Hosts USA, Colombia, Mexico, Chile and Argentina among Copa America quarter-finalists
Published:
Lee Gormley | June 15, 2016
After thrilling group campaigns in the 2016 Copa America, the quarter-final stage has been reached in the United States as eight nations battle it out to avoid exiting the tournament.
In the first set of last eight encounters, hosts and Group A winners USA take on Ecuador in Washington, while Group B victors Peru face the challenge of Colombia in New Jersey.
Meanwhile, Argentina will look to continue their impressive form when they tackle Venezuela, with the mercurial Lionel Messi having been at his deadly best, and champions Chile clash with a talented Mexico outfit.
USA v Ecuador
- Copa America, quarter-finals
- Friday, June 17th
- Kick-off: 02:30 BST
- CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
- Live on Premier Sports
Group A winners USA encounter Ecuador
Despite suffering an opening fixture blip, Jurgen Klinsmann’s tournament hosts USA rallied to Group A supremacy and a quarter-final match-up with Ecuador is their prize for doing so, though they have only managed to win three of their previous 13 fixture meetings.
The Stars and Stripes began their campaign poorly with a 2-0 loss to Colombia, but managed to bounce back in their next two outings against Costa Rica and Paraguay to book their position in the quarter-finals, while Ecuador finished second to Peru in Group B.
Klinsmann’s are therefore 13/8 with Coral to secure success in this meeting within normal time after back-to-back wins, and an even more promising 3/1 to triumph to nil, having done so in those successive victories.
Although, the Ecuadorians are hard to break down and have proved their resistance with two draws and a victory in Group B, with Gustavo Quinteros’ La Tricolor 7/4 to prevail here, while a draw is 21/10 to occur.
Dempsey and Valencia lead scoring threats
USA frontman Clint Dempsey opened the scoring in both recent group victories, including when bagging the winner last time out, and the former Premier League attacker is 11/2 to strike first again for a third consecutive appearance.
Fellow forwards Bobby Wood and Chris Wondolowski are both 2/1 to get on the scoresheet anytime, while former Aston Villa midfielder Michael Bradley is 7/2 to dispatch and Jermaine Jones is 6/1 to do the same.
West Ham United forward Enner Valencia will lead the Ecuador line once more and is 6/4 to find the target, with Miller Bolanos, Jaime Ayovi and Fidel Martinez all 15/8 to tuck home anytime.
Peru v Colombia
- Copa America, quarter-finals
- Saturday, June 18th
- Kick-off: 01:00 BST
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Live on Premier Sports
Peru and Colombia clash in quarters
Peru and Colombia have collided 52 times in the past and hold an extremely tight head-to-head record, with latter having prevailed narrowly more times on 17 wins to their opponent’s 15 victories, and it could be another close clash this time out.
The Peruvians finished atop Group B, while the Colombians had to settle for second place in Group A, but it’s the latter nation who enter as massive odds-on 4/7 favourites to emerge successful, while their foes are 11/2 to triumph within 90 minutes.
Paolo Guerrero will be the key threat for Peru once again, having netted the crucial winner over Haiti in their opener, and he is 7/1 to strike last again here, while Raul Ruidiaz is 11/4 to add to his decisive goal against Brazil with another anytime.
Colombia and AC Milan marksman Carlos Bacca recently netted in the win over Paraguay and is evens to get the better of Peru here, with fellow forward and key player James Rodriguez 9/2 to bag the game’s first goal.
Argentina v Venezuela
- Copa America, quarter-finals
- Sunday, June 19th
- Kick-off: 00:00 BST
- Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Live on Premier Sports
Dominant Argentina face Venezuela
Argentina stormed Group D supremacy with three straight victories and they will aim to maintain that rampant run when facing Venezuela in their quarter-final encounter, a nation which they have only ever lost to once in 20 previous meetings.
Gerardo Martino’s La Albiceleste have conceded just once en route to the knockout stage and are 5/4 to rattle in three or more goals in this latest outing, while their opponents are 8/1 to cause an upset and prevail in Massachusetts.
Star man Messi has been unstoppable at times in this campaign and fired in an incredible nine-minute hat-trick against Panama after coming off the bench, while Manchester City frontman Sergio Aguero also got in on the act and could do so again here.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s attacking danger is likely to be West Bromwich Albion striker Salomon Rondon, who fired in the winner over Uruguay, with fellow forward and Torino marksman Josef Martinez could threaten too after his decisive effort past Jamaica.
Mexico v Chile
- Copa America, quarter-finals
- Sunday, June 19th
- Kick-off: 03:00 BST
- Levi’s Stadium,
- Live on Premier Sports
In-form Mexico meet champions Chile
Defending champions Chile suffered an opening group game defeat to Argentina but have clawed their way to the quarter-finals and now tackle in-form Mexico, who are so far unbeaten and boast a four-game advantage in previous fixture head-to-heads.
Juan Carlos Osorio’s Aztecs enter at 6/4 to triumph, while La Roja are 33/20 to prevail and edge closer to retaining their crown, with a stalemate after 90 minutes being 15/8 to occur.
Bayer Leverkusen poacher Javier Hernandez struck in the win over Jamaica and has looked sharp throughout the tournament, with the former Manchester United hitman set to provide a genuine threat to Chile, while Hector Herrera and Oribe Peralta have also been impressive.
For the Chileans, Alexis Sanchez will hope to add to double over Panama, including an absolute thunderbolt strike, while Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal, who also dispatched twice against Bolivia, could help hurt Mexico.
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