Argentina vs Ecuador Preview & Prediction | 2024 Copa America | Quarter-Final
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The first knockout match of this year’s Copa America pits the defending champions Argentina against an Ecuadorian side with a squad full of emerging talent that will seek to frustrate and surprise the tournament favourites.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 5th July, 2024 - UK – 2:00am & Thursday 4th July, 2024 - US ET – 9:00pm / US PT – 6:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – Fox Sports & TUDN
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – UniMas, Univision, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue & ViX
ARGENTINA PREVIEW: THE NORMALITY OF SUCCESS
The reigning champions of both this competition and the FIFA World Cup are once again making their success a normality this summer as they became the first team to cruise into the quarter-finals of the 2024 Copa America in the United States.
Lionel Scaloni’s side have perhaps not been at their fluent best but that was the case in 2022 on the global stage, too, when they started with a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia. They won Group A with three wins out of three, without conceding a goal.
ECUADOR PREVIEW: RECOVERING FROM ADVERSITY
It was a little more hard fought for Ecuador to progress into the last eight with the South Americans losing their opening game to Venezuela after leading at half-time but captain Enner Valencia’s first-half red card eventually cost them in the end.
After that, though, former Qatar boss Felix Sanchez rallied his young troops and they eventually qualified by comfortably defeating Jamaica by three goals to one before a goalless draw with Mexico sent them through on goal difference.
ARGENTINA TEAM NEWS: NO REAL MESSI CONCERNS
There were a couple of concerns over Lionel Messi’s fitness ahead of their final group game against Peru so he was one of a few players, as well as Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul to be rested. Lautaro Martinez continued his scoring form, though, so may well keep his place in the eleven.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Di Maria, De Paul, Mac Allister; Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Messi (Injured)
ECUADOR TEAM NEWS: FULL STRENGTH ECUADORIANS
Enner Valencia returned from his suspension to lead the line and play all 90 minutes as Ecuador shielded themselves well to a qualifying point against Mexico. There are no injury concerns or suspension issues for them to worry about ahead of the quarter-final.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Alexander Dominguez; Angelo Preciado, Felix Torres, Willian Pacho, Piero Hincapie; Alan Franco, Moises Caicedo; John Yeboah, Kendry Paez, Jeremy Sarmiento; Enner Valencia
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
ARGENTINA VS ECUADOR PREDICTION
Lionel Scaloni’s three-time world champions are firm favourites for this one. The form of Lautaro Martinez will potentially mean a reshuffled shape where Angel Di Maria fills in into the midfield three but the industry of the Benfica man means there is still little room for Ecuador to take advantage, even with their force in midfield. It may not be a thriller, as has been the case for the Argentinians throughout the tournament, but they are expected to edge through into the semi-finals.
ARGENTINA VS ECUADOR TIP: ARGENTINA TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
