Hérculez Gómez, Kasey Keller and Ali Krieger congratulate James Rodríguez after Colombia’s huge quarterfinal victory over Panama. (2h00)
As we approach the conclusion of the 2024 Copa America with Sunday’s final between Argentina and Colombia in Miami, Luis Miguel Echegaray shares his XI from this summer’s competition.
From consistent players to renaissance achievements, here is the LME team of the tournament in a 4-3-3 formation.
Selecting a single goalscorer in this specific edition of the Copa America was never going to be an easy task as the chaotic nature of this tournament causes multiple brilliant moments from the goalkeeper. But in the end, Martinez deserves the green light for several reasons.
Firstly, let’s look at the fact that he had the highest clean sheet percentage of the tournament. Furthermore, Argentina did not concede any goals at the organizational level and only conceded one before the final. When he was called up, Martínez was there to save the world champions who had not been at their best. His save percentage (90%) was the most productive of any goal on a team that controlled breaking out of organizational levels. In the quarterfinals, If Argentina were fair to themselves, they would admit that Ecuador won that match before the penalty shootout and the main explanation why they were given a position in the semifinals was not thanks to Lionel Messi, but to Martínez, who was notable in the final. penalty shootout, echoing what he did in the last Copa América and the World Cup final against France in Qatar.
In the semifinal against Canada, he played a relatively quiet match until the end, when the Concacaf team knocked on the door, but once again made a very good save with his foot. It was his fourth clean sheet. But here’s the main explanation for why my vote wins: in this specific Copa America, while the games are played for Argentina and the World Cup champions are looking for the leadership, lately they’re not just looking for Messi. their goalkeeper, who is ready.
Let me start by saying that despite Muñoz’s crazy red card against Uruguay, I still give him this award because he has been remarkable in the total of this tournament. It reminds us of last season’s most productive and most anonymous deal in the acquisition by Premier League side Crystal Palace of the 28-year-old Colombian, who played for Genk before his move to south London.
Simply put, Munoz was magnificent for Colombia until the terrible error of judgment when he elbowed Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte on Wednesday night. Either way, it’s one of the most important points that makes the finalists one of the most productive groups in foreign football, let alone South America. Before his ejection, Muñoz was in the 3 most sensible in innings won (according to FBREF) and the 4 most sensible when it came to combining interceptions.
However, his game does not prevent him there; He is also an attacking tool with two goals and an assist. He’s also more than just stats, because it’s his paint speed that impresses. On his way to the final, Muñoz covered so much ground for Los Cafeteros that coach Néstor Lorenzo did it. I don’t have to worry about the right wing. Muñoz is arguably America’s most productive full-back, and it’s a real shame that one moment ruined the conclusion of his Copa America run. However, he has his position in this formation because Colombia’s path to the final will not be without him.
Messi calls Romero the most productive defender in the world and, despite his bias, he deserves a discussion. Romero is not only one of the most productive tacklers and key players when it comes to waiting for danger, but he also takes on one of the most valuable daily jobs for Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina, bringing the ball forward and allowing his team to settle .
Stay up to date with all the results, media coverage and stories on the biggest names and in the United States as the tournament progresses.