We did tell you that there’d be some surprises in this tournament, didn’t we?
Just to recap – Argentina have overcomplicated their plan once again. You’ve got the greatest player to ever grace a football pitch, so just give him the bloody ball. Uruguay have reaffirmed their status as the best small nation on the planet, and their ageing squad definitely looks to have one or two last hurrahs in it.
Luckily for us, there’s more action down the tracks, which gives us a nice little segway into Wednesday night’s action.
Nothing quite sets you up for Royal Ascot like a load of South Americans going off on a mad one at two in the morning.
Colombia v Qatar: Colombia and both teams to score – 12/5
I did tip up Qatar at 9/2 in the previous double, and I reckon we all felt a bit aggrieved as they had plenty of chances to turn over Paraguay, having to settle for a point in the end.
Perhaps the world is waking up to the progressive, albeit well-funded academy system in Qatar that is miles ahead of so many other nations who boast significant underage tradition, but this one might be a step too far.
Colombia will be brimming with confidence after beating Argentina, and while Qatar – led by Akram Afif – looked very good with the ball, they left a lot to be desired when they were off it and I do worry for them in this one.
Qatar will score here, though. This is the bonus I’m allowing myself to have in-hand as I browse through applicable markets. It leads me to a Colombia win at both teams to score, which seems the most sensible bet in this one.
Almoez Ali cannot stop scoring, but ultimately, they’ll fall short against a side far better than Paraguay.
Argentina v Paraguay: Argentina and both teams to score – 12/5
Argentina will win this game of football not because they’re Argentina, but because Paraguay can’t hide who they are.
The embarrassment has now passed for Messi and co, and just like in the World Cup, you can guarantee he won’t sit and wait for others to do his bidding instead.
Paraguay looked very shaky at the back against Qatar and could have conceded six or seven. But, they move the ball very quickly and this is an Argentine backline who have the reversing speed of an articulated lorry.
This game will be all sorts of fun – kind of like in FIFA 97 when you could play in the little indoor arena with the wooden floors.
Well, we might not have the wooden floors, but we will probably have goals galore and maybe even a red card for accidentally sliding in two-footed on the goalkeeper when he’s waving his arms ridiculously for his outfield players to do something.
They don’t make them like they used to anymore, folks. God, I love the Copa America. Vamos!
Shoot over to PaddyPower.com now for all the latest football odds* All odds correct at time of posting.
