Group C
Jamaica
Mexico
Uruguay
Venezuela
Jamaica
I ripped Jamaica apart in my last review of them. They were taking part in the Copa America in Chile and they were up against it when they were wedged into a group with Argentina and Uruguay and Paraguay for good measure. I said they didn't have a sniff of a chance and I even broke out the Merriam-Webster dictionary to shame them. I wasn't in love with the fact that relied so heavily on players of Jamaican descendent. I preferred the born and bred Jamaicans and I took umbrage with the likes of Wes Morgan, Giles Barnes and Adrian Mariappa. Jamaica although they played well in Chile, points allude them. I was scathing towards the side because I believe they are the best Caribbean team and the standard bearers for the region. What I forgot to remember is that the Copa America isn't meant for Winfried Schaefer's men, the Gold Cup is! Jamaica were a game away from lifting the CONCACAF competition but Mexico took them down. A pretty big deal seeing that Jamaica weren't even in the conversation for the title. Dumping the United States was unexpected and the way the "Reggae Boyz," played was unconventional as well. It wasn't hurried at all they were very methodical in their approach not a trait associated with Caribbean squads. At this year's Copa I can see it going one of two ways for them. They play spoiler and really annoy the Mexicans and Uruguayans or they can duke it out with Venezuela for relevance. It's a coin toss at this point.
Key Man- Wes Morgan if I am correct is the first Jamaican/West Indian man to win a Premier League title. There is no doubt he is in the form of his life. The only problem is that Rudolph Austin isn't N'Kolo Kante and Andre Blake isn't Kasper Schmeichel.
Mexico
Mexico are in great form! To date they have kept eight straight international clean sheets. A tidy stat for a team that is historically average defenders. They are the reigning CONCACAF Gold Cup champions disposing of Jamaica last year in the final. They didn't have the best Copa America in Chile but they did take a probing squad with the more notable names being saved for the Gold Cup a moved that payed off in the end. Javier Hernandez, the face of the Mexican side is coming off one of the best years of his footballing career as he banged in the goals for his Bundesliga squad Bayer Leverkusen. His strike partner Oribe Peralta is a real shark and gets his goals. While team captain Andres Guardado has found a new life in Holland with PSV Eindhoven. Guillermo Ochoa has returned to his best form hard to believe he is 30 now. New coach Juan Carlos Osorio has even called up Rafa Marquez to add fatherly presence to his rearguard. Literally the stars are aligning for Mexico (couldn't help myself to a bad cliché) and this might be a trophy that is really viable for them. This group isn't easy but the wave of support, the locations of their games being in south western states of the US and the fact they come in off of winning a major FIFA tournament you could only think they are in good shape to go deep in the tournaments.
Key Man- The darling of Mexican football Javier "Chicharirto," Hernandez has been killing it over in Germany and I expect him to do the same over here. Really hoping coach Osorio does us a favor and pairs him with Oribe Peralta in a two pronged attack. That would be nice to see.
Uruguay
Uruguay come to the Copa without probably the best pure striker in the world Luis Suarez. A fact that has dented their hopes of maybe stealing away the cup back to Montevideo. Suarez scored a seismic 40 goals in a season for his side FC Barcelona last term and I don't care what team you play for you remove a guy that from your ranks you are going to be smarting. Nonetheless "Le Celeste," has to carry on and the objective is to actually win Copa América Centenarío. As I said in my little speech before Uruguay has been here before. They're punchy bunch and and tend to hit harder when they are overwhelmed or underestimated. They've won the World Cup before and have a knot of Copa America titles, 15 and counting on their CV. If anything they could be more dangerous without Suarez the Uruguayans hope everyone will take huge sighs of relief because he is not around. Óscar Tabárez longstanding coach of Uruguay will be hoping for just that so he can play the chess games he likes to play. At the last Copa America Uruguay were bested in a tumultuous affair with eventually cup winners Chile. A game that they felt they were cheated out of. Couple that with the fact their without their star man in Suarez that means they have a lot they want to get off their chest. Tabárez will look to Edison Cavani to provide the offensive and stardust to a generally pragmatic Uruguay. How they are going to capture the cup is anyone's guess but I have a sneaky feeling they might be there in the end.
Key Man- Edinson Cavan's chance to be Billy Big Boots is here. No Diego Forlan or Luis Suarez to rely on.It's team now...let's see how he gets on.
Venezuela
Alphabetically the last team in the Copa and forgive me for saying probably the last team you think of when it comes to South American football. Venezuela have wonderfully forgettable games despite having in my opinion, one the better forwards in the Copa América Centenarío in Solomon Rondon. I honestly do believe if Venezuela had to qualify for this tournament they would make a hard go of it. I'm dramatic sometimes but the need to highlight when things are wrong is a strong habit of mine and with Venezuela there isn't much right apart from the big man up top the aforementioned Sr. Rondon. The Venezuelan FA recently appointed former goalkeeper Rafael Dudamel as their head coach and he will look to turn around what has to be a pretty plain Venezuelan side he inherited from Noel Sanvincente. It's crazy because if you saw what I wrote about Venezuela a few months ago it's the polar opposite, it was quite complimentary. This last Copa America campaign when they finished dead last in Group C and the start they have made in World Cup qualifying has just left me over them. I think if you switched federations and let Guyana be in CONMEBOL and allow Venezuela to join CONCACAF I don't think anyone would bat an eye at this current moment. It's that dire. They have one point in World Cup qualifying for Russia 2018. Uruguay has 13 points in the same amount of games. I put my budding reputation on the line that in this tournament they won't win a game.
Key Man- You can't choose where you're born if that was the case we all would be cramped into Norway or Canada. Don't get me wrong Venezuela sounds like a swell place but not for football maybe baseball not so much football. Solomon Rondon is the shining light here without a doubt. I want to see him to well here in this little fling here in the States.
Predictions- Mexico 1st, Uruguay 2nd, Jamaica 3rd, Venezuela 4th. Mexico is basically playing a home game every time they step onto the pitch and they are in magical form. Uruguay is a big boy team but without Luis Suarez and having Edinson Cavani deputize they just won't be the same let alone take a group. Mexico already has Jamaica's number and Uruguay does too so I don't expect the West Indians to get enough points to advance. As for Venezuela we appreciate the color...you can leave your name tag next to the oreos when you leave.
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