Day 3 of Copa America brings us action from Group C today, with two matches on the schedule, but Mexico's Copa opener against Uruguay is probably going to get the majority of the attention. El Tri won the CONCACAF Gold Cup last year and players such as Andres Guardado, Oribe Peralta and Javier Hernandez (aka Chicharito) are all expected to play some sort of role for them, as well as veterans like Rafa Marquez and Guillermo Ochoa. They will finish the fourth round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying in first place in Group A as the Hex beckons later this year.
Uruguay won the Copa in 2011 and their star player is none other than Barcelona forward Luis Suarez. Out for today, it remains to be seen what role he will have in group play after suffering a hamstring injury two weeks ago in the Copa del Rey final against Sevilla. Compounding that with the absence of winger Cristian Rodriguez, who suffered an injury and withdrew from the roster last week, and Mexico may be able to breathe far easier in a group they are expected to advance out of, even if La Celeste and Edinson Cavani make any noise. And if that happens, Uruguay, who leads CONMEBOL in points in World Cup Qualifying (tied with Ecuador), and who beat Mexico in the gold medal game in last year's Pan Am games, could make it entertaining.
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, AZ)
Kick-off time: 8:00pm Eastern
Available TV: Fox Sports 1 (English), Univision, Univision Deportes (Spanish)
Available streaming: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer 2 Go (English), Univision Deportes (Spanish)
For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.
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The early game of the day finds the 2015 Gold Cup runner-up Jamaica as they play Venezuela. The Reggae Boyz have Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake tending the net and Premier League winner Wes Morgan from Leicester City in defense, to go along with Houston Dynamo forward Giles Barnes serving as a creative presence up front, though they are currently on the outside in terms of World Cup qualifying, currently in third place in Group B behind Costa Rica and Panama currently.
Venezuela? Well, Salomon Rondon plays for West Bromwich Albion and is the go-to for goals for the Vinotinto. And they do have players with European club experience in defense in Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (Nantes) and Roberto Rosales (Malaga). But on a national team level they have been nothing short of disappointing recently. They did not advance out of group play in the 2015 Copa (Jamaica met the same fate in a different group), and with one draw and five losses in six WCQ matches thus far, allowing almost three goals per game in the process, puts them at the bottom of CONMEBOL.
Location: Soldier Field (Chicago, IL)
Kick-off time: 5:00pm Eastern
Available TV: Fox (English), Univision, Univision Deportes (Spanish)
Available streaming: Fox Sports GO, Fox Soccer 2 Go (English), Univision Deportes (Spanish)
For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.