Klopas ready to put his offensive unit to the test in the Florida heat

Tyler Adams believes winning a knockout match is the true measure of USA success in the Copa America.

The United States are the host nation for the 2024 Copa America and begin their campaign against Bolivia on Sunday.

Gregg Berhalter’s side will also face Panama and Uruguay in Group C, from where they are expected to progress to second place, according to Opta’s supercomputer.

And while he’s taking nothing for granted ahead of facing the lowest-seeded team in the tournament, Adams believes a real litmus test for the United States would be progressing beyond the quarterfinals.

“For me, it’s about getting past the quarterfinals,” Adams said.

“In a pressure situation, we have to win by knockout. That will largely measure our success.”

Defender Mark McKenzie added: “When you talk about some of the most watched games, I think apart from the World Cup you look at the Copa America.

“You’re talking about countries that have won multiple World Cups, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil.

“You now have the opportunity to come into this tournament and play them. At the end of the day, it’s usually a South American tournament and now we have the opportunity to play them.”

Carlos Zago won the Copa America with Brazil in 1999, and Bolivia’s head coach wants to pull off an upset at AT&T Stadium.

“The most important thing is that we are competitive,” Zago said.

“We have to try to play on par with the big teams in terms of intensity and physicality.”

Bournemouth midfielder Adams also made an optimistic statement regarding his own abilities.

“When I’m healthy and playing regularly, I’m one of the best midfielders in the world at what I do,” he said, as reported by the Daily Mail.

“I’m not a politician, I don’t need to convince anyone.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

United States – Christian Pulisic

Pulisic, who will captain the Stars and Stripes in this tournament, is their main playmaker and also a potent goal threat.

Indeed, he has just had his best season in terms of goals scored at club level, having scored 15 times for Milan in 2023-24.

Bolivia – Carlos Lampe

Carlos Lampe (nine) is two matches away from tying Arturo Lopez (11) for the third most appearances among Bolivia’s Copa America goalkeepers.

Only Eduardo Gutierrez (12) and Vicente Arraya (20) have played more matches in front of Bolivia in the competition.

MATCH PREDICTION: VICTORY FOR THE UNITED STATES

The United States and Bolivia have only faced each other once in the Copa America, and that was a victory for the South American team, 1-0 at Parque Artigas Stadium in Uruguay during the group stage of the 1995 edition, thanks to a goal from Marco. Etcheverry.

However, the United States is backed to win this time around, even though CONMEBOL teams have won eight of the last 10 matches against the Stars and Stripes in the Copa America, including the two most recent: Argentina 4-0 United States United (semi-finals in 2016) and Colombia 1-0 United States (third place match in 2016).

Bolivia will look to defeat a CONCACAF opponent in the competition for the first time since the 1997 edition, when they beat Mexico 3-1 in the semi-finals of the tournament they hosted.

Expect Bolivia to be buyers more often than not. So far in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, Bolivia (along with Paraguay) has the highest average passing distance (20.5 meters).

PROBABILITY OF WINNING OPTA

United States – 58%

Bolivia – 21%

Draw – 21%