2019 Copa America hosts Brazil are the bookmakers’ odds on favourites to beat arch-rivals Argentina in Tuesday night’s semi-final.
The Samba Boys have not conceded a single goal in their four games in reaching the final four, but have been held 0-0 by Venezuela in the group stage, and 0-0 by Paraguay in the quarter-finals, beating the latter on penalties.
Meanwhile, Argentina have not looked so impressive in reaching this stage. The two-time World Cup winners were beaten 0-2 by Colombia in their opener match before being held 1-1 by Paraguay. They finished runners-up in their group by beating invitees Qatar 2-0 in their final group game.
Argentina then beat Venezuela 2-0 in their quarter-final match. Interestingly, these were the only goals scored by the eight participants at this stage, with the other three matches going to penalty shootouts after 0-0 draws.
Superstar Lionel Messi’s only goal of this competition in his four matches came from the penalty spot against Paraguay.
Although Brazil have not looked spectacular on home soil so far this summer, the bookmakers have made them 5/6 favourites to beat their rivals over 90 minutes and their odds aren’t much greater to win the whole tournament, which concludes on Sunday at the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
