Copa America 2024 Group Stage
25 June, 2024 - Indian Date
NRG Stadium
MATCH TIMES
India
03:30 AM
UAE
02:00 AM
Saudi Arabia
1:00 AM
LIVE INFO
Colombia possible starting lineup: Ospina; S. Arias, Mina, Cuesta, Machado; Uribe, Lerma; J. Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Cordoba
Paraguay possible starting lineup: Coronel; Velazquez, Balbuena, Gomez, Alonso; Villasanti, Cubas, Almiron; Sosa, Bareiro, Enciso
Colombia begins their 2024 Copa America journey against Paraguay on Monday at NRG Stadium in Houston, carrying the weight of being one of the pre-tournament favorites. Los Cafeteros have been in scintillating form, boasting a remarkable 23-match unbeaten streak that stretches back to February 2022, when they last fell to Argentina. Under the stewardship of Nestor Lorenzo, Colombia has enjoyed an impressive run, securing eight consecutive wins and outscoring their opponents 12-3 this year, without ever trailing in a game.
Their latest performance, a commanding 3-0 victory over Bolivia, underscores Colombia's attacking flair and defensive solidity. Demonstrating resilience, they have won their last three matches despite conceding the first goal, a testament to their robust mentality. Historically, Colombia has fared well in their Copa America openers, having won their first match in the last three editions. This includes a notable 2-0 win against the USA in 2016 and a 1-0 triumph over Paraguay during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Paraguay, in contrast, has struggled for form recently. Although they managed a 1-0 win over Panama—ending a four-match winless streak where they failed to score—they have generally found goals hard to come by. Under Daniel Garnero, Paraguay's strength has been their defensive organization, conceding one goal or fewer in nine of their last ten games. However, their recent head-to-head record against Colombia is less encouraging, with no wins in their last four meetings and their last Copa America victory over Colombia dating back to 2007.
Colombia's squad features key players like James Rodriguez, who recently celebrated his 100th cap, and Liverpool's Luis Diaz, approaching his 50th cap and in excellent scoring form. For Paraguay, captain Gustavo Gomez is nearing his 75th cap, with Derlis Gonzalez and Fabian Balbuena adding experience to the team.
Given Colombia's current form, historical performance in opening matches, and overall strength, they are favored to triumph against a defensively stout but offensively challenged Paraguay side.