Colombia vs Paraguay Preview & Prediction | 2024 Copa America | Group Stage
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Ahead of the tournament, Colombia have arguably been the most impressive side in the warm-up matches and they kick-off their Copa America campaign against Paraguay.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Monday 24th June, 2024 - UK – 11:00pm / US EST – 6:00pm / US PST – 3:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – Fox Sports and TUDN
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – Univision, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, ViX
COLOMBIA PREVIEW: KEEPING THE MOMENTUM
As mentioned, Colombia are coming into this one on the back of some excellent performances in their warm-ups. Nestor Lorenzo’s side dispatched of the hosts United States by five goals to one before a 3-0 hammering of Bolivia.
Those results mean that they are now actually on a 23-match unbeaten run of form and have won their last seven matches. That 23-match streak includes victories over both Spain and Brazil, as well as Germany.
PARAGUAY PREVIEW: FINDING SOME RHYTHM
Under the management of the experienced Daniel Garnero, the Paraguayans come into this tournament on the back of very different form to the Colombians. They did, however, manage to squeeze past Panama by a goal to nil last week.
Prior to that defeat of Panama, Paraguay were winless in four matches. They have actually only won three of their last 14 games since late-2022 with 1-0 wins over Panama and Bolivia as well as a defeat of Nicaragua in a friendly.
COLOMBIA TEAM NEWS: EXPERIENCE AND INTENT
After a very impressive set of warm-up matches it will be difficult for Colombia to narrow their squad down to 11 but the likelihood is that the more defensive option of both Santiago Arias and Jhon Arias is the way in which they go for this one to support James Rodriguez and Luis Diaz in attack.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): David Ospina; Santiago Arias, Davinson Sanchez, Jhon Lucumi, Johan Mojica; Jefferson Lerma, Mateus Uribe; Jhon Arias, James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz; Rafael Santos Borre
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
PARAGUAY TEAM NEWS: FLAIR PLAYERS
The Paraguayans will be reliant for goals on their two Premier League attackers in the front three in what is expected to be a 4-3-3 system put out by the South Americans with Miguel Almiron off to the right-hand side and Julio Enciso on the left.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Carlos Coronel; Gustavo Velazquez, Fabian Balbuena, Gustavo Gomez, Omar Alderete; Matias Rojas, Mathias Villasanti, Richard Sanchez; Miguel Almiron, Adam Bareiro, Julio Enciso
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
COLOMBIA VS PARAGUAY PREDICTION
It has perhaps gone under the radar because Colombia failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and have been hidden from the world stage but they, on current form, have a claim to be the best international team in the world at the moment. They now face a Paraguayan side that will know this is a must not lose game as they face Brazil later in the group stages so they may be quite stubborn and difficult to break down. Colombia are favourites but it may not be a thriller for the neutral.
COLOMBIA VS PARAGUAY TIP: COLOMBIA TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
