By The final round of Copa America 2024 Group D matches sees Costa Rica facing Paraguay at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. This fixture holds significant importance for Costa Rica, who still maintain a slim chance of progressing to the quarter-finals, while Paraguay play for pride after their elimination from the tournament.
Costa Rica’s journey in the tournament has been a mix of resilience and struggle. They held tournament favorites Brazil to a goalless draw in their opening match, showcasing their defensive capabilities. However, a subsequent 3-0 defeat to Colombia has left them in a precarious position. To have any chance of reaching the last eight, Costa Rica must secure a victory against Paraguay and hope for a favorable result in the Brazil-Colombia match, while also improving their goal difference.
Paraguay’s Copa America 2024 campaign has been disappointing, becoming the second team after Jamaica to be eliminated from the competition. Their 4-1 defeat to Brazil sealed their fate, despite having talented players like Julio Enciso, Matias Rojas, and Miguel Almiron in their squad.
The match is scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, with kick-off at 9 p.m. ET. Historically, the two teams have been evenly matched, with one win each and two draws in their last four encounters. Their most recent meeting in the 2016 Copa America ended in a goalless draw.
Recent form favors Costa Rica slightly. They’ve won two, drawn two, and lost one of their last five matches across all competitions. Paraguay, on the other hand, has struggled with three losses and two draws in their previous five outings.
For Costa Rica, this match represents a final opportunity to salvage their Copa America campaign. They’ll need to balance their attacking intent with defensive solidity, knowing that goal difference could play a crucial role in their quarter-final hopes.
Paraguay, despite their elimination, will be playing for pride and looking to end their tournament on a positive note. This could lead to an open, attacking game as both teams have little to lose.
As the group stage concludes, this match could provide an exciting finale to Group D. While Brazil and Colombia seem set to progress, Costa Rica’s slim hopes add an element of intrigue to what promises to be an engaging encounter at Q2 Stadium.
