EPL Players at Copa America 2024 – Day 13
The tournament’s group stage is now concluded as group D plate its final matches, with Brazil drawing against Colombia and Costa Rica overcoming Paraguay. As part of our EPLNews Copa America report, here is how Premier League players involved in the tournament performed.
Brazil 1-1 Colombia
It ended all square in the straight shootout for group D’s top spot in Santa Clara, as Colombia mostly dominated proceedings.
Brazil’s Raphinha opened the scoring 12 minutes in, immediately after Colombia struck the crossbar. But Los Cafeteros managed to equalise just before half time through Palace right-back Daniel Muñoz.
Premier League players in this match did fairly well for themselves, with Muñoz an obvious standout, while Brazil keeper Alisson saved 5 shots. There were plenty of yellow cards though, with Guimarães, Gomes and Lerma all going into the referee’s book.
Ratings
Brazil: Alisson (Liverpool) – 7.5; Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle) – 6.5; Joao Gomes (Wolves) – 6; Lucas Paqueta (West Ham) – 7; Andreas Pereira (Fulham) – 7
Colombia: Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace) – 7.5; Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace) – 6.5; Luis Diaz (Liverpool) – 7; Luis Sinisterra (Bournemouth) – N/A
Costa Rica 2-1 Paraguay
A blistering start for Costa Rica in Austin saw them go 2-0 up in the seventh minute and still hope that they can qualify for the knockout stages if Brazil lose. It wasn’t to be though, as Brazil drew and went through alongside Colombia to the quarter-finals. Paraguay also ended their tournament here, having not secured a single point.
Goals in this game came from Francisco Calvo and Josimar Alcocer for Costa Rica, while Ramon Sosa scored a consolation goal for Paraguay 10 minutes after half time.
There were only two Premier League players on show, as Miguel Almiron and Julio Enciso were both in the Paraguay starting XI, but neither managed to do much to stave off Costa Rica.
Ratings
Costa Rica: N/A
Paraguay: Miguel Almiron (Newcastle) – 6; Julio Enciso (Brighton) – 7