Copa America 2024 Group A preview

23/05/2024

Copa America 2024 is on the horizon, and that means reigning champions Argentina will be tasked with defending their title this summer in the United States.

On the surface, Group A seems pretty straightforward for Argentina and eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi against Canada, Chile and Peru. There's a very high probability that Argentina top their group with three wins and nine points on the board, but don't rule out the other three sides just yet.

Canada, Chile and Peru all have their own key players that can make things happen. Sure, they may not have a Messi replica, but there will still be another team that will join Argentina in qualifying for the quarter-finals -- meaning the head-to-head games between the three countries will be interesting to watch.

Here's 90min's preview of Group A in this summer's Copa America.

Argentina

Argentina are favorites to lift Copa America 2024 | Mitchell Leff/GettyImages

Argentina's projected star-studded squad will no doubt place them alongside Brazil as the favorites to take home the Copa America trophy for the second straight time. Messi made it his mission to bring an international trophy to his home country a few years back, and he has since added another in the form of the 2022 World Cup to cement himself as the greatest player to ever grace a pitch.

La Albiceleste should have no problems getting out of Group A unscathed in their bid to repeat as champions. The likes of Messi, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez will man the attack, while Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez take up shop in the middle of the park and Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez shore up the backline. While the final squads for the competition won't be finalized until June 12, you can expect these players to feature for Argentina should they steer clear of injuries.

Canada

Canada will make their Copa America debut | Vaughn Ridley/GettyImages

Alphonso Davies leads Canada into their first-ever Copa America appearance after playing a key role to the team reaching the 2022 World Cup for the first time in nearly four decades.

There's no simple way to put it: Canada will be the underdogs in Group A and will more than likely battle it out with Peru to avoid finishing in the bottom of the group. While they do have talented players like the above-mentioned Davies, Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan, they face a tough task of making out of a competitive Group A that contains the reigning World Cup winners.

Chile

Alexis Sanchez leads the line for Chile | Xavier Laine/GettyImages

On paper, Chile appear to be the second-strongest team in Group A with the veteran Alexis Sanchez leading the way. It's worth noting that Chile toppled Argentina twice in 2015 and 2016 in penalty kicks to lift the Copa America title, and their shootout experience could come in handy should they progress to the knockout stage.

The 35-year-old will more than likely be called up to the squad ahead of the tournament given his recent involvement in International friendlies in March against Albania and France. Ben Brereton Diaz could partner the former Arsenal figure up front, while 41-year-old Claudio Bravo looks set to start in between the sticks.

Peru

Pedro Gallese leads Peru into Copa America action | Gaston Brito Miserocchi/GettyImages

Peru might not have the big names that garner the attention Argentina and Chile receive, but they still could be dark horses in finishing in second place in Group A. Orlando City duo Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena will push for starting places in the XI, while Renato Tapia could take up shop in the midfield.

Peru also reached the final of the 2019 edition of Copa America, meaning they know how to navigate the intense competition despite not having many famous names in their squad.

Copa America 2024 Group A schedule

Matchday 1

20/06/2024 - Argentina vs Canada - 8:00 p.m. EST
21/06/2024 - Peru vs Chile - 8:00 p.m. EST

Matchday 2

25/06/2024 - Peru vs Canada - 6:00 p.m. EST
25/06/2024 - Chile vs Argentina - 9:00 p.m. EST

Matchday 3

29/06/2024 - Argentina vs Peru - 8:00 p.m. EST
29/06/2024 - Canada vs Chile - 8:00 p.m. EST

Copa America 2024 Group A match predictions