Ahead of the Copa América kicking off on Thursday, we look at the links to Ligue 1 across all four groups of the competition, continuing with Group C
Pot 1: United States:
With the likes of Greg Vanney, Alejandro Bedoya and Carlos Bocanegra all having had strong spells in Ligue 1, there's no doubting the historical links between the "USMNT" and France's top division. The current team is led in attack by AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun, who previously impressed in a loan spell with Stade de Reims, while winger Timothy Weah, late of LOSC Lille and Paris Saint-Germain is also a mainstay for the hosts.
Pot 2: Uruguay
Uruguay has long had a strong connection with Ligue 1 -- players like Edinson Cavani, Diego Lugano and Diego Pérez, all legends for their country, have all spent time in Ligue 1. Among the current players in Marcelo Bielsa's squad, though, only Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte is active. The combative holding player was a mainstay for Luis Enrique on his arrival, but was used more infrequently as the season wore on and will be eager to improve his standing off the back of a strong tournament.
𝗔𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼 heads to the @CopaAmerica! 🇵🇦🫡
— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) June 15, 2024
Our right-back has been selected in the final squad for Panama, where they'll take on the hosts United States 🇺🇸, Uruguay 🇺🇾 and Bolivia 🇧🇴 this month.
⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/lDW7OJRDtD
Pot 3: Panama
Following in the footsteps of Paris Saint-Germain cult hero Julio Dely Valdés, Amir Murillo became, following his joining Olympique de Marseille last summer from Anderlecht, just the second player from Panama to feature in Ligue 1. Immensely popular in his home country, he will look to help Los Canaleros reach the knockout rounds of the competition off the back of a season in which he featured sixteen times in the league for Marseille, scoring three goals and adding two assists as the club notably reached the semifinals of the UEFA Europa League.
Pot 4: Bolivia
Of all of the countries in CONMEBOL, Bolivia is the only one to have never had a player from their national team feature in France. Champions just once in the Copa América, at home in 1963, La Verde have a rather humble history in international play, with that being their only major honor.
Read more:
Copa América: Group B Preview
Copa América Stars: Amir Murillo
