Copa America 2019

Tomorrow night (well, Saturday morning) sees the start of the 2019 Copa America in Brazil. All the action is live on Premier Sports (£9.99 a month - or for free if you know how).


GROUP A - Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru
Hosts Brazil are favourites, but will be missing Neymar. Gabriel Jesus was often preferred over Roberto Firmino in the World Cup, so interesting to see who gets the nod here. Richarlison is included alongside fellow 22 year olds David Neres and Arthur, while Eder Militao and Lucas Paqueta are a year younger, as Brazil attempt to bring through a new generation.
Peru impressed many at the World Cup, without getting the results. They will be relying on the old guard again, the likes of Paolo Guerrero, Jefferson Farfan, Christian Cueva, Andre Carrillo and Luis Advincula have bags of international experience. Andy Polo is a name many English fans will know well.
Venezuela will be heavily reliable on Jose Salomon Rondon this summer, with 50% of international goals this squad has scored. Tomas Rincon and Josef Martinez are the other stand-out names in the squad.
Bolivia are the underdogs in the group, and have a squad with no European based players in it. Samuel Galindo may or may not be a name familiar to Arsenal fans though, spending some time at the club in his younger days.


GROUP B - Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay, Qatar
The squad announcement for Argentina was once again as much about who was left out as who is in, but Lionel Messi is, of course, there. Sergio Aguero, Paolo Dybala and Angel Di Maria add to the attacking options, while Matias Suarez is perhaps a shock inclusion up front having just 3 caps at 31 years of age. Lautaro Martinez, the 21 year old Inter striker, has 4 goals in 7 games so may be one to watch.
Colombia will be expected to go far, and it is generally the same cast as at the World Cup. James Rodriguez is the key man, but Radamel Falcao, Juan Cuadrado, Cristian Zapata, Santiago Arias and England based Yerry Mina, Jefferson Lerma and Davinson Sanchez all are in the squad. David Ospina will be hoping to make his 100th appearance in the final.
Paraguay will look to 36 year old Oscar Cadozo to lead them out of the group stages. Newcastles Miguel Almiron and Roma forward Juan Iturbe are among the more well known stars, while West Hams Fabian Balbuena will be at the heart of their defence.
Qatar are one of two invitees, and come into the tournament on the back of winning the Asian Cup. All their players are at Qatarian clubs, although I think some are owned by Spanish clubs. Hasan Al-Haydos is their captain and has 120 caps at just 28 years of age. Ro-Ro has a quite cool name. Almoez Ali has 19 goals in 39 caps and has experience playing in Europe. This will be a big test of them ahead of their 2022 World Cup debut as hosts.

Group C - Uruguay, Chile, Ecuador, Japan
Uruguay are 3rd favourites and have a very experienced squad. Luis Suarez should be fit to partner Edison Cavani. Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez will be ending their successful partnership at CB after this tournament, with Godin leaving Atletico. They do have a few younger players coming through, Maxi Gomez offering an alternative to the long standing stiking partnership, while Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Torreira and Federico Valverde offer youthful options in midfield.
Two times defending champions Chile missed out on the World Cup in 2018, and their star man, Alexis Sanchez, has had a tough time recently. With no Claudio Bravo in goal, they will look to outfield stars such as Gary Medel, Gonzalo Jara, Jean Beausejour, Arturo Vidal, Eduardo Vargas and Alexis to show their experience. It will be a very difficult task for them to repeat the 2015 and 2016 successes.
Ecuador are captained by Manchester Uniteds Antonio Valencia, and Enner Valencia is their main goal threat with 27 from 46 caps. A pretty inexperienced squad, with a lot of home based players.
Japan are the second invitees, and will have higher hopes of progression. Shinji Okazaki captains what is mainly an under 23 squad. Getafes Gaku Shibasaki, Tatsuya Ito of Hamburg, and former Dundee United 'keeper Eiji Kawashima among the more recognisable squad members.


The tournament opens with Brazil versus Bolivia on Saturday morning, 1:30am kick-off.
Top two in each group, plus best two third placed teams, go into the knockouts.
The final is on 7th July.

Brazil are favourites at 11/10, with Argentina 7/2. Uruguay are 13/2, Colombia 9/1, Chile 12/1 and Peru 20/1. Qatar are the outsiders at 100/1, with Bolivia and Ecuador at 40/1.



(ps - some charity bets for the summer internationals are available here - http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/409202 )