Before we examine individual games, let’s consider some Copa America best bets for the overall tournament.
Outright Winner of Copa America 2024 – Argentina
I hate backing the favorite in this market, but I can’t look past Argentina to retain the Copa America trophy they won in 2021. After ending a 28-year wait for a trophy, they won the World Cup 12 months later. Even at the price, they look like a great bet to make it a hat trick of wins in this latest edition of South America’s most prestigious tournament, which returns to being hosted in the United States.
Lionel Scaloni’s men are ranked number one in the world by FIFA, so it’s no surprise they are strong but worthy favorites. This is generally seen as a shootout between them and Brazil, and in their current form, they are well clear.
Argentina is stacked with talent and have a favorable draw in what will be Lionel Messi’s last international tournament. On the other hand, Brazil have lost three of their six World Cup qualifiers and have not impressed in warm-up matches.
Argentina should cruise through their group which contains Peru, Chile and Canada. It then looks likely they will face two of Mexico, Ecuador and the runner up of their original group to claim a place in the final. I would be shocked if that didn’t happen. In the other half, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and the USMNT will slug it out to join them there.
There are goals laced throughout the team with not just Messi but the likes of Italian Serie A top scorer Lautaro Martínez, Manchester City’s Julián Álvarez and Angel Di Maria. Midfield is built around the excellent pair of English Premier League stars Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández. They also have the best goalkeeper in World football, Emiliano Martínez, who would be incredible in a penalty shootout scenario.
What a way for Messi to sign off—lifting his country’s 16th Copa America which would move them one clear of Uruguay as record winners and retain the trophy for the first time since 1993.
Copa America Best Bet: Argentina to win Copa America 2024 at +175.
Dark Horse – Colombia
Having tipped up the favorite, I am going to supplement that with a selection that can go deep at a nice price. Colombia draws the same group as second favorites Brazil. I could even see them causing a shock and topping Group D.
There is no side in South America in better form than Néstor Lorenzo’s men. They are unbeaten in 23 internationals, winning their last eight. Argentina were the last nation to beat them way back in February 2022.
Having failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, Colombia have turned things around. They boast a recent win over Brazil in a World Cup qualifier, so having them in their group will hold no fear. They’ve also recorded impressive victories against Mexico (twice) and a 5-1 thumping of the United States. What caught my eye was the defeats of Spain and Germany, two sides currently impressing everyone at the current European Championships.
A third-place finish at Copa 2021 was impressive, and they can follow that up here. Nobody scored more goals than Liverpool’s Luis Díaz in that tournament, and he can fire them to at least the semifinals again.
Copa America Best Bet: Colombia to win Copa America 2024 at +1100.
Top Goalscorer – Darwin Nunez
Uruguay is another side that could be a danger to the top two in the market, but at the odds I preferred Colombia. The legendary Marcelo Bielsa is in charge and has his side firing. They have beaten Argentina and Brazil in World Cup qualifying, and in their most recent warm-up fixture, they hammered Mexico 4-0.
One of the most important things Bielsa seems to do is get a tune out of Darwin Nunez. The Liverpool striker comes in for a huge amount of unjustified stick from keyboard warrior watchers of the Premier League. I love his odds here to be the top scorer of the tournament.
The 24-year-old smashed his first-ever hat trick for his national team in that 4-0 walloping of Mexico. He looks a world-beater every time he pulls on the famous blue and white striped shirt. His energy and work rate make him a favorite with his former Leeds manager, and he bagged the most goals in World Cup qualifying.
What makes this a great bet is that Uruguay are in a group with Panama, Bolivia, and the United States. Their first two fixtures against the lesser-ranked nations mean Nunez could get off to a flying start.
He scored two of his nation’s goals in a recent 3-0 win against the Bolivians, and a repeat will set him well on the way to taking home the Golden Boot, especially if he gets off the mark in his opener against one of the weaker nations in the tournament.
Bielsa will be keen to top the group and prolong a meeting with Brazil. Expect him to go strong in the final group game vs. the USMNT. Therefore, our man will get plenty of minutes before the knockout stages.
With four goals as the magic number in Copa 2021, we could be sitting pretty early if a similar total takes the prize this time around.
