Copa America betting tips: Brazil favourites but Messi gives Argentina hope
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Guide to the favourites in the outright Copa America odds
The semi-finals take place on Monday and Tuesday, and we are taking a look at the updated outright odds in our Copa America betting tips now that the line-up for the last four has been confirmed.
Brazil are the defending champions and have the advantage of playing on home soil as they seek a 10th Copa America title.
Brazil
Brazil are firm favourites to progress to Saturday’s final at the historic Maracana Stadium and are now 8/11 favourites to win the competition as they bid to retain the title they won in 2019.
The Selacao have successfully defended their Copa America titles twice before (1999 and 2006), and as with the last renewal, they have been fortunate enough to play the tournament on home soil.
Brazil have finished Copa America runners-up on 11 occasions and having already beaten Peru 4-0 two weeks ago in the group stage, they must fancy their chances in Monday night’s semi-final against the same opponent, the weakest team left in the last four.
Despite struggling to overcome a dogged Chile side 1-0 in the quarter-finals, they are on a run of 12 games unbeaten, and have conceded just twice in five outings, scoring 11 goals themselves.
Argentina
Like Brazil, Argentina have conceded just two goals in their five Copa America games thus far and have been cut to 7/4 in the outright betting following their 3-0 quarter-final win over Ecuador.
Following a shaky start in a 1-1 draw with Chile, La Albiceleste have looked better as the tournament has progressed.
Lionel Scaloni’s men quickly bounced back with respective 1-0 wins over Uruguay and Paraguay, before thrashing Bolivia 4-1 to top their group, with Lionel Messi netting twice.
Messi was again in supreme form against Ecuador, scoring with a sublime free-kick and setting up both Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martinez for second-half goals.
Should they justify favouritism and overcome Colombia in Tuesday’s semi-final, they will be one step away from a 15th Copa America title and their first since 1993.
Colombia
Colombia’s sole Copa America title came 20 years ago and they are 10/1 third favourites to win the competition this time.
Quarter-finalists in 2019, Colombia have been somewhat fortunate to get to the semi-final stage, having finished third in their group.
Having lost to Brazil and Peru, they had goalkeeper David Ospina to thank after he saved two penalties in a quarter-final shootout to overcome Uruguay following a goalless draw, but they will face an uphill battle to reach only their second Copa America final.
Peru
Peru won two of their four group games, beating both Colombia and Venezuela, but have already lost 4-0 to Brazil and are outsiders at 14/1 to hoist the Copa America trophy.
Twice winners of the competition, they bid to avenge their 2019 defeat to the Selecao in the second semi-final on Tuesday night, but must do so without top scorer Andre Carillo, who is suspended.
He was dismissed in the 3-3 quarter-final draw with Paraguay, which saw Peru eventually go through 4-3 on penalties.
La Blanquirroja will hope their usually solid defence can thwart Brazil’s many attacking options, as they bid to reach the final of the oldest international football tournament for only the third time, but they are heavy outsiders to do so.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
