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Argentina v Uruguay Odds: Hosts are hot favourites for quarter final

As both teams failed to top their groups in this year’s Copa America, Argentina and Uruguay must now meet in a mouth-watering quarter-final tie on Saturday night. It is sure to be a classic match-up as both teams are the two most successful nations in the history of the tournament with 14 titles each.

After draws with Bolivia and Colombia in their first two Group A fixtures, Argentina finally secured a 3-0 win over Costa Rica to claim their place in the knockout stages of the competition. This progress to the last eight saved the hosts a lot of embarrassment and kept them as favourites in the outright market at 6/5 with Unibet.

Uruguay also needed a win from their final group game to advance to the quarter-finals after they drew their first two games of the campaign against Peru and Chile. The Uruguayans defeated a young Mexico side 1-0 on Tuesday night but their odds in the outright market have now drifted out to 9/1.

Before the tournament, many predicted Uruguay to really challenge the ‘big two’ of Argentina and Brazil for Copa America glory this summer but so far they haven’t convinced anybody they are worthy contenders. They have been unimpressive throughout the campaign with disappointing performances in their three group games.

This Uruguayan side are touted as being one of best the country has ever produced but they aren’t living up to their billing. Their forward line is littered with star-studded talent such as Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez but they have failed to ignite at this tournament. The formation played by coach Oscar Tabarez doesn’t help either and the side is set up too narrow, lacking any attacking penetration on the wings and is over-run in midfield. Problems in the centre of the pitch also mean the defence has tended to drift out during matches and play a very high line which has made the team vulnerable to quick attacks.

Argentina also looked like they were going to limp through their group games after dull draws with Bolivia and Colombia but coach Sergio Batista made some much needed changes against Costa Rica in their last outing, with Gago, Di Maria, Aguero and Higuain coming in for Banega, Cambiasso, Lavezzi and Tevez.

These changes really seemed to reinvigorate the team and also their playmaker Lionel Messi. The Barcelona star had failed to connect with strike partner Tevez in the opening two games but now with Di Maria and Aguero on the field in attack, Messi seemed much more comfortable and was influential in setting up two of his side’s three goals. He has been denied a goal so far in the tournament but with the form Messi is starting to show, he would be a good bet to open his goal-scoring account on Saturday.

With confidence restored in this Argentina side, the hosts should advance to the semi-finals on Saturday in a match that can be seen live on Unibet TV. Uruguay are out-of-form and have kept just two clean sheets in their last nine matches. With the Argentinian attack finally starting to flourish, they should cause all kinds of problems for the Uruguayan defence and come away with a couple of goals.

Tip #1: Argentina to beat Uruguay at 6/11 with Unibet.com
Tip #2: Back Lionel Messi to be first goal-scorer

Argentina v Uruguay Odds

6/11 Argentina
5/2 Draw
11/2 Uruguay

Odds supplied by Unibet, have a bet on the match and watch it live via Unibet.com.

Posted: Thursday, 14th July 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: copa america, argentina, uruguay, lionel messi, unibet,

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