Colombia, Paraguay, and Costa Rica remain in the shadow of the Selecao, even without Neymar.
Brazil is the super favorite in this group, and no one doubts their advancement to the tournament’s knockout stage. However, history has shown that having many stars in a squad does not guarantee success. On the contrary, it often leads to failure, contrasting sharply with expectations. In any case, the other three teams will put in double the effort against the Brazilians and try to prove they are not just fighting for second place.
What can we expect from the four teams in Group D?
Brazil
The designation of Brazil as the clear favorite to win Group D by fans and football experts seems more influenced by their past successes and old glory in this tournament. The Selecao has had some inconsistent results recently, with Dorival Junior’s team managing only one win in their last six international matches across all competitions.
This single success came in a friendly match with a 1-0 away victory against England. However, the situation is different in more critical matches. Heavy defeats in the World Cup qualifying group against teams like Uruguay, Colombia, and Argentina currently leave Brazil in sixth place, the last automatic qualification spot for the World Cup.
Undoubtedly, the team will miss the star Neymar, who is out due to a knee injury. Nevertheless, they can still boast an extremely diverse and powerful attack, along with experience and stability in defense, making them one of the leading contenders for this tournament.
The team has a vast array of stars in every position. In goal, Alisson Becker will be relied upon, as Ederson’s fractured eye socket in Manchester City’s penultimate Premier League match of the season has ruled him out of the tournament. In defense, the standout names are the center-back duo Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes of Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, respectively.
Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes look like sure starters for Brazil.
They will probably be joined by a more defensive midfielder like Douglas Luiz, forming a highly experienced trio that the Selecao can utilize. Brazil’s attack is traditionally its strongest asset, filled with global stars. Real Madrid’s duo, Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior, will occupy the wings.
At the same time, the highly-touted wunderkind Endrick, linked with Real Madrid, will compete with Porto’s Evanilson for the central striker role. Savio, who impressed for Girona this season, joins Gabriel Martinelli and Raphinha as other attacking options for the tournament this summer.
Whatever starting lineup coach Dorival Junior chooses, Brazil will enter each match as the favorite, aiming to go to the tournament’s end.
Colombia
Colombians are the main contenders against Brazil. They enter the tournament confident that they can reach the knockout stage of this upcoming Copa America and advance further. Los Cafeteros are on an impressive unbeaten streak of 21 matches across all competitions, including 16 victories, including a 2-1 win over Brazil in November.
Nestor Lorenzo’s team remains unbeaten in their first six matches of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying group, with draws against Chile, Uruguay, and Ecuador and wins over Venezuela, Brazil, and Paraguay. The latter two nations are also in Group D, which gives particular grounds for optimism.
Players such as James Rodriguez, Luiz Diaz, and Jefferson Lerma will be keen to help their country reach at least the CONMEBOL Copa America final for the first time since 2001. 2010 World Cup Golden Ball winner James Rodriguez returns to the setup, having been left out of Colombia’s Copa America squad in 2021. Luiz Díaz has scored two goals in Colombia’s undefeated FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, both coming in their historic win over Brazil last November, Colombia’s first time beating Brazil in a World Cup qualifier.
If any team can outpace Brazil in this group, it is undoubtedly Colombia. Even if they don’t manage that, Nestor Lorenzo’s players are poised to put up a strong fight.
Paraguay
Paraguay looks like the complete opposite of its South American counterparts Brazil and Colombia in this Group D. Los Guaranies are experiencing a series of inconsistent and largely disappointing results, winning only two of their last 11 matches across all competitions.
Victories against Nicaragua in a friendly match and Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier offer little comfort to the team’s fans, especially considering Daniel Garnero’s team also recorded six losses in those 11 matches.
Based on the opposition in recent games, Garnero has shown some flexibility with his formations. He prefers the 4-2-3-1 formation, although he is not shy of using a back-five against stronger opponents, which would likely be true in a tough Copa America group. Paraguay will hope they can finally get the Premier League duo of Miguel Almirón (Newcastle) and Julio Enciso (Brighton) firing together in attacking midfield.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica enters the tournament as the second underdog in the group, along with Paraguay, but the Costa Ricans love being in such a role. This was the case in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where Costa Rica made a stunning run to the quarterfinals from the position of a complete underdog.
Costa Rica is the only CONCACAF representative in this group and may face the toughest challenge. They are the second-lowest ranked among the six CONCACAF nations, having tasted victory in only four of their previous 14 international matches across all competitions.
Although they recorded a 1-0 win over Japan at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, losses to Spain (7-0) and Germany (4-2) meant Los Ticos finished at the bottom of Group E. Additionally, despite victories against Martinique, Saudi Arabia, El Salvador, and Honduras, Gustavo Alfaro’s team has recorded nine defeats in the aforementioned last 14 matches overall.
The team seeks to combine experienced players with fresh additions, which is a difficult balance to achieve but could be challenging for many opposing teams.
Undoubtedly, Keylor Navas, in goal, provides a special sense of security to all the players before him. With over 25 goals in over 100 appearances, Joel Campbell will likely be the most experienced pick in midfield.
Costa Rica is prepared to be more than just a close observer, boasting some potential rising talents ready to shine.
Schedule:
Matchday 1
● 24/06/2024 – Brazil vs Costa Rica – 18:00 (GMT-7h) – SoFi Stadium – INGLEWOOD, CA
● 24/06/2024 – Columbia vs Paraguay – 17:00 (GMT-5h) – NRG Stadium – HOUSTON, TX
Matchday 2
● 28/06/2024 – Paraguay vs Brazil – 18:00 (GMT-7h) – Allegiant Stadium – LAS VEGAS, NV
● 28/06/2024 – Columbia vs Costa Rica – 15:00 (GMT-7h) – State Farm Stadium – GLENDALE, AZ
Matchday 3
● 02/07/2024 – Brazil vs Columbia – 18:00 (GMT-7h) – Levi’s Stadium – SANTA CLARA, CA
● 02/07/2024 – Costa Rica vs Paraguay – 20:00 (GMT-5h) – Q2 Stadium – AUSTIN, TX
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