The 2024 Copa America quarter-final match between Argentina and Ecuador is set to take place on Thursday, July 4th, at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The defending champions, Argentina, will face off against a determined Ecuador side in a bid to secure their place in the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament.
Match Preview
Argentina, led by the legendary Lionel Messi, are the favorites to win the Copa America this year.
They have a star-studded squad that includes players like Lautaro Martínez, Ángel Di María, and Rodrigo De Paul.
Argentina have won the Copa America a record 15 times and are looking to add to their tally this year.
Ecuador, on the other hand, are the underdogs in this match. However, they have a talented squad that includes young stars like Kendry Paez and Moisés Caicedo.
Ecuador have never won the Copa America, but they have reached the semi-finals on two occasions (1959 and 1993).
Argentina have been in excellent form leading up to the Copa America quarter-finals.
They won all three of their group stage matches without conceding a single goal.
Lautaro Martínez has been the standout performer for Argentina, scoring four goals in the tournament so far.
Ecuador, on the other hand, have had a mixed bag of results in the group stage.
They lost their opening match against Venezuela but bounced back with a win against Jamaica and a draw against Mexico.
Ecuador will need to be at their best to overcome the might of Argentina.
Head-to-Head
Argentina and Ecuador have met 40 times in their history, with Argentina winning 24 of those matches and drawing 11.
Ecuador have only managed to beat Argentina 5 times, with their last victory coming in a World Cup qualifier in October 2015.
Injury and Suspension
Argentina have a few injury concerns heading into the quarter-final match. Marcos Acuña is doubtful for the match, while Lionel Messi is expected to return from a groin injury.
Ecuador, on the other hand, have a fully fit squad to choose from.
Prediction
Despite Ecuador’s impressive performances in the group stage, Argentina are the overwhelming favorites to win this match.
With Lionel Messi expected to return to the starting lineup, Argentina have the firepower to overwhelm Ecuador’s defense.
The final score is likely to be 2-0 in favor of Argentina.
Betting Tips
Match Result: Argentina to win
Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Over
Handicap: Argentina -1.5
Both Teams to Score: No
Argentina are the clear favorites to win this match, and they have a strong record of winning by multiple goals in recent matches.
Ecuador have struggled to score against Argentina in recent years, and they are likely to find it difficult to break down Argentina’s solid defense.