The Auriverde team is stumbling in the regional qualifier for the 2026 World Cup, where it suffered three consecutive defeats in 2023, against Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina, and in six games played it occupies a worrying sixth place, on the verge of the play-offs.
Thereto Added to this is the traumatic elimination in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar against Croatia on penalties. and also the historic defeat in the 2021 Copa América final at home, the Maracaná, against archrival Argentina.
Within the group they assume the need to fight for the tenth title in the oldest national team tournament in the world as a balm to heal the wounds.
“As we talked inside the locker room, we are going to divide the responsibilities. Everyone is going to assume their role so that the group becomes stronger and stronger. Only in this way will we be able to reach our goal,” stated Rodrygo, who together with his Real Madrid teammate Vinicius Jr are called to lead the comeback.
The debut in the Copa Américaat the Sofi Stadium in Inglewood (California), seems to fit like a glove: Costa Rica, previously the weakest in Group D, which no longer has in its ranks the legendary goalkeeper Keylor Navas, its hero in the historic qualification for the quarterfinals of the 2014 Brazil World Cup.
The absence of ’10’ Neymar, historic scorer with 79 goals in 127 games, will put Vinicius, Rodrygo and Endrick to the test. But, above all, to the ability of the trio and their colleagues to overcome adversity.
To try to hurt the Brazilian rearguard, which shows cracks, they are betting on promises such as attacker Manfred Ugalde (Spartak Moscow) and midfielder Brandon Aguilera (Nottingham Forest)
Earlier, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, the Colombian team of Néstor Lorenzo, With its undefeated record of 23 games, it will seek to strengthen its status as a guest at the table of the greats (Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay) against an irregular Paraguayan team that promises to put up a fight.
“We don’t wake up thinking about the 23 dates we have undefeated. We go out to the field with the desire to play, to win”said defender Carlos Cuesta (KRC Genk, BEL), trying to keep his feet on the ground.
Winner of the 2001 edition, at home, of the oldest national team tournament in the world, Colombia seems to be in its best moment to repeat the feat. It is in the qualification zone in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and has had favorable friendly duels.
Paraguay, which has won two Americas Cups, in 1953 and 1979, is irregular and has not returned to a World Cup since South Africa-2010, where it reached the quarterfinals in its best historical performance. They are seventh in the 2026 qualifiers and have won three of their last ten games.
“It is very great for (Daniel) Garnero to be a coach of Paraguay, because of the quality of players they have and the way they play,” former goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert has claimed about coach Daniel Garnero, who directs the Guaraníes.
“I see the group quite well. I think we are going to have a nice Copa América, we are working for that and on my part I will do my best and always give 100%. Keep supporting us, believe in us, we are going to go to war with this team,” striker Alex Arce, from Liga de Quito, said last Friday.
La Albirroja bets its resurrection on the talent of forward Julio Enciso (Brighton, ENG), 20 years old, and the playmaker Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United, ENG), 30, as well as in their centre-backs, the captain and stronghold of the powerful Palmeiras, Gustavo Gómez, and Junior Alonso.
