Argentina 0-2 Colombia
I really fancy one of Colombia or Argentina to win the Copa America.
SBOBET fans may fancy under-pressure hosts Brazil, who opened the tournament with a win.
And as noted by Copa America 2019 news, Chile are bidding for an impressive three championships in a row.
Yet it is one of these teams I expect to end up lifting the trophy in the Maracana on July 7.
With Carlos Queiroz at the helm, the 2001 champions have a world-class coach and someone whose tactical acumen could make a key difference, even against sides with stronger squads such as the South American giants of Brazil and Argentina.
The latter, of course, have a magician on the field in Lionel Messi and a clutch of other world stars such as Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria.
What a coup it would be if either co-host of next year’s tournament 12 months from now could do so as defending champions.
Highlights of the game
Copa America 2019 betting odds favoured Argentina with this one but also acknowledged there was not much between the sides.
It proved this way as well in an arena where the Argentina fans outnumbered their counterparts.
Many eyes were on two players.
Messi could have been forgiven for putting his feet up for the summer. So, his presence in Brazil points to one clear conclusion.
He has won the World Under-20 Cup and the Olympic gold medal, but time is running out and he is clearly desperate to get his hands on a senior title with the national team.
Meanwhile, James Rodriguez was hoping to relish his return to the scene of the 2014 World Cup, where he was top scorer. He will be eager to show that, for all the frustrations of the past five years, he remains a top-class talent.
Argentina started better but Colombia were clearly a potential threat on the counter-attack.
The early loss of injury to Luis Muriel, replaced by Roger Martinez, was a blow to the Colombians, but their game plan was working to perfection.
As time progressed, Messi seemed an increasingly peripheral figure (as did Rodriguez), having to come deeper to try and launch attacks.
As the half drew to a close, it was Colombia who were carrying the greater threat with Radamel Falcao looping a header wide and Stefan Medina seeing a dangerous cut-back blocked.
The ineffective Di Maria failed to reappear for the second half. His replacement, Rodrigo de Paul, helped Argentina looked livelier in the final third, forcing David Ospina into action before Nicolas Otamendi did the same.
Lionel Scaloni’s side did appear to have more intent in the early stages of the second period and Leandro Paredes just missed the post with a strike from distance.
With19 minutes left, though, a goal came at the other end and it was deserving to win any game as Martinez cut in the right and produced a superb curling finish to drive the ball beyond Franco Armani.
Messi was next to test Ospina but Colombia, a goal to the good, had Argentina where they wanted them.
It was left to Duvan Zapata – fresh from a fine season in Serie A side Atalanta where he scored 28 goals – to powerfully poke home the second from close range from a low Jefferson Lerma cross with five minutes remaining.
Giovani Lo Celso, a wanted man by some Premier League clubs if speculation is to be believed, hit the side netting in stoppage time but Argentina were already beaten.
Colombia and Queiroz had made their point emphatically. They are off to a flyer.
Key statistics
This was Colombia’s first triumph over Argentina for 12 years (2007).
Martínez’s strike was Colombia’s first goal against Argentina since November 2011 (Dorlan Pabón), ending a 565-minute goal drought against them.
Colombia were the last team to win the tournament by winning all of their games. They won all six matches played in 2001.
Colombia have only failed to reach the knockout stages once in their last 11 Copa America tournaments (in 2007).
Argentina are the second most successful nation in the CONMEBOL Copa América. La Albiceleste have a total of 14 titles.
Argentina (120) have also won more Copa America matches than any other nation and are the only one to win three tournaments in a row (1945, 1946 and 1947).
What’s next?
It’s back to Group B action for both teams next Wednesday (June 19).
Colombia meet Qatar in Sao Paulo, while Argentina are up against Paraguay in Belo Horizonte.
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