Chris Macpherson 
Copa America 2024 Group C Preview. Design: Round Ball Australia
Group C sees the heritage and history of Uruguay alongside their record equalling 15 Copa titles, battling with the hype and expectation of a host on the rise in the USA.
Uruguay seems the most balanced of sides in this group and potentially the tournament, but can they overcome the historical statistic of host nation over-performance to top this group?
United States
FIFA World Ranking: 11th
Best Copa America Performance: Semi Finals (1995 & 2016 – 4th place)
Despite heading into their home tournament as the top ranked side in the group, most pundits are favouring Uruguay to come out on top of Group C over the hosts.
While recent form has been strong for the US, they haven’t had a significant number of matches against the level of challenging opposition across the last 12 months.
They will take positivity from a recent draw against Brazil but balancing that out will also be the knowledge they were humbled earlier this month by potential quarter final opponents, Colombia.
Much of the US’ hopes will rest firmly on the shoulders of AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic, who delivered for them at the most recent World Cup, scoring the winner against Iran which was crucial in their efforts of progressing out of the group stages.
After a strong season at club level, Pulisic will again be the talisman for the Stars & Stripes.
The balance of home fan expectation alongside pessimism from external sources, will balance perfectly for an American side who should on paper, advance to the knockout stages as a minimum.
All the talk permeating from the US camp is of the World Cup being their focus, but make no mistake, a group stage exit here would be seen as a failure.
Author Prediction: 2nd In Group C, Quarter Final Elimination
Uruguay
FIFA World Ranking: 14th
Best Copa America Performance: Champions (15 Time – most recent 2011)
A dominant force in the history of this tournament, sitting alongside Argentina as the most successful of nations, expectation is once again high on Uruguay.
With Marco Bielsa at the helm anything is possible, but the question will be: can this side maintain Bielsa’s high tempo football for six straight games? Especially considering the forecast heat at many of the host venues, it will be a tough task.
Whilst tempo and temperature are reasons why they may not win, there are plenty of reasons why they can.
They have the most balanced squad across the park, with often underestimated and undervalued players like Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde and Manchester United’s Facundo Pellistri.
Pellistri at just 22 was one of their most effective attacking weapons at the Qatar World Cup.
Progress out of the group is a non-negotiable, and a possible quarterfinal against Colombia or Brazil will be absolutely box office for the Uruguayans, however being on this tough side of the draw means there is no room for error in their pursuit of a 16th title.
Author Prediction: 1st in Group C, Quarter Final Elimination
Panama
FIFA World Ranking: 43rd
Best Copa America Performance: Group Stage (2016)
Panama are the big improvers of CONCACAF, having progressed almost 40 places up the FIFA World Rankings in the last four years.
This has come off the back of tactical prowess and execution of an expansive possession-based style, under the stewardship of Thomas Christensen, headlined by 14 wins from their past 22 matches.
Whilst they have performed strongly against CONCACAF opponents in recent years, including progressing past group mates USA in last year’s Gold Cup semi finals, the step up in class against South American opposition may prove a step too far, a strong result in their second group game against the USA could however see them stumble into the knockouts.
Keep an eye out for emerging star Adalberto Carrasquilla, the winner of the MVP award in the 2023 Gold Cup where Panama fell in the final.
A well-rounded and dynamic midfielder who can also take the ball forwards and threaten in attack. Currently plying his trade with Houston Dynamo, a strong performance here could put him in the sights of bigger leagues.
Whilst unlikely, progression to the group stage is not impossible, however the ‘reward’ should they get there a likely match up with powerhouses Brazil, or possibly Colombia, means its hard to see Panama making a fairytale run here at Copa 2024.
Author Prediction: Group Stage Elimination
Bolivia
FIFA World Ranking: 84th
Best Copa America Performance: Champions (1963)
It is over 60 years since Bolivia’s shining light moment of taking out the 1963 tournament on home soil, such is their slide from that high water mark that we have to go back to 2015 for their last match win in Copa tournaments.
Optimism certainly isn’t high based on the record of the team in recent times (just 2 wins in the last 12 months), however the focus for the Bolivians needs to be using this as a stepping stone to building the next strong national side.
The positive for Bolivia is they head in with little expectation, little pressure and a platform to build back towards revitalising their World Cup qualification hopes, post Copa.
With the recent retirement of all-time leading scorer Marcelo Martins Moreno, this is a fresh slate for a youthful side who need to just find green shoots of hope out of this tournament.
With talent in their midst such as Ramiro Vaca, who at 25 will be one of the experienced and key cogs of their midfield and the athletic emerging young star in Diego Medina who was impressive earlier this year at the South American under-23s, they have the cattle to surprise at least one group opponent, but that is realistically their ceiling.
Author Prediction: Group Stage Elimination