the knockout stages. Of course, they've also shown they can also catch fire and ride a wave of momentum playing in front of home crowds. I'm going to say they finish second in the group and come up against Brazil in the quarterfinal, where they lose. We'll see. This U.S. team is such an enigma anything can happen.
Vijay: I think the USA will get knocked out in the group stage. Yes, players like Bobby Wood, Gyasi Zardes, and even Christian Pulisic are the future of the national team but they aren't that good right now. And frankly, neither is the rest of the team. Having Brad Guzan in goal is one of the many things wrong with this team right now.
Matt: I believe the US will finish in fourth place. I think having both Darlington Nagbe and Christian Pulisic on the roster will make them dangerous in the last fifteen minutes of the game, and I like the defense of DeAndre Yedlin, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron and Fabian Johnson/Matt Besler. Klinsmann seems to have found the right role to play Michael Bradley, and Bobby Wood should score a couple of important goals in this tournament. I see them winning the group and beating the runner-up in group B, before losing to either Brazil/Argentina. I see them then losing to Mexico in the consolation match, to finish in fourth.
Ivan: The USA should have the goal of reaching the semifinals. I expect them to be tight and conservative and grind out games. Much of the same way they played at the World Cup two years ago. They always do better in the underdog role and they can easily talk themselves into that. At the least they should make it out of the group stage and in these tournaments they always tend to deliver a surprise here or there. At the end if I had to make a pet I would say the USA makes the quarterfinals.
Andrew: Another tough question. That's like saying how long is a bit of string really. It all depends on how they turn up on the day and not let the occasion of hosting the tournament in their own country overwhelm them. I think they will do well, I can see them emerging from Group A with Colombia, to be honest, and they could push for the top spot.
Joey: The United States will make it out of their group, but I don’t see them going past the quarterfinals. Hopefully, Klinsmann plays the kids and lets them experience the feeling of playing in a big tournament. That could be huge when 2018 rolls along.
Eevry: I suspect we'll win the group, going on to beat Ecuador in the quarterfinals before losing to Chile in the semifinals.
6. Who will be the Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot?
Roberto: Lionel Messi for the Player of the Tournament and the Golden Boot will go to Javier Hernandez. As both are major stars for their respective nations, it’s clear to say they will be recognized at the end of the tournament.
Christian: I think the player of the tournament will be Alexis Sanchez and the Golden Boot will go to Edinson Cavani.
Kyle: Javier Hernandez for both. He was in the form of his life this season with Bayer Leverkusen. If he carries that into the Copa, there is no doubt that he will be one of the better players in the tournament.
Homar: The player of the tournament will likely be from one of the two national teams that make it to the final, but I narrow it down to Alexis Sanchez, Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Douglas Costa, or possibly James Rodriguez. Difficult to put a defender on a shortlist nowadays.
Harry: Lionel Messi wins the Player of the Tournament while either Gonzalo Higuain or Sergio Agüero win the Golden Boot, following my theme of Argentina as the favorites.
Liam: Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot winner: Lionel Messi. Remarkably unoriginal, but he's spoken in the lead up to this tournament about how badly he wants to win, and I think this is finally the year he puts his stamp on a tournament.
Vijay: I think the player of the tournament will be Alexis Sanchez. He will bounce back after an ok season at Arsenal. But the golden boot winner will be Gonzalo Higuain, I expect him to continue scoring like he did for Napoli this season.
Matt: I believe the player of the tournament will be Lionel Messi of Argentina, and the Golden boot will go to Sergio Agüero of Argentina. Argentina should score a lot of goals in Copa America, and I expect Messi to finish with four goals and eight assists, with Agüero finishing with ten goals or more.
Ivan: Lionel Messi for the Player of the Tournament and Javier Hernandez for Golden Boot.
Andrew: This will be one of four players I think, I know that wasn't really the question, however, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Alexis Sanchez have been on form for their clubs and look like carrying that onto this tournament. If I was a betting man I'd say Messi Player of the Tournament and Suarez Golden Boot.
Joey: Diego Godin for the Player of the Tournament and Gonzalo Higuain for Golden Boot.
Eevry: I think Alexis Sanchez may just be the player of the tournament as Chile are one of the few big boys to name a full strength squad while Hulk, Chicharito, or Agüero will finish with the golden boot, in part because of their group stage opponents.
7. What will this tournament mean for the sport in the United States?
Roberto: A lot honestly. It’s been growing since 1994 and with the rise of MLS and the USMNT in tournaments as well as popularity on a youth and adolescent manner, this tournament can be the building block just like it did 22 years ago when it staged the FIFA World Cup, it’s something that will be remembered for this generation of fans, such as those who are Millennials and Generation Z soccer fans, as well as the older fans who see the nostalgia of a tournament as big as this happening in their own nation.
Christian: The tournament will show that soccer only keeps improving in the United States and that it is a major sport. The good attendance throughout the country will hopefully consider the United States to host a future World Cup and spark youthful talent.
Kyle: Soccer has been growing in this country exponentially over the last few years, this tournament is only going make the sport even more popular.
Homar: The sport in the United States will be affected by the results of the United States National Team. If the federation really hopes for the sport to gain popularity, they need to make a serious run while young and exciting players such as Gyasi Zardes and Christian Pulisic are able to thrive.
Harry: I think the tournament will be huge for the United States as the sport continues to grow rapidly. The venues being used this summer are all major sporting arenas that will attract large crowds, no matter who everyone is supporting. A major tournament in the US will only help the sport’s popularity increase.
Liam: This is a great chance for the U.S. to remind FIFA just how lucrative it would be to host a World Cup here, and a chance to show the general populous how exciting this game is. This is the biggest thing to happen for the game in this country since hosting the World Cup in 1994.
The best player in the world is coming here for a tournament that matters. We'll have colorful traveling fans coming here, creating an incredible atmosphere. It's enough to turn a doubter into a believer. We hear far too much about one moment that "makes soccer popular in the US." It already is popular, and its popularity is growing. It will continue to grow, and this could be another important moment in its growth.
Vijay: I think this will be a big boost for everyone. A bunch of big countries will be coming to play and expect some big crowds.
Matt: I think this tournament will be a huge deal for a lot of American soccer fans and will further increase the amount of attention paid to soccer as a sport in the United States. U.S. fans have the opportunity of a lifetime to see Agüero, Messi, James Rodriguez, Alexis Sanchez, Vidal, etc., all of these fantastic players who play at the highest level and who many young fans look up to as a soccer role model.
I think seeing these players live or on TV will further motivate fledgling soccer players to want to continue playing soccer, and help increase fans for our own MLS league and NWSL league. Overall, Copa America should be a huge success in terms of increasing attention for the sport of soccer in the U.S., and I can't wait to see how it turns out!
Ivan: For the sport in the USA it will continue to show that the USA are able to host a World Cup in the drop of the dime. Popularity wise it will be much like it has been in World Cup years where it captures the attention of the nation which is always positive. Long term it won't mean much for the USA national team as a hole if the structure of American soccer from the bottom down doesn't change. That's a discussion for another day, though.
Andrew: This tournament is massive, not just for soccer in the states, but for the sport as a whole. This will get children of all ages out and want to play sports because they have seen the superstars of the Copa America perform on their home soil.
Joey: I believe the most important thing from this tournament will be the experience the foreign players have. Those that visit and train at MLS stadium and training facilities will hopefully leave impressed and will show the coming to the United States to play soccer aren't only for your last paycheck.
Eevry: It's a mixed bag frankly. Any major soccer tournament in the US, particularly in major cities is a plus but the insistence on not taking some of the best players along for the ride, like Neymar and the continued playing in soccer stadiums are major deterrents. Regardless I think it'll help continue to grow the sport here.