Part II: Copa America Knockout Stage

For all the COVID-induced misery that football (soccer?) fans endured over the past year, including the postponement of Euro 2020, there is one bright spot to stem from all the frustration: perhaps the most prolific summer of international football in the history of the sport.

For the first time ever, UEFA’s European Championships, CONMEBOL’s Copa America, and CONCACAF’s Gold Cup will all be played in the same year, leaving no shortage of international matchplay for fans who have waited over two years for it.

All three tournaments bring with them some of the most intriguing storylines seen in years at their respective tournaments:

Can the respective Golden Generations of nations like Belgium and England finally make a push for validation at an international tournament, or will established sides like Portugal and France reign supreme?

Can Lionel Messi take advantage of perhaps his final real chance at international glory, and perhaps solidify his GOAT case in the process?

Can the United States make a huge step in their post-2018 rebuild by retaking the Gold Cup title?

All that and more remains to be seen in a titanic summer for the sport. Without further ado, let’s get into some predictions:

Copa America Knockout Stage:

Quarterfinals:

Argentina over Ecuador

Paraguay over Peru

Uruguay over Colombia

Brazil over Chile

Semifinals:

Argentina over Uruguay

Brazil over Paraguay

Final:

Brazil over Argentina

The quarterfinals are relatively straightforward: Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil are a class above the rest of the confederation, and should be all but locked in to reach the semifinals. Paraguay-Peru is the only difficult pick to make, but considering the southerners recent schedule and how they handled an experienced Chilean side and put up fights against Argentina and Uruguay, I’ll take them to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2015. In the semis, a white-hot and in-form Lionel Messi is too much for Uruguay to handle, as their attack lacks the firepower to keep pace, and Brazil handles Paraguay due to a massive talent discrepancy between the two. In the final, Messi is denied perhaps his last chance at a major international trophy, as the stacked Brazilians overpower an Argentine side that looks uninspired with the exception of their talisman to win their second successive Copa America, and 10th title overall.