Argentina Kick Off Copa America Title Defense
Heavily Favor Defending Champs
Canada Make Copa America Debut
Argentina have been the most consistent national team of the last few years. La Albiceleste have won the last two major tournament (2021 Copa America, 2022 World Cup) and they’ll kick off their Copa America title defense on Thursday. Argentina take on Canada in the opening match of the tournament as Canada make their Copa America debut.
Canada will be thrown into the fire vs. Lionel Messi & Co. but they’ve been on the rise over the last few years. As we gear up for a long Summer of soccer, we’ll preview the Argentina vs Canada odds, which heavily favor the defending champions.
Argentina vs Canada
Date & Time: Thursday, June 20th, 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Argentina vs Canada Head-to-Head
This is just the second opportunity to bet on the Argentina vs Canada odds all-time. Their first meeting was in a 2010 friendly, in which Argentina won 5-0, even though Lionel Messi wasn’t on the squad that night.
Confident Argentina Tipped to Defend Title
Argentina’s experience in high pressure situations will undoubtedly be an asset in Copa America. Three years ago, Argentina managed to see off Brazil to win their first Copa America title since 1993. Once Lionel Messi broke his international trophy curse, Argentina managed to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup. All 11 of the players who started the penalty shootout victory vs. France are in the squad for the Copa America.
Emi Martinez is a penalty shootout expert, and he’s emphatically taken the number one keeper role over the last few years. Lionel Scaloni is 50-15-6 as Argentina’s coach and he’s gotten things right most of the time. Messi has already said Inter Miami will be his last club so that means time is running out on his career. This may be his last chance to win another international trophy and Argentina are +175 favorites to take home the title. Messi’s career stats include 108 goals in 182 international appearances and he’s a Golden Boot candidate.
In four 2024 friendlies, Argentina are 4-0. Both Messi and Lautaro Martinez scored twice in a 4-1 win over Guatemala last week. Since winning the World Cup, Argentina are 13-1 and they’re a confident bunch. Messi, Martinez, Julian Alvarez and Angel Di Maria can all pour in the goals for La Albiceleste.
First Major Tournament for Canada Under Marsch
Jesse Marsch’s tenure as Canada’s coach didn’t get off to the greatest start. Two weeks ago, Canada fell 4-0 to the Netherlands in a friendly. Three days later, Les Rogues did manage to hold France to a draw, though. Canada played some top teams before they make their first Copa America appearance and they should be all the better for it.
Canada impressed by qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup but Canada’s standings show they were one of only two teams to drop all three games. Coach John Herdman departed for Toronto FC last year and Canada have won just three of their last 11 international matches. Still, there are some bright talents on the roster.
Alphonso Davies plays left back for Bayern Munich but he often plays as a winger with Canada. Tajon Buchanan completed a big move to Inter Milan in January and Jonathan David has been a Golden Boot candidate the last few seasons with Lille. Consistency has been the issue for Canada and it would be a big surprise if they go through to the knockout stage.
Argentina vs Canada Match Analysis & Odds
For the 2024 Copa America opener in Atlanta, the Argentina vs Canada odds price defending champions Argentina as -330 favorites. Argentina -1.5 could be a popular pick, at -103, as three of their four wins in 2024 have come by a two goal margin, or more.
Canada are +850 underdogs in their Copa America debut and we’ll see if they’ve learned from their mistakes at the World Cup. It’ll be intimidating playing against the world’s number one team and Canada will need to be switched on for all 90 minutes to have a chance.
A draw sits at +450 odds and anything other than an Argentina victory here would come as a surprise. As would anything other than a first place finish in the Group A Copa America standings.
With an expected Argentina midfield of Enzo Fernandez, Alexis MacAllister and Rodrigo De Paul, Canada are going to have problems competing in that area of the pitch. Over 2.5 goals come in at -138 odds and Argentina have scored 11 goals in four games this year.
