One of the early surprise stories at the Copa America has been Venezuela, who conclude Group B action on Sunday against Jamaica at Q2 Stadium in Austin.
A 3-1 defeat versus Ecuador on Wednesday officially eliminated the Reggae Boyz from this competition, while the Venezuelans booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 triumph over Mexico.
Match preview
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On matchday two, the Jamaicans found the back of the net for the first time ever at this tournament, but they are still seeking that elusive first point.
With three goals conceded in their previous match, it equalled the most the national team had ever allowed in a single Copa America affair while also equalling their biggest defeat (3-0 versus Uruguay in 2016).
Heading into this tournament, Jamaica had won three consecutive matches, but on Sunday, they could lose three in a row for the first time since Heimir Hallgrimsson took charge in September 2022.
Jamaica had also won five consecutive matches when even or behind at the interval before the Copa America began, but they have since lost back-to-back contests when that has happened.
On Sunday, they have a chance to defeat a side from outside the CONCACAF region for the first time since 2020 (2-1 win over Saudi Arabia).
The last time they scored a goal against a CONMEBOL opponent was also the last time the Reggae Boyz defeated a side from that region, hanging onto a 2-1 win over Chile in 2016.
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Venezuela will play in the knockout stage for the third time in the last four editions of this tournament after putting together another solid outing on Wednesday.
Their win over Mexico was the first time this team had claimed a shutout victory in this competition since a 1-0 triumph over Uruguay when this tournament took place in the United States in 2016.
Fernando Batista can do something that no Venezuelan manager has ever done at this tournament, end the Copa America group phase with a 100% record.
If they can keep the Jamaicans off the scoresheet this weekend, Venezuela would equal a national team record for the fewest goals conceded in the group phase of this tournament (one), on par with the 2016 and 2019 teams.
Since defeating Honduras 1-0 in June 2023, this side have only scored once in the opening half, losing that encounter 2-1 versus Italy.
La Vinotinto have never lost to the Reggae Boyz outside the Caribbean, winning their only prior meeting against them at the Copa America, 1-0 in 2016.
Team News
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Hallgrimsson made one change to his Jamaican starting 11 from matchday one to two, with Damion Lowe coming into the lineup in place of Demarai Gray.
Kasey Palmer found the back of the net for the first time in his Reggae Boyz career on Wednesday, but it was an own-goal for the Coventry City midfielder, while West Ham United's Michail Antonio will go down as the first-ever Jamaican to score for this nation at the Copa America.
We saw three newcomers in the Venezuelan starting 11 this week with Jon Aramburu, Eduard Bello and Jefferson Savarino coming into the opening lineup in place of Alexander Gonzalez, Darwin Machis and Cristian Casseres.
Record goalscorer Salomon Rondon converted a penalty early in the second half against Mexico, while goalkeeper Rafael Romo preserved the victory by stopping Orbelin Pineda from 12 yards away in the latter stages of the match.
Jamaica possible starting lineup:
Waite; Hector, Latibeaudiere, Harding; Lembikisa, Lowe, Palmer, Marshall; Nicholson, Gray; Dixon
Venezuela possible starting lineup:
Romo; Amaburu, Ferraresi, Osorio, Navarro; Martinez, Makoun; Lacava, Savarino, Soteldo; Cadiz
We say: Jamaica 0-2 Venezuela
Given that neither side have much to play for, we expect to see several new faces in the starting 11 this weekend.
Being written off at the start of this tournament seems to have struck a chord with Venezuela, and we expect them to keep their momentum going against a Jamaican side seemingly frustrated by how this tournament has transpired for them.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
Argentina
Canada
Chile
Peru
Venezuela
Ecuador
Mexico
Jamaica
Uruguay
Panama
USA
Bolivia
Colombia
Brazil
Costa Rica
Paraguay
