Copa America Bracket 2016: Title Odds, Saturday Quarter-Finals Predictions

Argentina remain the big favourites for Copa America glory, although the competition to be crowned king of the continent is hotting up after some pulsating quarter-finals.

After the United States’ brilliant 2-1 win over Ecuador, Colombia joined the hosts in the last four with a penalty shootout win over Peru on Friday. Next up it’s the turn of the Albiceleste, who will face underdogs Venezuela; the day’s other showdown looks like a cracker, with holders Chile taking on a Mexico team on a wonderful unbeaten run.

Here are the latest odds to lift the title, the fixtures to come and a closer look at how those clashes are likely to pan out.

Time (ET)	Fixture	Semi-Final Opponent
7 p.m.	Argentina vs. Venezuela	United States
10 p.m.	Mexico vs. Chile	Colombia

Team	Odds
Argentina	4/5
Colombia	5/1
Mexico	7/1
Chile	7/1
United States	9/1
Venezuela	80/1

Odds accurate as of 7:30 a.m. (BST) on June 18. For full tournament odds, visit Oddschecker.

Argentina vs. Venezuela

It’s been a very impressive beginning to the Copa America for Argentina. Tata Martino’s men won all three of their group games, the first against determined holders Chile, before scoring emphatic victories over Panama and then Bolivia.

The incisive performances they’ve turned in against sides bunkered in to defend will be ominous for Venezuela as they get set to face the tournament favourites, especially given Argentina skipper Lionel Messi will be fresh and firing for this quarter-final tussle.

The Barcelona man has only made two substitute appearances so far, but as these numbers from OptaJavier show, he’s been imperious when on the field:

What’s also been impressive about Argentina is the manner in which they’ve controlled matches, with Ever Banega particularly efficient at the base of the midfield. Against sides that have rarely advanced from their own half, the playmaker has had time to get his head up and find the Albiceleste’s array of attacking talent with his excellent passing range.

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

For Venezuela, this is a free swing. They made it through to this stage after putting together some determined defensive displays in Group C, with the only goal conceded coming against Mexico. In Josef Martinez and Salomon Rondon, they also boast two players who are capable of nicking a goal. 

BBC Sport’s South American football expert Tim Vickery thinks utilising that partnership effectively will be La Vinotinto’s best chance:

Still, it’s tough to see anything other than an Argentina win. There’s such diversity in the attacking third and enough quality in midfield to take a grip of the match at the expense of their less technically gifted opposition. Expect the Albiceleste to notch a comfortable win.

Prediction: Argentina 2-0 Venezuela

Mexico vs. Chile

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This tussle has the potential to be the finest of all the quarter-finals, with La Roja’s title defence facing what will be a stiff examination against Mexico.

Chile recovered well after losing their opener to Argentina with two wins, but there are some concerns heading into this one. Remarkably they needed a 100th-minute penalty to overcome minnows Bolivia while Panama gave them a fright in a 4-2 win.

We’ll need to see more control from Juan Antonio Pizzi’s team if they’re going to get over the line against El Tri. As noted by Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez, the defence has been underpinned by an out-of-sorts goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, too:

Mexico have been irresistible at times in this tournament, particularly in beating Uruguay 3-1 in their opener. They have scored late goals in all their matches to date, with four of their six netted coming in the 80th minute or after. Maintaining those fitness levels bodes well for a clash against arguably the most dynamic team in the Copa.

As we can see here, courtesy of Bleacher Report UK, in Bayer Leverkusen’s Javier Hernandez, they possess a player who seems to relish the big stage:

This is going to be an open, anarchic and vibrant battle between two very exciting teams. Chile will seek to win the ball high up the pitch and pin Mexico back. El Tri are perhaps the more adaptable of the two sides and, given the champions’ defensive vulnerability, could potentially thrive on the counter-attack.

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Chile should just have enough to come through and nick this one, though. They showed in their win last year they know how to get by in these big battles, experience that Mexico don’t possess at this level. In a stretched game, the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal will make the difference for them.

Prediction: Chile 2-1 Mexico