What About Mexico? Tata Martino's Favorites for the Copa América
Inter Miami's head coach, Gerardo "Tata" Martino, has appeared before the media in the days leading up to the Copa América to share his favorites to win the summer tournament, where several teams he has previously managed will compete: Argentina, Paraguay, and Mexico.
Martino ruled out Mexico as one of the favorites to win the tournament. The Tricolor team is in Group B, where they will compete against Ecuador, Venezuela, and Jamaica. Surprisingly, the "Tata" also ruled out Brazil – the top winner of the World Cup – as a favorite.
"Unlike other editions, there are several teams outside of Argentina and Brazil that are doing very well, with a lot of potential and ready to fight for the title, so I think the Copa América is going to be exciting," said the former Mexico coach.
The Argentine pointed to three teams as the favorites: Argentina, Colombia, and Uruguay. Among the reasons for naming the "Albiceleste" as potential winners, he noted, "they are world champions," emphasizing the significance of winning the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. It was precisely in that World Cup where "Tata" faced his compatriots while leading Mexico, a match that ended 2-0 in favor of Lionel Messi and company.
"If I have to say, I would go with Argentina as the current champion and lean towards Uruguay and Colombia as the other contenders," Martino said.
Both Argentina and Uruguay, two of Martino's three favorite teams, are the top winners of the tournament with 15 trophies each. The Albiceleste were champions in 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959-I (a year in which two editions of the tournament were held), 1991, 1993, and 2021; while the Charrúas won the title in 1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1959-II, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995, and 2011.
Colombia, on the other hand, has only one title to its name, which it achieved in 2001 when it defeated Mexico in a final that ended 1-0.
The 48th edition of the Copa América will begin on June 20th when Argentina faces Canada at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Uruguay will debut in the tournament on Sunday, June 23rd against Panama, and Colombia will do so against Paraguay on Monday, June 24th. The opening ceremony will feature Colombian singer Feid, according to Conmebol.
