Copa America Final: Can Messi and Argentina Repeat or Will Colombia Claim Glory?
Unbeaten Streak on the Line! Colombia Aim to Upset Argentina in Copa America Final!
Messi vs James: Argentina’s Defense vs Colombia’s Attack – Copa America Final Preview
This year’s Copa America champion will be crowned on Sunday night when Argentina takes on Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Argentina aim to defend their Copa America title after earning a trip back to the final with a 2-0 win over Canada in semifinal action.
The preview of the Copa America final wraps up Oddspedia’s daily in-depth coverage of Copa America 2024. Our daily previews feature the best soccer picks from our team of expert handicappers, who have kept you up to date with insightful Copa America predictions, including the best Argentina vs Colombia predictions, along with all the latest Copa America odds and offers from the nation’s top sportsbooks.
Argentina vs Colombia predictions
Best Bet: Colombia to lift the trophy (+140 at FanDuel)
Argentina enter Sunday night’s date with Colombia as -168 favorites to repeat as Copa America champions, and for lots of good reasons. Lionel Messi showed signs that he was making progress in his recovery from a leg injury suffered in the group stage by scoring in La Albiceleste’s 2-0 semifinal victory over Canada.
The squad turned in another stingy defensive performance while keeping clean sheets for the fourth time in five games so far at this year’s tournament. However, consistency has been an issue for this team.
Messi’s injury particularly impacted his form in Argentina’s win on penalties over Ecuador in quarterfinal. Lautaro Martinez, the man who carried the attack by scoring four of La Albiceleste’s first five goals of this tournament, has since found his way off the starting XI by failing to record a shot on target since the start of the knockout stage.
It has been a far tougher road for Colombia, who are coming off a very physical and emotional win over Uruguay that generated into violence following the final whistle. With their 1-0 win over Uruguay, Los Cafeteros are now unbeaten in 28 straight and hungry to claim their first Copa America title in 23 years.
Colombia’s defense has slammed the door while allowing just five total shots on target in back-to-back lean sheet wins. At the same time, team captain James Rodriguez has set himself up as a strong Golden Ball candidate by scoring once and assisting on six of Colombia’s 12 goals at this tourney.
This squad’s current steady run and hunger to finally get some respect as one of the world’s top international sides is more than enough reason to back them as +140 underdogs to lift this year’s trophy.
Argentina vs Colombia spread and over/under analysis
Prediction: Over 2.5 goals (+160 at DraftKings)
Argentina has maintained a very businesslike approach to their game plan so far at the Copa America. The reigning world champions have executed a solid possession game while seizing on their opportunities but have been far from prolific on attack.
In addition to scoring just eight total goals at this tournament, Argentina have scored more than two goals just once in 11 non-friendly matches since their 2022 FIFA World Cup win and have seen the total go UNDER 2.5 10 times over that stretch.
So, while Argentina may sport the offensive weapons needed to run up the score, that spark is likely to come from Colombia, who have enjoyed success with an aggressive offense that has excited fans with wide-open play on their way to the Copa America championship game.
As they have done regularly during their epic two-and-a-half-year unbeaten streak, Colombia has scored early and often at this tournament, potting eight of their 12 goals before the half while setting an aggressive high-tempo pace that opponents have struggled to respond to.
Accordingly, the question isn’t if Colombia will score but how many times. And with nine of the past 19 non-friendly meetings between these sides featuring three or more total goals, this matchup has plenty of potential to be a high-scoring affair.
It looked as though Lionel Messi may be a non-factor in Argentina’s destiny at the 2024 Copa America after he suffered a leg injury in group-stage action.
Messi’s diminished role created opportunities for La Albiceleste rising stars like Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez, who has recorded two goals so far at the tournament.
But with possibly a last chance to claim victory in the Copa America final and playing in front of his hometown Inter Miami fans at Hard Rock Stadium, Messi will be highly motivated to carry this team on Sunday night.
That is reflected on the Copa America goalscorer props at FanDuel, where Messi can’t be overlooked as a +110 bet to record a goal or assist.
Copa América represents a substantial opportunity for the best sportsbooks in the US. They are preparing to draw your attention with some of the top sportsbook promotions slated for 2024. Given the densely packed schedule – 32 matches across 14 host cities – it’s an ideal time to place your first bet with a new sportsbook. These premier sportsbooks sweeten the deal further by offering a welcoming bonus that you can use on bets for other games or on choosing the outright winner of Copa América.
Daniel abandoned the technology industry over a decade ago to join the sports betting world and brings a wealth of experience as a seasoned writer and sports bettor to his role as sports betting expert at Oddspedia. Daniel’s work has been featured on Sportsnet.com, NESN.com, SI.com, Montreal Gazette, OddsShark, RotoWire, Sports Interaction Insights, and Sports Betting Dime.
