Copa America: Argentina’s Farewell to Bolivia Could Be Brutal!

Bolivia vs Argentina

The group phase of the 2021 Copa America concludes on Tuesday when Group A leaders Argentina meet rock-bottom Bolivia in a game where we can only expect one outcome.

Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina are currently top of Group A, and if they beat the already eliminated Bolivia they will stay there. There is a huge gulf in class between these two teams placed eighth and 81^st in the FIFA World Rankings.

Argentina, led by arguably the best player on the planet, Lionel Messi, have a squad full of talent and experience while Bolivia don’t have a single player in any of Europe’s big leagues.

The Argentines have been rock solid in their Copa campaign, conceding just once while the Bolivians have lost all three of their games, scoring once and conceding six goals. It may be difficult for La Verde to raise their game sufficiently to match Argentina on Tuesday and if Lionel has his shooting boots on it could get messy!

The Copa America 2021 betting odds are pointing only one way, with Argentina at 1.14 to win and a Bolivia result, either a draw at 6.95 and a win at 13.96 is at long odds, and there isn’t a good case for disagreeing with that.

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Copa America 2021

Talking Points

Argentina are a solid bet

Scaloni’s team has plenty of creative talent and a real cutting edge, but at the other end of the pitch they are equally impressive. A draw with Chile, followed by two 1-0 victories have taken the Albiceleste to top spot and it would take a minor miracle for Bolivia to change that!

The SBOTOP odds suggest the tournament could climax with a shoot-out between South America’s biggest hitters, Argentina and Brazil, and with the Selecao dominating Group B that mouth-watering prospect is well and truly on.

A first-half goal from Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez gave Argentina a 1-0 win over a dangerous Uruguay, and then Sevilla winger Papu Gomez scored the only goal in the Albiceleste’s victory over Paraguay.

In that match, former Manchester City star Sergio Aguero made his first appearance since November 2019 and showed some Copa America 2021 highlights, while Angel di Maria and Messi were both impressive.

At the back, Argentina’s defence – marshalled by Benfica’s Nicolas Otamendi – has become almost watertight; the only time it was breached was a goal resulting from a penalty conceded against Chile.

Argentina’s last defeat was against Brazil in the 2019 Copa America semi-final and that impressive statistic is unlikely to be challenged by Bolivia. Once the group matters are done the action continues for fans when the knockout phase begins, and Argentina will be determined to finish the job in Group A to ensure a smoother quarter-final draw.

Scaloni will remind his players that, in the other game on Tuesday, Uruguay face Paraguay, and the winner of that clash could catch Argentina should the Albiceleste slip up.

Bolivia are already packing their bags

Copa America: Can Erwin Saavedra scores again when Bolivia face Argentina? — Erwin Saavedra celebrates after scoring for Bolivia during a Copa America match against Paraguay

This has been a disastrous campaign for La Verde. But that won’t come as a major surprise to anyone, as Bolivia have won just three games since September 2017. None of those rare victories were against a particularly tough opponent, with the last coming against Venezuela over a year ago.

Head coach Cesar Farias doesn’t have any big names to call upon and the only goal of their campaign came from Bolivar midfield man Erwin Saavedra. La Verde have already lost to Paraguay, Chile and Uruguay and are hurtling towards the exit door where Argentina are about to push them through!

History

The Albiceleste are 14 times Copa America winners but Bolivia too were once the Kings of CONMEBOL, winning the Copa way back in 1963.

The head to heads back Scaloni’s men. Argentina have won eight of the previous 13 meetings, while Bolivia have triumphed twice and there have been three draws. In their latest encounter, the Albiceleste came out 2-1 winners in a World Cup qualifier last October, when a late goal from Joaquin Correa saved Argentina’s blushes.

Argentina are unbeaten in 16 games while Bolivia are winless in four, losing three in a row, and 16 of their past 20 games.

Betting Tip

	Bolivia vs Argentina	Under 2.75 @ 2.03
	June 29, 08:00 (GMT+8)

I’m backing Argentina to win comfortably but I don’t think it will be a massacre; and once they have daylight, Scaloni may be tempted to rest some of his big players in preparation for more rigorous tests to come.

Bolivia have only pride to play for and a 2-0 win for Argentina, at odds of 4.45, would just about preserve the underdogs’ honour, but it won’t be pretty.