Copa América Group C begins to take shape after the first round of Sunday’s game. The United States secured a comfortable victory over Bolivia, while Uruguay overtook Panama.
Here’s what we took away from the Group C action.
The man of the hour
Christian Pulisic has the hopes of a nation on his shoulders, but that didn’t stop the striker from sending a screamer into the back of the net off the post after three minutes at AT&T Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Milan player was the youngest player on the last U.S. Copa America roster eight years ago at age 17, and his growth since bursting onto the scene as a potential future star is the driving force behind the U.S. Men’s Nationals of this generation. Team.
Where Pulisic goes, the United States goes. If he stays hot in the coming weeks, there’s no telling how far Gregg Berhalter’s team can go.
Not enough firepower
It was clear from the jump that Bolivia would struggle to keep up with their Group C rivals. And although they kept the score relatively respectful, they did little to trouble the United States that night.
With less than 40% of the ball possession and just three shots on goal during the 90 minutes, Bolivia’s weakness was exposed. They may have courage, they may have dynamism, but after an early concession it would always be difficult to achieve a comeback.
The special appearance of young Miguel Terceros off the bench was the only positive point, but the Santos player cannot dribble past 11 players whenever his team needs a goal.
The crème de la crème
When the teams were drawn for Group C, Uruguay, it was relatively obvious that Uruguay would be favorites to go top.
An impressive win against Panama on Sunday night did little to deter the belief that they would play a major role in lifting the trophy in July.
The dynamic Darwin Núñez has enough speed and strength to trouble any Copa América defense, but when he’s finishing his chances too, watch out.
The United States are clearly the team that can trouble Uruguay in this group, but even at their peak, Gregg Berhaler’s men may struggle to deal with the delicious mix of tenacity and skill that La Celeste possesses.
A valiant effort
Although Uruguay were too much for Panama, Thomas Christiansen’s team cannot be blamed for their ambition that night.
They may have only had three shots on goal, but they were hardly long-range shots. Sergio Rochet needed to stand out between the sticks for Uruguay.
Panama may not have the firepower of the United States, or the Premier League and LaLiga stars of Uruguay, but they showed on Sunday night that a few great saves and deflections off the post can make the difference between a point or none.
They will need a comeback against the United States, but it was only in 2021 that Los Canaleros last defeated the CONCACAF kings.
Set your calendars
All signs are beginning to point to a third round clash between the United States and Uruguay, with no disrespect to Panama and Bolivia.
Both teams boast a horde of footballers from some of the world’s top clubs and leagues, but the potential Group C decision could depend on training.
Gregg Berhalter’s tactics have come in for much criticism, while Marcelo Bielsa appears to have transformed a Uruguayan team once known for its defensive solidity into a dynamic and tenacious attacking team overnight.
It will be a real test for the United States, and perhaps also for Uruguay, when the two teams meet in Kansas City next month.
