The Copa America semi-finals are here! Three South American powerhouses and CONCACAF’s last hope have reached the final four, competing for a spot in Sunday’s highly anticipated final in Miami. Ahead of kick-off, we have expert betting tips to boost your online betting chances. **Our Bet Builder picks:**
**Argentina vs Canada** The first of two mouthwatering Copa America semi-finals features defending champions Argentina against tournament debutants Canada. Lionel Scaloni’s men will be looking to make it three consecutive final appearances at major tournaments, and they’ll be brimming with confidence after winning their last 9 games on the bounce. They scaled through a nervy quarter-final against Ecuador, requiring the brilliance of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to scale through on penalties after Lionel Messi missed the first spot kick. That compounded what has been a subpar Copa America for the Argentina captain, who’s yet to score a goal at the tournament. While his best years may be behind him, it’ll be fascinating to see if he can bounce back with a stellar performance here. There will be no extra-time for the semi-final which means getting the job done in 90 minutes must be the priority for Scaloni, as anything short of an Argentine win would send shockwaves across the world. Jesse Marsch’s Canada has made history as only the third CONCACAF team to reach the Copa America semi-finals on their debut appearance, joining Honduras and Mexico. The last time a CONCACAF nation reached the Copa America final was in 2001, when Mexico lost to Colombia (1-0). They have certainly earned their right to be here, and a lot of that is down to their defensive solidity in recent games. Since a pre-tournament friendly loss to the Netherlands (4-0), they have conceded just three goals in five games, with two of those coming in the group stage defeat to Argentina. Unfortunately, the Canadians have never had much success against Argentina. They’ve met just twice in history, losing both games by a combined 7-0 scoreline. Even with a half-fit Messi, it’s hard to see Marsch’s men stopping the Albiceleste. **Verdict: While Messi’s form is off, Lautaro Martinez has been on fire, leading the tournament with 4 goals in 4 games. Canada have done well to get to this stage but there’s no logical reason to back them against the Argentina in your full time prediction. Our bet of the day is for Martinez to continue his scoring streak in an Argentine victory.**
**Uruguay vs Colombia** One of the tournament favorites, Uruguay, go head-to-head with Colombia in an exciting Copa America semi-final at the Bank of America Stadium on Thursday. This clash reignites one of the oldest rivalries in South American football, with both teams having met 45 times. Uruguay has the historical edge, with 20 wins to Colombia’s 14. Marcelo Bielsa’s men should be filled with confidence after defeating Brazil on penalties in a tense quarter-final and extending their unbeaten streak to eight games (W7, D1). This streak began with a 2-2 draw against Colombia in October 2023, the third consecutive meeting between the teams that ended in a draw after 90 minutes. Their previous Copa America encounter also ended 0-0, suggesting another closely contested match is in store for our online betting community. However, Bielsa faces a tough defensive challenge ahead of this match, as he’ll be without the injured Ronald Araujo and suspended Nahitan Nandez against a strong Colombian attack. Araujo suffered the injury in the first half of the win against Brazil, and Atletico Madrid’s Jose Maria Gimenez is expected to start in his place. Meanwhile, Colombia has been one of the standout teams at Copa America, extending their unbeaten run to 27 games (W21, D6) with a 5-0 win over Panama in the quarterfinals after an excellent James Rodriguez performance. Their recent matches have been high-scoring affairs, with six of their last seven games producing over 2.5 goals. Head coach Nestor Lorenzo credits the team’s unity for their success, and Colombia’s record of reaching the semi-finals in three of the last four Copa Américas bodes well for their chances. Although they crashed out at this stage in the previous two tournaments, they have a strong record against Uruguay, losing just one of their last five head-to-head meetings (W1, D3). This match could well come down to which Liverpool star comes out on top. Darwin Nunez, who is often accused of being wasteful in front of goal for Liverpool, has scored five goals in his last five matches for Uruguay. Colombia’s Luis Diaz, on the other hand, has scored three goals and provided one assist in his last four appearances. **Verdict: I can see this game going all the way to penalties. Both teams have been excellent at this tournament, and it will take a lot to break either of them down.** **Our bet prediction is a full time draw with Darwin Nunez to get on the scoresheet.**
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