Tonight, Argentina, the reigning champions and frontrunners of the Copa America, will begin their Quarterfinal clash against Ecuador. The team, who achieved glory in both the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 Copa America, emerged victorious in all three group stage matches without conceding a single goal. Ecuador, on the other hand, secured the second spot in their group after a mixed performance of one win, one loss, and one draw. They suffered defeat against the eventual group winners, Venezuela, but swiftly rebounded by triumphing over Jamaica and settling for a draw against Mexico – thus securing their advancement in the tournament.
Now that the group stage is finished, it’s time for the do-or-die phase.
It is worth mentioning that the Copa America Knockout games have a unique aspect – they will last only 90 minutes, regardless of the outcome. In the event of a tie after regular time, the teams will proceed directly to penalty kicks, without any additional playing time, as is typically the norm.
Does Ecuador Stand a Chance Tonight?
Ecuador made progress, however, they are required to face off against the reigning champions of the World Cup and Copa America.
Matchup Information – Argentina vs Ecuador
- Location: NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas
- Date: Thursday, July 4th, 2024
- Kick Off: 9:00pm Eastern
- Where to Watch: FOX
Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of BetOnline.
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Money Line
- Argentina -218
- Draw +310
- Ecuador +850
Spread
- Argentina -1 (-124)
- Ecuador +1 (+104)
Total
- Over 2 (-122)
- Under 2 (+102)
Will Messi and Company Handle Business?
Tonight, Messi and the Argentine national team will be making a comeback as they compete in the Copa America Quarterfinals.
Since the start, Argentina has been the clear favorite to win this tournament. Brazil’s performance has been subpar, while Argentina has had a relatively easy path to the Copa America Final. Their upcoming matches are against Ecuador, followed by either Canada or Venezuela. It’s worth noting that all three teams are ranked outside the Top 30, and their Semifinal opponent will be either ranked 48th or 54th in the world.
The opposite half of the bracket is very competitive. Uruguay will be going up against Brazil, while Colombia will be facing our underdog, Panama. In this scenario, we have three of the top 15 teams in the world, with Panama being ranked at 43rd. The main point is that Argentina and their team have a relatively easy path to the final match, they just need to make sure they don’t make any mistakes.
I doubt their ability to do so, as they have displayed immense focus. Although they haven’t been able to score more than three goals per game as anticipated, their defense has left a lasting impression on me. Argentina has managed to keep a clean sheet on three occasions in this tournament, with their formidable backline remaining steadfast. Despite facing formidable opponents like Emi Martinez in goal, they have only conceded a mere six shots on target out of 19 attempts, along with seven corners across their three group stage matches. It is highly unlikely that any team will be able to defeat them before reaching the Final.
Copa America 2024: Argentina vs Ecuador Best Bets
In the previous game, Lautaro Martinez netted two goals for Argentina.
Best Bets: Argentina -1.5 (+145) Bovada
Although I am confident that Argentina will progress, I am hesitant to bet -218 on the moneyline or -124 on the -1 handicap due to the possibility of a push. Instead, I will opt for a safer option by betting on Argentina -1.5 at +145 odds. This seems like the best way to maximize the value of supporting Argentina, as they have won two out of three group matches by a two-goal margin. Despite Ecuador’s strong performances against Mexico and Venezuela, Argentina poses a much greater challenge.
No other team has come close to competing with them for the title of the best team in the tournament. I am eagerly anticipating an exciting final, where Argentina and Uruguay will battle it out for the Copa America Title, both sporting their sky blue jerseys.
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