Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Venezuelavs.Canada

sportsmole.co.uk, 3 July 2024, 17:39
A pair of surprise stories at the 2024 Copa America will battle for a place in the semi-finals as Venezuela and Canada square off at AT&T Stadium on Friday.

La Vinotinto shocked everyone by topping Group B with nine points, defeating Jamaica 3-0 last weekend, while the Canucks were the Group A runners-up after hanging onto a 0-0 draw with Chile on matchday three.

Match preview

When Venezuela went down 1-0 to Ecuador late in the opening half of their first game, it appeared as though they were headed towards another early exit.

Instead, we have witnessed an underdog story emerge, with this side winning their three group contests at this tournament for the first time.

The calming influence of Fernando Batista seems to be just what this group needed, as they have shown tremendous poise on the back end, conceding just once in their last four matches across all competitions.

If La Vinotinto emerge victorious from this upcoming encounter, they will advance to the semi-finals of this tournament for the first time since 2011.

Their previous two quarter-final appearances at the Copa America resulted in defeats to Argentina both times, losing 2-0 to them at this stage in 2019.

Since suffering a 3-1 defeat to Mexico in June 2019, the Venezuelans are unbeaten in eight consecutive matches versus CONCACAF opposition.

Last weekend, the Canadians achieved something rarely seen before in this competition, becoming just the third nation to advance beyond the group stage of their first-ever Copa America, with the other two being Mexico and Honduras.

Les Rouges will hope to follow in the footsteps of the Mexicans and Hondurans, who each advanced beyond the quarter-finals of this tournament in their debut appearances.

Jesse Marsch has seen this team adapt quickly to his approach, which revolves around togetherness and intensity, two formulas that have served the Canadians well at this tournament.

After losing his first match in charge against the Netherlands (4-0), Marsch's side have posted three clean sheets in their previous four competitive fixtures.

Les Rouges have not scored a first-half goal all year but have also not conceded in the opening 45 minutes on eight successive occasions.

Friday will only be the third time these sides meet, with the previous two matches ending in a draw thanks to a late equaliser by Canada.

Venezuela Copa America form:

W

W

W

Venezuela form (all competitions):

L

L

D

W

W

W

Canada Copa America form:

L

W

D

Canada form (all competitions):

W

L

D

L

W

D

Team News

For this quarter-final clash, Venezuela will be without Darwin Machis, who collected a second booking on matchday three, while Nahuel Ferraresi and Miguel Navarro should return to the starting 11 after being kept off the field against Jamaica because they were each on a yellow card.

Yeferson Soteldo could reclaim his place in the midfield following the Machis suspension, while Jefferson Savarino and Cristian Casseres will be pushing to earn a spot in the opening lineup as attacking midfielders.

On matchday three, Venezuelan record goalscorer Salomon Rondon notched his second of the competition, as did Eduard Bello, while Eric Ramirez scored for just the second time with the national team.

Canada are unlikely to have Tajon Buchanan available, with the Inter Milan winger breaking his tibia in training this week, forcing him to undergo surgery.

Ismael Kone, who recently agreed to join Ligue 1 side Marseille, will likely draw back into the Canadian lineup on Friday after sitting out of their final group match, having been on a yellow card.

Jonathan David had their only goal in the opening phase of this competition, the 27th all-time for the Lille striker, two fewer than Cyle Larin for the most ever with the Canucks, while Maxime Crepeau has posted consecutive clean sheets.

Venezuela possible starting lineup:

Romo; Aramburu, Ferraresi, Y. Osorio, Navarro; Martinez, Herrera; Bello, Casseres, Soteldo; Rondon

Canada possible starting lineup:

Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies; Kone, Eustaquio; Ahmed, David, Laryea; Larin

We say: Venezuela 1-1 Canada(Venezuela advances on penalties)

The Canadians have been a resilient group, but in a match that could be about holding your nerve, we trust the experience of players like Rondon to carry the Venezuelans through.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

18 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr are plotting a stunning move to sign Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A trio of England under-21 players joined Thomas Tuchel's training session on Tuesday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have confirmed that Cole Palmer has returned from the England squad to undergo further assessment on the injury he sustained before Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Continuing their quest for a first UEFA Nations League crown, Italy will welcome familiar foes Germany to San Siro on Thursday evening, as the pair play out the first leg of an enticing quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal fans may have to wait until next season to see the best of Bukayo Saka ahead of his imminent return from hamstring surgery, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jean-Philippe Mateta injury was so severe his plastic surgeon refused to show him pictures of his ear. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ultimately aiming to claim a first UEFA Nations League title, Germany will kick off their quarter-final clash with old foes Italy on Thursday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has suggested that Darwin Nunez could still have a future at Anfield, but not as Arne Slot's starting number nine. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Armenia host neighbours Georgia in Yerevan on Thursday evening, as the two nations fight for the right to play in league B of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are ready to consider offers for striker Darwin Nunez, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Austria host Serbia on Thursday evening, looking to gain an advantage in their two-legged playoff for the right to play in Group A of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, European heavyweights Italy and Germany will convene at San Siro on Thursday, for the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric has reportedly decided whether he intends to remain at Real Madrid past the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Leicester player Hamza Choudhury was mobbed by fans after arriving for his first senior international call-up. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is allegedly the subject of surprise interest from a Bundesliga club. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A brand-new competition will be taking place this summer, with some of the world's biggest clubs eyeing glory in the USA. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Ola Aina had a hilarious response to discovering he would be sharing a bed with Alex Iwobi on international duty. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Arsenal have added Carabao Cup winning Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes to their list of summer transfer targets, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Vying for a place in the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Scotland and Greece will meet for the first leg of their promotion/relegation playoff on Thursday. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Troy Deeney has reiterated his belief that Mohamed Salah is 'not world class' after his Wembley woes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Papiss Cisse has been convinced to come out of retirement at the age of 39 by a former Newcastle teammate. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of Group C in the third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers will clash on Thursday as leaders Japan face Bahrain. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Danny Drinkwater was once given just an hour to leave Chelsea and led to a bust-up with the manager. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have no hope of clawing back their 12-point Premier League deficit to Liverpool despite the Reds' recent problems, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Bayern Munich are reportedly among the clubs who have discovered the asking price of RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are one of three Premier League clubs who could reportedly pip rivals Manchester United and Chelsea to the signing of Sporting Lisbon's in-demand striker Viktor Gyokeres this summer. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brazil and Colombia go head-to-head in the 38th instalment of this international fixture in Brasilia on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk There will be no return to the Brazil fold for Neymar in their clash with Colombia on Thursday night, as he has pulled out of the upcoming squad with injury. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona have all reportedly suffered a major blow in their pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak ahead of the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Thomas Tuchel not only raised eyebrows with his selections in his first England squad - but also with his omissions.