Argentina’s 2019 Copa America Odds Drift to +550; Is there Value?

• Argentina struggle through group stage
• Only defeat of Qatar secured quarterfinal place
• Now rated fourth to win tournament

Lionel Messi has been enduring another bout of anxiety in international football with Argentina’s campaign at the Copa America looking troubled and unimpressive. However, the Barcelona superstar’s national side have made it to the quarterfinals.

2019 Copa América Odds

*Odds taken 6/25/19

But their average Copa América odds of winning the tournament have drifted to +550 from +370 at the kick-off after their stuttering progress through the group stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAHq6PmucFM

At +550, they are rated only fourth to lift the trophy behind favorites and hosts Brazil, who are at even-money. Uruguay are rated at +450 and Colombia at +500.

Argentina meet Venezuela in the last eight on Friday in Rio de Janeiro at the Estadio Do Maracana, at 3:00 pm EST.

Brazil May Lie in Wait

Even if they get past the Venezuelans, the Argentines are then likely to face Brazil in the semifinal in Belo Horizonte on July 2. It means there is little value in backing them to win the tournament in their current form.

📷 — Leo Messi celebrated his thirty second birthday yesterday.

Happy Birthday, Icon! pic.twitter.com/AWdsrgrwzX

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) June 25, 2019

With the personal form of their talismanic figure Messi also suffering, they will face a tough task simply to get past Venezuela. Brazil face Paraguay in the last eight in Porto Alegre on Thursday at the Arena do Gremio, at 8:30 pm EST.

Messi’s career in the international game has not reflected his immense success with Barcelona.

His only senior international honor has been to win a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.

They have lost three back-to-back finals in the 2014 World Cup and the last two editions of the Copa America against Chile. They have not won the competition since 1993 and Messi’s only senior international honor has been to win a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.

Only three players have scored 40+ goals for the Argentina National Team:

🇦🇷 Lionel Messi (68)
🇦🇷 Gabriel Batistuta (54)
🇦🇷 Sergio Agüero (40) https://t.co/zNwBjAu0iw

— Squawka (@Squawka) June 23, 2019

As the host nation, Brazil began this tournament as favorites. Argentina were rated second most likely to win.

But their group phase got off to a dreadful start with a 2-0 defeat by Colombia in Salvador.

Anxious Draw With Paraguay

That was followed by an anxious 1-1 draw with Paraguay in Belo Horizonte which left their hopes of progressing further in serious doubt.

It took a 2-0 defeat of minnows Qatar in Porto Alegre last Sunday to secure their advancement. Qatar were one of two non-South American teams invited to take part along with Japan.

Venezuela finished second in Group A behind Brazil after opening the tournament with a 0-0 draw against Peru.

Venezuela have yet to be defeated at the competition and have conceded only one goal, although they are rated +4000 to win the tournament.

They finished second in Group A behind Brazil after opening with a 0-0 draw against Peru. They then drew 0-0 with Brazil before defeating Bolivia 3-1 to progress to the quarterfinals.

Superstar in Low Key Form

Messi’s form at the competition has been low-key and hew has scored just once, through a penalty.

He said in public that the victory against Qatar will help calm the doubts surrounding their performances so far and will improve their confidence.

Venezuela shine in Brazil but a gloomy political backdrop underlies their Copa America campaign

By @EwanMacKennahttps://t.co/sJ9hV0zAot

— Indy Football (@IndyFootball) June 23, 2019

It has been a miserable early summer for Messi. After Barcelona lifted the La Liga title in Spain, they suffered a shock defeat in the Champions League semifinal by eventual winners Liverpool.

They then lost the final of Spain’s Copa del Rey against Valencia.

Pick: Brazil (EVEN)