Debutants Canada Face Defending Champions
Argentina vs Canada Soccer Betting: Defending Champions Heavy Favorites
Group Stage Rematch in Semifinals
The first match of the 2024 Copa America featured defending champions Argentina against Canada. Now, the two teams will meet again in Tuesday’s Semifinal as Canada has enjoyed a successful tournament debut. Argentina, who needed penalties to defeat Ecuador in the Quarter-Finals, are -125 favorites to defend their title but can’t take Canada lightly. Ahead of this match in New Jersey, we’ll run through the Argentina vs Canada soccer betting odds.
Argentina vs Canada
⏰Day/Time: 📍Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, USA
Head-to-Head:
Argentina and Canada have only met twice. Just over two and a half weeks ago, Argentina managed to beat Canada 2-0 in the Group A opener. Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez scored to secure the three points for Argentina. The pregame Argentina vs Canada soccer betting odds listed Argentina as -330 favorites and Argentina as -1.5 at -103. The only other meeting was in a 2010 friendly, which Argentina won 5-0.
Messi Not Looking Fully Fit for Argentina
Lionel Messi is still yet to score for Argentina at the 2024 Copa America. Instead, Lautaro Martinez has found the net four times for Argentina and is leading the Golden Boot race. Another Martinez scored in last Thursday’s Quarter-Final match against Ecuador, though, as Lisandro Martinez put Argentina ahead in the first half.
La Albiceleste looked shaky defending their lead and conceded in second-half stoppage time. The match went directly into penalties and Messi missed Argentina’s first PK. Goalkeeper Emi Martinez made two saves for Argentina as they advanced regardless. Argentina has only conceded one goal in four matches on the Copa America 2024 schedule.
Still, they’re yet to blow anyone away, as all of their matches have been relatively close. Along with the 2-0 win over Canada, they defeated Chile 1-0 and Peru 2-0. Plus, Messi missed the group stage finale with an injury and he didn’t look 100 percent in the Quarter-Finals.
After putting 18 shots on target in their first two matches of the tournament, Argentina have managed just eight in their last two games. Still, Lionel Scaloni’s side is an unbeaten 7-1-0 in 2024 and has only lost one match since winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Canada Advance Despite Scoring Struggles
While Canada has won only one of Jesse Marsch’s six matches in charge, that hasn’t stopped them from reaching the Copa America Semifinal. Rising star Jacob Shaffelburg scored first in Canada’s Semifinal match against Venezuela last Friday. However, Canada keeper Maxime Crepeau got chipped from a long way out in the second half and the game finished 1-1.
Crepeau made up for it with a pair of saves in penalties as Canada won the shootout. In their first Copa America appearance Canada also lost to Argentina 2-0, defeated Peru 1-0, and drew 0-0 against Chile. Canada finished in second place in the Group A Copa America standings despite only scoring one goal in their first three Copa America games.
While Canada has struggled in front of goal, they are creating chances. Even against Argentina in the opener, Canada had double digit shot attempts. Players like Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, and Stephen Eustaquio all play at a high level in Europe.
However, Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan suffered a leg injury in training last week and is out for the remainder of the tournament. After losing 4-0 in Marsch’s first match, a friendly against the Netherlands, Canada’s last five games have featured just five goals total.
Argentina vs Canada Analysis & Odds
Currently, the Argentina vs Canada soccer betting odds list Argentina as a -300 favorite for this match. Whoever wins will face the winner of Uruguay vs Colombia in Sunday’s final in Miami. Canada are +900 underdogs, in 90 minutes, and this would be their biggest-ever win if they can pull off the upset.
A draw is currently priced at +400 Copa America odds and if the game finishes level, we would go directly into penalty kicks. With Emi Martinez’s 4-0 record in shootouts in major tournaments, we think that Argentina would have an advantage in penalty kicks.
This match could be a close one, as Canada’s +1.5 sits at -130 odds, while Argentina’s -1.5 is at +110. While Argentina averaged two goals per game in their World Cup winning campaign, they’ve scored just six times in four matches so far. Under 2.5 goals are priced at -125 odds as neither team has played in a match with more than two goals scored so far.
| Copa America Semifinal Odds | Argentina | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -256 | +875 |
| Total | Over 2.5 (+105) | Under 2.5 (-128) |
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