While the United States fights for its life in Copa America, Canada is set up for a triumph. Les Rouges took care of business against Peru, and they now have a golden opportunity against an aging Chile. Once upon a time, this would have been a frightening fixture for the Canadians, but La Roja isn’t the team it once was.
What Jim Schlossnagle did makes sense from a certain viewpoint. But the timing is just awful on everyone’s part.
The biggest question in the American camp is how they’ll handle a side that can actually press forward. Bolivia never came close to threatening to get back in the match. Panama is a step above that, but it’s still a side that the Americans should handle. Whether the U.S. plays to its potential will tell a lot about what to expect as the matches get tougher.
Unlike the Euros, only two sides per group qualify to the knockout stages. Losing to Argentina wasn’t a surprise, but it does put the pressure on Canada. To progress, the Canadians need results against both Peru and Chile.
Edmonton seemed to be a freed team when it came into Game 4 and just went out and played. Nobody expected anything from the Oil in that game, and they played their best hockey of the series. Now they have expectations and something to lose. The Oilers are so close to making the most of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and they might never get this close again.
The Aggies do have an edge: they intentionally held back their best bullpen pitchers after Game 1 to get them extra rest. Josh Stewart and Evan Aschenbeck didn’t go on Saturday, as Texas A&M knew it had the third game if needed.
Not only did the Americans land one of the weakest groups in the tournament, but they open with the weakest side in the tournament in Bolivia. The Bolivians haven’t won a match in the Copa America in nine years, losing 10 straight in the tournament.
It’s the proverbial unstoppable force against the immovable object in the College World Series championship series, as Tennessee meets Texas A&M.
Florida still has two shots at this, and Edmonton has to be perfect again. For another, the Panthers turned the tables in Game 5. Much like Edmonton used Game 3’s third period as a springboard to Game 4, Florida has the chance to do it in Game 6.