United States vs Colombia Prediction: Diaz a big danger for Stars and Stripes

The 2024 Copa America is just around the corner, with reigning champions Argentina opening the tournament against Canada on June 21. The host nation, the United States of America, begin their preparations for it with an international friendly against Colombia on Saturday (KO, 22:30).

Check out my United States vs Colombia prediction for this match at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, and read up on all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Christian Pulisic enjoyed an encouraging debut season with AC Milan and is likely to be key for the USA once again this summer.

There is Premier League representation in defence with Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson (both Fulham) all likely inclusions in their starting XI at Copa America.

Haji Wright had a dream run to the FA Cup semi-finals with Coventry City but his role is unclear with the national team; head coach Gregg Berhalter has suggested he could deploy the 26-year-old out wide rather than as a central striker.

Colombia's most influential players include Liverpool winger Luis Diaz and Fluminense forward Jhon Arias, while the mercurial James Rodriguez (Sao Paulo) continues to pull the strings for his national team, despite limited game time for his club sides in recent years.

Jefferson Lerma returned to the Crystal Palace team for their final-day victory against Aston Villa on May 19 and will look to build his fitness up further on Saturday.

USA vs Colombia Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main USA vs Colombia page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

The hosts are 13/8 to beat Colombia for the first time since March 2005, giving them an implied win probability of 38.1%, while La Tricolor are 7/4, or a 36.4% chance, to triumph in Maryland.

The last meeting between these nations came in January 2023, when they played out a goalless draw in Carson, California. A repeat of that scoreline can be found at 8/1, while just backing a draw comes in at 11/5.

Both teams to score is available at 5/6, while BTTS - No is the same price.

Draw or Colombia & both teams to score @ 8/5

Colombia have enjoyed a brilliant last couple of years, going unbeaten in 21 internationals since a 1-0 defeat to Argentina in February 2022. They've won 16 of those games and are currently on a six-match win streak, beating the likes of Brazil (2-1), Mexico (3-2) and Spain (1-0) in that run.

La Tricolor trail only Argentina and Uruguay in South American World Cup 2026 qualifying, and already look like sure-fire candidates to finish in the top six.

The USA's recent form, meanwhile, has been mixed. They won both CONCACAF Nations League matches in March, beating Jamaica (3-1 AET) in the semi-finals and Mexico (2-0) in the final to lift the trophy, but had suffered back-to-back defeats before those victories, including in a friendly with Slovenia in January (albeit both played weakened sides).

The Stars and Stripes haven't played a South American country since that 0-0 with Colombia nearly 18 months ago, where both sides were unable to pick their European-based contingent.

Berhalter will back his charges to score this time around given Colombia conceded twice to Romania in March and also let in a couple against Mexico, Uruguay and South Korea in 2023.

However, Colombia avoided defeat in all four, winning two of them, and have blanked in front of goal just three times in their long unbeaten run.

Luis Diaz anytime goalscorer @ 5/2

While so many of his teammates faltered, Diaz was one of the shining lights for Liverpool in the last couple months of the season, constantly receiving the ball and taking on defenders.

He actually failed to score in his final nine appearances but, before that, had been productive, and ended the campaign on 13 goals across all competitions.

Diaz also bagged a brace for Colombia in November to secure a famous victory over the Selecao, and his talents were on display at the London Stadium in March as he tore down the left side and assisted Daniel Munoz's winner.

The USA's first-choice right-back, Sergino Dest, is sidelined this summer, giving 21-year-old Joe Scally the opportunity to step up. He'll be in for a tough battle against Diaz on Saturday, though, and it may be one the Colombian wins as he looks to get himself back on the scoresheet ahead of the Copa America.

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