Even though it feels like Brazil should be the team reaching the quarterfinals with the path of least resistance, we can't help but wonder if Argentina is going to make absolute mincemeat of the three teams it's up against in Group D.
Copa America Group D Odds at BookMaker.eu
Argentina -155
Chile +165
Panama +1815
Bolivia +4050
ODDS ANALYSIS
There could be some drama in Group D, but it doesn't feel to us like that drama should revolve around Argentina. This team has been on the verge of winning World Cups and Copa Americas now for almost a decade without finishing the job at any event, and you can bet that it's tired of hearing about how it has to finally get some silverware. The Argentines are set as -155 favorites to win this group. It is, of course, not a prerequisite to win the group for Argentina to still win Copa America, but it would sure help.
Chile is the most likely team to knock Argentina from its perch above Group D at +165, while Panama and Bolivia are well off the pace at +1815 and +4050 respectively.
GROUP D SCHEDULE
Panama vs. Bolivia (June 6)
Argentina vs. Chile (June 6)
Chile vs. Bolivia (June 10)
Argentina vs. Panama (June 10)
Panama vs. Chile (June 14)
Bolivia vs. Argentina (June 14)
THE KEY MATCH
Argentina vs. Chile (June 6) – The Copa America draw created some really interesting matchups, and this one atop Group D might be the most intriguing of them all. Chile beat Argentina in the Copa America final last year, though it should be noted that that match was played on Chilean soil. This will be played in Santa Clara, a neutral site which probably favors Argentina just a slight bit. You can bet that La Albicelestre will be seeking revenge for that loss and then some.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Lionel Messi is the best striker in the world for our money, and though he isn't having quite as good of a season at Barcelona as Cristiano Ronaldo is at Real Madrid, he's easily going to be the most dangerous man in this tournament and is the favorite to win the Golden Boot for Argentina.
We wish we could say that the rest of these teams had a fighting chance against Messi, but we just don't know who's slowing him down.
Panama will try to counter with Blas Perez off of the bench as a late goal-scoring machine, while Chile will look to rely on its defense to get the job done. Claudio Bravo had a phenomenal tournament in net last year in Copa America, and he'll have to do an even better job this time around.
Bolivia doesn't have much in the way of talent which is playing anywhere but at home domestically, and that's bad news against a team like Argentina which has spread its talent all over the world. Keep an eye on 18-year old Bruno Miranda. He may or may not play, but he's the most intriguing option the Bolivians have to offer.
COPA AMERICA GROUP D QUICK PICK
Group D Projections
Argentina: 3-0-0 (9 Points)
Panama: 1-1-1 (4 Points)
Chile: 1-1-1 (4 Points)
Bolivia: 0-0-3 (0 Points)
Hello upset! We aren't forecasting a lot of big upsets in Copa America, but we could see Panama beating out Chile for the last qualifying spot in Group D.
That said, this article is about picking a Group D winner, and there just isn't a team out there which is going to stop mighty Argentina in this foursome. Not only is Messi is stud, but the best five or six players in this group are all going to be donning the white and sky blue. That parlayed with the revenge factor against Chile is more than enough to make us believers in the Argentines, and they'll probably win all of their matches by multiple goals as a result.
Copa America Odds: Argentina (-155)
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