Argentina vs Colombia prediction: SOUTH AMERICA: Copa América – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-07-14 00:00.
[p]For the first time in Copa América history, Argentina and Colombia will clash in the final as the reigning champions prepare for their record 30th appearance at the competition’s pinnacle, and Colombia their third. Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium plays host and if necessary, extra time will be used after earlier knockout round matches that finished level went straight to penalties.[/p]
[p]La Albiceleste’s love affair with America continued, as following their 2-0 semi-final win over Canada, they haven’t lost a major tournament knockout game in regulation time in the States since Romania beat them in 1994. In ominous form, the record 15-time Copa América champions have won their last ten internationals since Uruguay beat them 2-0 in November.[/p]
[p]After reaching a third major final in as many attempts, Lionel Scaloni’s side are bidding for a remarkable hat-trick after winning the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup. Achieving that feat would certainly be a fitting farewell should the likes of Ángel di Maria and Lionel Messi decide to retire from international football following the tournament.[/p]
[p]Colombia will have plenty to say about that as they are now unbeaten in 28 matches (W22, D6), highlighting their fine form as they embark on a first Copa América final since winning the tournament on home soil in 2001. After despatching Panama 5-0 in their quarter-final, they battled past Uruguay 1-0 in the semi-final, keeping their third clean sheet of the tournament.[/p]
[p]While that bodes well, their defenders might need to raise their game again as they haven’t shut Argentina out in any of the last three H2Hs (D1, L2), yet Los Cafeteros will hope that the last time they did so being in the 2019 Copa América (W 2-0) is a good omen. That remains their only H2H win since November 2007 (D4, L7), so they will understandably start this final showdown as outsiders.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Lautaro Martínez is well-placed to end the tournament as the leading scorer having netted four times already with three of those strikes arriving after the 85th minute. Jhon Córdoba, one of four Colombians to have netted twice during the competition, has now scored his last three international strikes during multi-goal wins ‘to nil’.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: In each of the last seven Copa América finals since Colombia won in 2001, the half-time result was matched by the 90-minute outcome.[/p]
[p][i]Written by: John Pennington[/i][/p]