Don’t laugh, the United States of America has every reason to believe they can win the Copa America Centenario. Having clinched a birth in the quarter-finals, it’s as good a time as any to dissect this American squad.
In Brad Guzan, they have one of the best goalkeepers on the continent. John Brooks absolutely nullified Paraguay in the most complete manner a defender can. Michael Bradley continues to grow in stature from his holding midfield role, and the USA boasts enough attacking options to trouble the entire Copa field.
Clint Dempsey is hell-bent on going out with a bang. Photo: @ESPNFC | Twitter
Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico remain formidable opposition, but the State’s have secured their position in the knockout rounds. Their mentality can only be as such: bring on either Brazil, Peru or Ecuador next. It doesn’t matter which one.
Clint Dempsey’s goal was a thing of beauty — a sign of Gyasi Zardes’s growing maturity.
Gyasi Zardes --> Clint Dempsey --> GOAL, #USMNT. #USAvPAR #MyCopaColors https://t.co/aumNF2kGgS
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 11, 2016
DeAndre Yedlin put the USA in an extremely difficult position following a quick succession of yellow cards, but Brad Guzan would not let Paraguay get a sniff of net.
.@bguzan #USAvPAR #MyCopaColors https://t.co/hFku3XcFOn
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2016
The USA has qualified from the group of death, an accolade that will almost always follow the USA given their indiscernible stature as either s*** or world-beaters. Regardless, this is a moment for the USA to celebrate. They've defeated one of CONCACAF's best, Costa Rica, and they've claimed a South American scalp in Paraguay.
As it stands, the States appear to be headed for a quarter-final game against Brazil. If they want to prove that they can actually win this thing, there's no better opportunity to make a statement of intent.
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