The USMNT should have no problem advancing at Copa America Centenario
Copa America Centenario is a huge opportunity for the United States. With a major tournament on home soil, the eyes of the nation watching and the team in need of a good performance to give its fan base optimism once again, the pressure is on the Americans to do well.
Step No. 1 of that is getting out of the group and there's good news for the U.S. -- there's no reason they shouldn't make it to the quarterfinals.
The draw wasn't kind to the U.S. They were seeded and placed in Pot 1, as the hosts usually are, and so they knew they wouldn't have to face Argentina, Brazil or Mexico. But they still drew Colombia, Paraguay and Costa Rica, arguably the toughest teams in Pot 2, 3 and 4.
As far as worst draws possible go, the Americans got pretty close to it. But it's important to remember that the draw only seemed so tough because the U.S. was handed a spot in Pot 1, a seed they didn't really even earn. And even though they could have certainly had an easier draw, it's not as if they're in anything that resembles a Group of Death.
Colombia are an unquestionably good team. Reasonable minds may differ on just how good they are -- like whether they're one of the favorites to win Copa America Centenario or simply a strong side -- but they're definitely good. Everyone justifiably expects them to win Group A.
The Americans' first goal is simply to get out of the group, though. Colombia being good doesn't affect that much. Their real aim is to beat out Paraguay and Costa Rica, which isn't just doable, it's likely.
Paraguay are ranked 44th in the world and have won just one of their last six matches. They don't have any true stars and are a far cry from the excellent team Gerardo Martino coached five years ago.
Costa Rica had a miraculous run at the 2014 World Cup, but that was an outlier. They've long been a second-tier team in CONCACAF and are without Keylor Navas at Copa America. The U.S. has regularly beaten and finished better than the Ticos in head-to-head matchups and tournaments since the 1990's.
Neither Paraguay nor Costa Rica are pushovers, but neither are a powerhouse either. They're fine teams and for the better part of two decades, the U.S. has been better than teams on that level. Plus, this tournament is in the U.S., giving the Americans a home-field advantage against two teams that don't have huge populations in the country so the crowds should be well in favor of Jurgen Klinsmann's team.
The U.S. should be in the quarterfinals, and with relative ease. If the U.S. can't get out of their group, they have some serious problems. All that's being asked of them is that they be better at home than Paraguay and Costa Rica are away.
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