Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Women's Copa América match.
Venezuela remain in contention for a place in the Copa América Femenina semi-finals, while Paraguay have already been eliminated from the tournament. Nevertheless, the nominal hosts are expected to fight until the final whistle, hoping to extend their journey in the competition.
Paraguay (women)
Realistically, Paraguay had little chance of finishing in the top two by the time the fourth round came around. A 4:0 win over Bolivia is a routine result for most squads, but competing with the leading sides in South America is a different proposition. In the previous edition of the Copa América Femenina, the team reached the play-offs, though their group back then featured just one elite opponent — Colombia, who put four goals past them in that match.
Venezuela (women)
In the 2022 Copa América Femenina, Venezuela finished third in their group, and a similar outcome appears likely again. A goalless draw against Colombia (0:0) kept them in third place. Their emphatic 7:1 victory over Bolivia helped improve their goal difference to +4, but Colombia currently occupy second with a superior +11. For any hope of progress, Venezuela must rely on Brazil — already guaranteed a place in the next round — to play at full strength in their concurrent fixture. However, a one-sided scoreline seems improbable at this stage.
Paraguay (women) vs Venezuela (women) Prediction
Venezuela have faced their share of challenges in recent encounters with Paraguay. In 2019, the teams met in two friendlies, both ending in narrow Venezuelan wins (1:1, 1:0). A similar pattern is expected this time, which lends value to backing the hosts with a positive handicap.
