The United States Men’s National Team is on the brink of the Copa America Centenario quarterfinals heading into its Group A finale against Paraguay on Saturday. The all-important clash is set for 6 p.m. CT at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia with national television coverage on FS1, UniMas and Univision Deportes Network.
No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District will continue its daily Copa America watch party special, offering a complimentary appetizer to all fans who sign up and order any beer pitcher.
Tuesday’s comprehensive 4-0 rout of Costa Rica, capped by Sporting Kansas City winger Graham Zusi’s fine left-footed finish, was the perfect tonic for the U.S. after stumbling out of the gates to Colombia in the tournament opener. The Yanks are now guaranteed to progress to the knockout stage with a victory, while a draw would likely ensure the same fate. Conversely, a loss to Paraguay would eliminate Jurgen Klinsmann’s side from the competition.
COPA AMERICA GROUP A STANDINGS
Team |
Points |
W-L-T |
GF / GA |
Colombia |
6 |
2-0-0 |
4 / 1 |
United States |
3 |
1-1-0 |
4 / 2 |
Paraguay |
1 |
0-1-1 |
1 / 2 |
Costa Rica |
1 |
0-1-1 |
0 / 4 |
The United States enters Saturday with newfound confidence after delivering Costa Rica its heaviest defeat in the all-time series between the CONCACAF rivals. Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley and Alejandro Bedoya dominated the middle of the park, while forwards Clint Dempsey and Bobby Wood each quenched their thirst for goals. Zusi came off the bench for an excellent 20-minute cameo, scoring his fifth international goal to further vindicate his return to the national team.
Sporting Kansas City captain and defender Matt Besler has yet to feature at Copa America Centenario, but with left back Fabian Johnson and center back John Brooks both one yellow card away from serving a one-game suspension, Besler could be called upon in the knockout stages should the Americans reach that point. Klinsmann is otherwise likely to start the same XI for the third straight match.
Standing between the U.S. and the quarterfinals is a capable Paraguay team that fell 2-1 to group leaders Colombia on Tuesday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Los Guaranies dug themselves an early 2-0 hole but fought resolutely in the second half, grabbing a goal back through substitute Victor Ayala in the 71st minute.
Paraguay has yet to win a match in 2016, going 0-2-3 over five games, but earned draws against Ecuador and Brazil in a pair of World Cup qualifiers in March. No. 44 in the latest FIFA rankings, Paraguay made a run to the 2015 Copa America semifinals — scalping Brazil in the quarterfinals — before falling to Argentina. Forward Dario Lezcano has scored four of the team’s last six goals dating back to last November, while 36-year-old Paulo da Silva anchors a back line that nullified Costa Rica in its first Copa game last weekend.
#USAvPAR: COPA AMERICA BY THE NUMBERS
<strong>United States</strong> |
<strong>vs.</strong> |
<b>Paraguay</b> |
4th |
<b>Appearance</b> |
15th |
4th place <span style="font-size: 10px;">(1995)</span> |
<b>Best finish</b> |
Champions <span style="font-size: 10px;">(1979)</span> |
7-2-0 <span style="font-size: 10px;">(20 GF, 7 GA)</span> |
<strong>2016 record</strong> |
0-2-3<span style="line-height: 20.8px; font-size: 10px;">(5 GF, 7 GA)</span> |
<span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Jozy Altidore </span><span style="line-height: 20.8px; font-size: 10px;">(3)</span> |
<b>2016 top scorer</b> |
Dario Lezcano <span style="font-size: 10px; line-height: 20.8px;">(3)</span> |
<span style="line-height: 20.8px;">31st</span> |
<b style="line-height: 20.8px;">FIFA ranking</b> |
<span style="line-height: 20.8px;">44th</span> |
The U.S. and Paraguay have met just six times in history, splitting the series 2-2-2. The sides last met in the 2007 Copa America, with a largely experimental U.S. team falling 3-0.
Saturday’s other Group A match will see Costa Rica face Colombia, who have already booked a spot in the quarterfinals after winning their first two games. The Group A winner will then meet the Group B runner-up (currently Peru) on Thursday in Seattle, while the Group A runner-up meets the Group B winner (currently Brazil) on Friday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Click here to view the entire Copa America Centenario schedule.
