Aiming to numb the pain of their struggles in recent World Cup qualifying, Brazil will begin their quest for Copa America glory in Group D of this summer's competition.
The Selecao are joined in the section by one-time winners Colombia - who come into the tournament unbeaten since February 2022 - as well as competition outsiders Paraguay and Costa Rica.
Here, Sports Mole provides the lowdown on Group D of Copa America 2024 and predicts who will progress to the knockout rounds.
COPA AMERICA 2024 GROUP D STANDINGS
COPA AMERICA 2024 GROUP D FIXTURES & RESULTS
June 24: Colombia 2-1 Paraguay (11pm | NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas)
June 25: Brazil 0-0 Costa Rica (2am | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California)
June 28: Colombia 3-0 Costa Rica (11pm | State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona)
June 29: Paraguay 1-4 Brazil (2am | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada)
July 3: Brazil 1-1 Colombia (2am | Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California)
July 3: Costa Rica 2-1 Paraguay (2am | Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas)
All kickoff times BST
TEAMS
BRAZIL
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Previous Copa America appearances: 37, latest in 2021
Best result: Champions (1919, 1922, 1949, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2019)
Copa America 2021: Runners-up
Qualification: CONMEBOL Member
Manager: Dorival Junior
FORM
- L
- L
- W
- D
- W
- D
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Athletico-PR), Rafael (Sao Paulo)
Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Yan Couto (Girona), Guilherme Arana (Atletico Mineiro), Wendell (Porto), Lucas Beraldo (Paris Saint-Germain), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Eder Militao (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Joao Gomes (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United)
Attackers: Endrick (Palmeiras), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Evanilson (Porto), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Girona), Vinícius Junior (Real Madrid)
COLOMBIA
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Previous Copa America appearances: 24, latest in 2021
Best result: Champions (2001)
Copa America 2021: 3rd
Qualification: CONMEBOL Member
Manager: Nestor Lorenzo
FORM
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Camilo Vargas (Atlas), David Ospina (Al Nassr), Alvaro Montero (Millonarios)
Defenders: Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace), Santiago Arias (Bahia), Carlos Cuesta (Genk), Jhon Lucumi (Bologna), Yerry Mina (Cagliari), Davinson Sanchez (Galatasaray), Deiver Machado (Lens), Johan Mojica (Osasuna)
Midfielders: Kevin Castano (Krasnodar), Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace), Mateus Uribe (Al Sadd), Richard Rios (Palmeiras), Jorge Carrascal (Dinamo Moscow), James Rodriguez (Sao Paulo), Juan Fernando Quintero (Racing Club)
Attackers: Yaser Asprilla (Watford), Jhon Arias (Fluminense), Luis Sinisterra (AFC Bournemouth), Jhon Duran (Aston Villa), Miguel Angel Borja (River Plate), Luis Diaz (Liverpool), Rafael Santos Borre (Internacional), Jhon Cordoba (Krasnodar)
PARAGUAY
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Previous Copa America appearances: 38, latest in 2021
Best result: Champions (1953 and 1979)
Copa America 2021: Quarter-finals
Qualification: CONMEBOL Member
Manager: Daniel Garnero
FORM
- L
- W
- D
- L
- D
- L
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Carlos Coronel (New York Red Bulls), Alfredo Aguilar (Sportivo Luqueno), Rodrigo Morinigo (Libertad)
Defenders: Omar Alderete (Getafe), Fabian Balbuena (Dinamo Moscow), Gustavo Gomez (Palmeiras), Junior Alonso (Krasnodar), Gustavo Velazquez (Newell's Old Boys), Ivan Ramirez (Libertad), Matias Espinoza (Libertad), Nestor Gimenez (Libertad)
Midfielders: Matias Rojas (Inter Miami), Richard Sanchez (Club America), Andres Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Mathias Villasanti (Gremio), Damian Bobadilla (Sao Paulo), Hernesto Caballero (Libertad), Fabrizio Peralta (Cerro Porteno)
Attackers: Ramon Sosa (Talleres), Miguel Almiron (Newcastle United), Julio Enciso (Brighton & Hove Albion), Alejandro Romero (Al-Ain), Adam Bareiro (San Lorenzo), Alex Arce (Liga de Quito), Derlis Gonzalez (Olimpia), Angel Romero (Corinthians)
COSTA RICA
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Previous Copa America appearances: 5, latest in 2016
Best result: Quarter-finals (2001 and 2004)
Copa America 2021: Not invited
Qualification: 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League A Quarter-finalist
Manager: Gustavo Alfaro
FORM
- W
- W
- L
- D
- W
- W
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Kevin Chamorro (Deportivo Saprissa), Patrick Sequeira (Ibiza), Aaron Cruz (Herediano)
Defenders: Fernan Faerron (Herediano), Julio Cascante (Austin FC), Gerald Taylor (Deportivo Saprissa), Francisco Calvo (Juarez), Juan Pablo Vargas (Millonarios), Joseph Mora (Deportivo Saprissa), Haxzel Quiros (Herediano), Jyeyland Mitchell (Alajuelense), Yeison Molina (Guanacasteca), Douglas Sequeira (Deportivo Saprissa)
Midfielders: Brandon Aguilera (Nottingham Forest), Orlando Galo (Herediano), Josimar Alcocer (Westerlo), Ariel Lassister (CF Montreal), Jefferson Bremes (Deportivo Saprissa), Alejandro Bran (Minnesota United)
Attackers: Manfred Ugalde (Spartak Moscow), Joel Campbell (Alajuelense), Anthony Contreras (Pafos), Kenneth Vargas (Hearts), Alvaro Zamora (Aris), Andy Rojas (Herediano), Warren Madrigal (Deportivo Saprissa)
Copa America 2024 Group D Prediction
Leaving the struggles of the Fernando Diniz era behind, Brazil have looked promising under the leadership of Dorival Junior in 2024 and should be strong enough, particularly in attacking areas, to fire themselves to first position in Group D of this summer's Copa America.
That leaves three nations to fight it out for the final spot in the quarter-finals, and we reckon that an in-form Colombia side will make it into the last eight, with Paraguay finishing in third place, meaning that Costa Rica will end up bottom of the section.
Carter White
