It’s easy to look at Copa America Group D and get swept up in all the attention around Brazil — the pressure on Dorival Junior’s men to deliver, the absence of Neymar, and the rise of Vinicius Jr.
Those along with the Copa America 2024 odds are all tasty subplots, but they shouldn’t overshadow what Colombia, Paraguay, and Costa Rica bring to the table in a group stage that could stir up some surprises.
Join me as I put a spotlight on each team ahead of this fascinating summer of soccer.
Copa America 2024 Group D odds
Odds will need updating before the sentence Is written.
| Country | To advance | To win group |
|---|---|---|
 Brazil |
-1,429 | -286 |
 Colombia |
-286 | +280 |
 Paraguay |
+285 | +1,400 |
 Costa Rica |
+560 | +3,800 |
Odds courtesy of Betano as of 6/15
Copa America 2024 Group D best bet
Colombia to finish second in Group D (-114 at Betano)
While Brazil are in a class of their own in Group D, the Colombians aren’t far behind when you consider their form over the past few years. Los Cafeteros entered June with a 21-game unbeaten run, powered by an intriguing mix of attacking flair and defensive grit, and they’re peaking at the right time.
Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez give Colombia dynamic attacking threats that few teams can match at this tournament, and they’ve delivered against top-tier opponents over the past 12 months, including a famous win over Brazil last year.
They will need patience to overlock the stubborn defenses of Paraguay and Costa Rica, but the schedule works in their favor, with the showdown against Brazil slotted as the final group game – and both teams may have clinched qualification by then.
The top spot in this group feels like a stretch for Colombia, but they’re well-placed to nab the second qualifying spot and advance to the quarterfinals.
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Copa America 2024 Group D team previews
Brazil (-286 to win group)
There’s a different look to this Brazil squad, with Neymar still sidelined by a knee injury and Casemiro omitted from the final 26-man roster. But that paves the way for Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo to carry their impressive Real Madrid form into this tournament, with teenage sensation Endrick also stepping into a big role.
Still, this is a team with plenty to prove. While there were some encouraging signs in their March friendlies against England and Spain, Brazil’s 2023 form was patchy, including losses to Argentina, Colombia, and Uruguay.
Nonetheless, the Seleção are expected to make it all the way to the final as they chase a 10th Copa America crown, and they should make quick work of Paraguay and Costa Rica in Group D.
Colombia (+280 to win group)
The Colombians arrive in the U.S. ready to make some noise, with a hard-working, organized team headlined by Diaz and Rodriguez. They continued their eye-catching run of results with victories over Spain and Romania in friendlies earlier this year, and anything short of reaching the knockout rounds would be a major disappointment here.
Colombia, who are 12th in the FIFA World Rankings, currently sit third in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings, and Crystal Palace duo Jefferson Lerma and Daniel Muñoz are key cogs in head coach Nestor Lorenzo’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
Paraguay (+1,400 to win group)
This is a tough draw for a Paraguay team that’s short on games and goals. The Albirroja play warm-up fixtures before the tournament but there’s been a long gap since their prior outing, which came in November – a 1-0 loss to group rivals Colombia.
Miguel Almiron is often capable of magic moments on the wing, but it’s likely to be a defense-first gameplan for Paraguay, who’ve been shut out in five of their past six games. Keeper Carlos Coronel is going to be a busy man on this Group D gauntlet.
Costa Rica (+3,400 to win group)
Beyond the Costa Rica camp, expectations are low heading into Copa America 2024. Veteran Keylor Navas has retired and this squad seems overmatched in a tricky group, where they’ll take on Brazil in their opening contest.
A 0-0 draw against Uruguay in late May was a boost, but Costa Rica was thumped 6-1 on aggregate by Panama as recently as November. Much depends on Manfred Ugalde in attack and a compact back three.
Copa America 2024 Group D players to watch
Luis Diaz (Liverpool/Colombia)
It was a rollercoaster, emotional season for Diaz, and the Liverpool winger enters Copa America 2024 amid rumored interest from PSG and Barcelona.
While the season fizzled out at Anfield, Diaz was a key man with his direct approach and he will carry a similar creative burden for Colombia here. He’s also a sneaky long shot for the tournament's top goalscorer prop.
Diaz — Top goal scorer (+3,400 at Betano)
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle/Brazil)
There’s no shortage of Brazilians to monitor at this tournament, including the potential for an Endrick breakout performance, but I’m picking Guimarães to own the Brazil midfield and dominate games with his all-action style of play.
He finished the Premier League season with seven goals and eight assists, and he’s set to be the key connector to Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo.
Julio Enciso (Brighton/Paraguay)
Enciso missed most of the season recovering from an ACL injury, but the 20-year-old should be one of the fresher players in the Paraguay squad.
His vision and calmness in possession will be key ingredients for launching the Albirroja counter-attack, and he’s never shy about unleashing shots from distance. Whether he’s used as a starter or an impact sub, Enciso brings game-changing quality.
Copa America Cup Group D schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Home | Away | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 24 | 6:00 p.m. | Colombia | Paraguay | NRG Stadium |
| June 24 | 9:00 p.m. | Brazil | Costa Rica | SoFi Stadium |
| June 28 | 6:00 p.m. | Colombia | Costa Rica | State Farm Stadium |
| June 28 | 9:00 p.m. | Paraguay | Brazil | Allegiant Stadium |
| July 2 | 9:00 p.m. | Brazil | Colombia | Levi's Stadium |
| July 2 | 9:00 p.m. | Costa Rica | Paraguay | Q2 Stadium |
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