Chris Macpherson 
Copa America 2024 Group D Preview. Design: Round Ball Australia
On paper it should be a waltz to the quarter finals for the top two teams in Group D, but football tournaments rarely play out exactly as they shape up pre-tournament.
Two South American sides, who sit in the top 12 nations worldwide in FIFA’s rankings, shape to make their way past two sides who are the second lowest ranked representative of their respective confederations at Copa 2024.
Brazil
FIFA World Ranking: 4th
Best Copa America Performance: Champions (9 Times – Most Recent: 2019)
When it comes to major tournaments, Brazil never come along just for the ride. Across the last 35 years they have been the most successful Copa team with six titles, as well as finishing runners up twice.
Off the back of a tough 2023, Brazil enter the tournament under the stewardship of Dorival Junior. His tenure so far hasn’t quite returned Brazil to their high-flying form of the 90s, nor the defensive stoutness of the Tite era.
If they can find their balance and continue their development as the tournament develops, they are of course a chance for the title, despite sitting on the tougher side of the draw.
Much of the focus around Brazil will fall on Vinicius Junior, he was the emerging star when Brazil were eliminated in the quarter finals, he is now their talisman.
Equally capable on the wing as he is operating more centrally, Vinicius will be the key to their squad with a number of key absences for this edition of the Copa.
This tournament could be the one for Endrick, who at 17 enters the Copa with everything in front of him, to stake his claim as the star of the next Brazilian generation.
Three goals in consecutive games already for the national side, has Brazil’s fans staking high hopes on the Real Madrid bound teen.
The ceiling is high for one of the big players on the Copa stage.
Author Prediction: 2nd In Group – Tournament Champions
Colombia
FIFA World Ranking: 12th
Best Copa America Performance: Champions (2001)
Colombia enter this tournament arguably as the form team of all entrants. an undefeated twelve months under the supervision of manager Nestor Lorenzo, has hopes sky high in Colombia.
Luis Diaz will be the top billing for Colombia, with the Liverpool winger having cemented his status last November when he bagged two goals to see Colombia claim a first ever World Cup qualification win over Brazil. Watch for Diaz to slice in from his left wing and drive into attack for The Coffeemakers.
Despite an attack stacked with names such as Diaz and James Rodriguez, the biggest challenge for Colombia will be scoring goals. Just six goals in six World Cup qualifiers thus far says this needs to be a focus in the tournament.
Whilst they are drawn in the tougher side of the bracket, securing wins over Paraguay and Costa Rica could set them up for a huge final group clash with Brazil, and given last November’s result they will know what is possible.
Author Prediction: 1st in Group – Semi Final Elimination
Costa Rica
FIFA World Ranking: 52nd
Best Copa America Performance: Quarter Finals (2001 & 2004)
It is hard to know what we will get from Costa Rica, in seven months under manager Gustavo Alfaro, he has used innumerable combinations and formations, ranging from 4-2-3-1 to a back five.
This tournament shapes as a prime opportunity for Costa Rica to bed down their tactical shape and figure out who fills the key roles.
One thing for sure, is that the Costa Ricans will miss Keylor Navas in goals and Francisco Calvo will need to lift, wearing the captains arm band.
There are certainly shoots of positivity emerging in the squad, with Nottingham Forest’s Brandon Aguilera showing himself an adept ten, while Manfred Ugalde up front will be one to watch, who despite his young age has been plying his trade in Europe since 2020.
A combination of their lack of consistency, a changing of the guard and their lead in form certainly leaves more questions than answers.
Expectation as such needs to be adjusted in line with this, their final group game will be the big one for them and a win over Paraguay could be a marker of a successful Copa.
Author Prediction: Group Stage Elimination
Paraguay
FIFA World Ranking: 58th
Best Copa America Performance: Champions (2 Time – 1953 & 1979)
The two-time former champions have slid a long way since their former glory, and despite glimpses of promise including a visit to the final in 2011 and the semi-finals in 2015, they have fallen away further again in the last nine years.
Scoring goals and winning games has been a struggle for Paraguay in recent times and major tournaments – stunningly they made the 2011 final without winning a game through regulation or extra time and progressed on penalties through the knockouts.
Manager Daniel Garnero has openly admitted that national team morale is at an all-time low, after a recent 3-0 loss to Chile, which has to be a deeply concerning factor.
Whilst they have star power in their midst with Miguel Almiron, who has won league titles in multiple countries and spent five seasons in the Premier League, he is emblematic of Paraguay’s issues with just two goals in competitive games for his country.
Despite Paraguay producing talent, those same stars have rarely produced for the country in recent times.
Drawing South American powerhouses Colombia & Brazil as their first two games has done Paraguay no favours and like Costa Rica, their final pool game against each other shapes as the key moment of their tournament.
Author Prediction: Group Stage Elimination