Venezuela - Argentina - Tips by users and experts on football, 28 June 2019: Copa America

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Draw • 4.05

The first Copa America quarter-final to be confirmed was the clash between Venezuela and Argentina in the Maracanã. It’s a famous venue for an interesting clash. On paper, the side ranked 33rd in the world shouldn’t really be a match for an Argentina team who boast the best player in the world. Things aren’t quite that easy, they rarely are with Argentina at major tournaments. However, 2019 could finally be the year which sees Messi lift a trophy with his national side. The fear is that they could just as easily be out by the end of this tie.

Venezuela left things late in the group stage, wrapping up their place in the last eight on the final day. They beat Bolivia 3-1 to leap into second, setting them up with the team who finished second in Group B. It’s been a good campaign for Venezuela, who failed to get out of the group at this tournament for an over 30-year stretch between 1975 and 2007. At the previous four tournaments, they’ve exited at the group stage just once, making the semis in Argentina in 2011. This could be another strong year for Venezuela given their results so far.

Draw • 4.05

Argentina are in disarray right now. They came into the tournament in Brazil aiming to finally land silverware, having lost in four of the last five Copa America finals. However, there’s little chance of them getting that far this time around. At their best, Argentina are a complacent, unorganised group. At their worst, this squad look like strangers who teamed up seconds before kick-off.

Argentina were outclassed by Colombia in their opener and then frustrated by Paraguay in the second game. There’s little about them which has improved since their struggles at Russia 2018, in fact, they seem to be even worse. There’s little sense of a plan, while this side continues to underwhelm in attack despite having the most gifted forward line in international football.

Venezuela are impressing with what they have so far. They only conceded their first goal of the tournament in the 82nd minute of their third game – when they were already 2-0 up. They held hosts Brazil and Peru to 0-0 draws in the group stage, we think they can pull that off against Argentina. Venezuela are three games unbeaten against Argentina, including a 3-1 win back in March. That has us backing the outsiders to avoid defeat on Friday.