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This Tuesday, the last two matches of the round of 16 in the will take place, featuring South American teams: Argentina will face Egypt in Atlanta, and Colombia will compete against Switzerland in Vancouver, in contests that will determine the final spots for the quarter-finals of the tournament. You can follow all the details in the .
Argentina vs. Egypt — Atlanta
The Albiceleste arrives as the reigning world champion with the goal of continuing to advance, although their last match raised some concerns.
In the round of sixteen, Lionel Scaloni's team needed extra time to defeat Cape Verde 3-2 on July 3 in Miami: Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, Lisandro Martínez equalized in the 92nd minute, and an own goal by Diney Borges in the 111th minute sealed the qualification.
That inconsistent performance contrasts with the group stage, where Argentina finished with a perfect score by defeating Algeria (3-0), Austria (2-0), and Jordan (3-1).
For this match, Scaloni is considering changes: Leandro Paredes and Nicolás González are competing for a place in midfield, while Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez are vying for a spot in the attack.
In front will be a Egypt that eliminated Australia in penalties after drawing 1-1 in 120 minutes, marking one of the major surprises of the tournament.
Led by Mohamed Salah, the Pharaohs reached their first Round of 16 since their World Cup debut in Italy 1934, which was 92 years ago, and they are now aiming for another upset against the defending champion.
Colombia vs. Switzerland — Vancouver
The coffee team arrives undefeated at the tournament and as the leader of Group K with seven points, after defeating Uzbekistan (3-1), drawing with Portugal (0-0), and beating the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1-0).
In the Round of 16, Colombia defeated Ghana 1-0 with a goal from Jhon Arias in the 14th minute in Kansas City, marking the first official historical match between the two teams.
The team of Néstor Lorenzo has demonstrated a clear tactical identity based on high pressing and collective play, although it is still seeking to improve its effectiveness in front of goal.
In addition, Colombia is the only team in the tournament that has played in all three host countries —Mexico, the United States, and Canada— which implies a long-standing journey.
Switzerland, for its part, arrives with the advantage of an extra day of rest and remains in Vancouver after a convincing victory over Algeria 2-0 in the Round of 16, with goals from Embolo in the 10th minute and Ndoye in the 46th.
The team of Murat Yakin has discovered new offensive options with Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas, and aims to match their best historical performance in a World Cup by reaching the quarter-finals.
The dreamed match in the quarter-finals
If both South American teams manage to advance, the final of the 2024 Copa América will be replayed in the quarter-finals, which Argentina won 1-0 with a goal from Lautaro Martínez in the 112th minute of extra time on July 14, 2024, in Miami.
That background makes a potential matchup between Argentina and Colombia one of the most appealing confrontations the tournament could offer.
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