Argentina’s national soccer team has finished runner-up in three of the last four Copa America tournaments. This year’s squad will try to break the team out of its international slump with a win on the United States’ soil.
Copa America 2016 odds: Argentina the betting favorite for Copa America at the sportsbooks
Argentina enters the Copa America Centenario this weekend as the betting favorite to win the tournament over Brazil, Chile, and the USA.
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Argentina is going off at +185 on the odds to win the Copa America at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. With an overwhelming attack led by Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero, the Argentinians are ranked No. 1 in the FIFA world rankings and clearly have the talent to win in any tournament.
However, international success has eluded this group. After a runner-up finish to Chile last year that came down to a loss in penalties, Argentina should be among the hungriest teams in the field.
Chile (+700 to win the Copa America) became the first team since Colombia in 2001 to win the Copa America on its home turf in 2015. The United States will try to do the same in 2016, hosting the event at 10 venues across the country and going off at +800 to win it.
Before entertaining the idea of winning the cup with a magical run through the knockout stage, the United States will first need to advance out of a tough group that features Colombia (+900), Costa Rica (+5000) and Paraguay (+6600).
One potential value play could be Mexico at +1100. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has enjoyed a career resurgence in Germany and appears to be in top form as one of the tournament’s top pure goal scorers. Guillermo Ochoa is a big-game goaltender capable of helping Mexico steal games from superior opponents.
And with the tournament being played in the United States, Mexico will have a strong supporter base in every game that could help tilt matches in the national team’s favor.
Other contenders expected to compete for a win in the Copa America Centenario include Brazil (+450), Colombia (+900), Uruguay (+1000), Ecuador (+2500), and Costa Rica (+5000). Brazil has won four of the last seven Copa America titles, but finished outside of the Top 3 in both 2015 and 2011.
