Lionel Messi and Argentina were given a chance for revenge on Sunday after being drawn against reigning Copa America champions Chile in the group stage for this summer’s special centenary edition of the tournament.Argentina suffered an agonizing defeat to Chile in the climax of last June’s tournament in Santiago as their major championship drought continued in Santiago.
However, Messi and his teammates have the opportunity to strike back at Chile after being drawn alongside their South American rivals in Group D here Sunday. The Copa America Centenario is taking place outside South America for the first time this year to mark 100 years of the world’s oldest international football tournament.Ten cities across the United States will host games from June 3-26 in the 16-team tournament, which features 10 teams from South America and six from the CONCACAF region.Argentina’s clash with Chile was the standout fixture from Sunday’s draw at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. Panama and Bolivia complete Group D.Host United States will kick off the tournament against Colombia in the opening match at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on June 3. The match may carry a good omen for the United States, who beat Colombia in the 1994 World Cup group stages, a game made infamous by the own goal from Colombian defender Andres Escobar, who was later murdered in his homeland.The Americans’ Group A is full of demanding challenges, with 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists Colombia and Costa Rica as well as 2015 Copa America semi-finalists Paraguay.Five-time world champions Brazil, however, were given what looked like a straightforward passage into the knockout rounds, with Ecuador, Haiti and Peru forming their opposition in Group B.Brazil will open their campaign against Ecuador at the Pasadena Rose Bowl — scene of their 1994 World Cup final triumph — on June 4.Reigning CONCACAF Gold Cup champions Mexico and Luis Suarez’s Uruguay will be favored to proceed to the last eight from Group C ahead of Jamaica and Venezuela.(BSS/AFP)
