Copa America Preview: James Rodríguez in Form! Colombia Aims for a Second Win, Can Costa Rica Pull Off Another Upset?

Copa America Preview: James Rodríguez in Form! Colombia Aims for a Second Win, Can Costa Rica Pull Off Another Upset?

At 6:00 AM on June 29th, the second round of Group D of the Copa America kicks off, with Colombia facing Costa Rica. In the first round, Colombia defeated Paraguay 2-1. A second win would secure their place in the knockout stage, while Costa Rica, having held a formidable Brazil team to a draw, cannot be underestimated.

Colombia missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and currently sits 12th in the FIFA rankings, trailing Argentina and Brazil among South American teams. In this Copa America, Colombia has had a strong start, securing a 2-1 victory over Paraguay thanks to James Rodríguez’s two assists. This win gave them a positive start.

In fact, Colombia has been in excellent form. Since their 3-0 victory over Bolivia in March 2022, they’ve remained undefeated for 28 months, racking up 19 wins and 5 draws. Notably, during this streak, Colombia defeated Brazil 2-1, Germany 2-0, Spain 1-0, and Romania 3-2. They took down three teams that reached the Round of 16 in the European Championship.

In 2024, Colombia has played five matches, winning them all. They’ve scored 14 goals and conceded just four, including two clean sheets. Their offensive and defensive performances have been impressive. While the 32-year-old James Rodríguez has had a fluctuating club career, even being released by a Brazilian club, he remains a vital player for his national team.

Colombia is also a team full of talent. Besides James, 27-year-old Luis Díaz is the true star. This Liverpool forward has contributed 3 goals and 2 assists in his last 11 appearances for Colombia, averaging almost one goal involvement every two games. Luis Díaz is not a traditional target man. He’s known for his dribbling, defensive work, and ability to link up with teammates.

However, in the Copa America opener against Paraguay, Luis Díaz played the full match without scoring. Costa Rica is a familiar opponent for China’s national team. This Central American team, invited to participate in the Copa America, has a relatively balanced squad without any superstar players. Since the retirement of veteran Keylor Navas, they have managed to hold Brazil, who boasted stars like Vinicius Jr., Rodrigo, Raphinha, Guimarães, and Martinelli, to a scoreless draw, a remarkable feat.

Costa Rica’s strength lies in their strong defense. Combined with the more lenient refereeing in the tournament, they managed to pull off an upset in their Copa America debut. In 2023, Costa Rica was struggling, with just 2 wins, 1 draw, and 8 losses in 12 games. However, they rebounded in 2024, earning 3 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in 6 games. Their only defeat during this period was a 1-3 loss to Argentina in a friendly match.

Colombia and Costa Rica have faced each other 8 times before, with Colombia winning 6 and losing 2. They have a clear psychological advantage, but their last encounter was six years ago. On paper, Colombia is the stronger team and a win will secure their qualification. Can Costa Rica pull off another upset? We’ll have to wait and see.

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