Argentina vs. Bolivia in Copa America opener - FREE STREAMING
the hosts of the Copa America will be looking to start the tournament as they want to end it, with a win. Group A gets us started and it is Argentina vs. Bolivia at the Estadio Ciudad da La Plata, La Plata.
This Friday the Argentineans return to the international spotlight, one year after losing to Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals.
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Lionel Messi ArgentinaUp first in their group is a meeting with Bolivia, and the fact Argentina is the heavy favorite in the soccer odds should be no surprise whatsoever.
Over at Bodog, the hosts are a ridiculous -1250 in the betting odds to win their opening match, leaving the Bolivians at +2000 to secure a stunning upset.
There are many who believe this Bolivia team is the weakest in the entire competition, so immediately having to play one of the favorites could end up being a disaster for these underdogs.
It should be expected that Gustavo Quinteros, Bolivia's coach, will aim to frustrate the Argentineans by closing down space and trying to assert themselves physically to make up for a humongous skill gap.
Edivaldo Rojas and Marcelo Martins Moreno are two players that Argentina will have to contend with on Friday, while netminder Carlos Arias will need to be at his best to keep his team competitive.
The time is now for Argentina
For the hosts, there's a new boss in town now with Diego Maradona no longer around. That man in charge is Sergio Batista, who will be doing everything in his power to return Argentina to its former glory.
It will be Batista's first official tournament at the helm, but given the vast array of talented players at his disposal, the wins should still come on a consistent basis.
The starting attack for the upcoming competition looks to in place already. It appears as if Ezequiel Lavezzi of Napoli will partner Carlos Tevez up top, with Lionel Messi also in the mix just behind the front two.
Messi has yet to really make his mark on the international stage, especially when you consider how downright unstoppable he has been for Barcelona over the past few years.
That's probably not all his fault however, as it's up to the coach to employ the right tactics to get the most out of his players. I guess we'll find out soon if Batista can find the correct formula.
Bolivia no match for South American giants
Expectations are exceptionally high for Messi and his Argentinean teammates. On their home soil armed with as explosive of a team as the nation has ever had, anything less than gold would be a disappointment and they are at -105 in the futures odds.
Simply put, Argentina has more quality by far within its squad, but talent never guarantees you success. Everything has to come together on the field.
This is the perfect opportunity for Batista's team to reclaim its spot as the best team in South America, ahead of long-time rival Brazil.
In my eyes, the hosts feature the most talented squad from top to bottom, signaling that maybe this will be the year Argentina claims its first senior trophy in close to 18 years.
We'll have to see if they can pull it all together throughout this year's edition of the Copa America. Regardless, I am confident the Argentineans will get the tournament underway in style with a convincing Group A victory on Friday.
FREE Pick: Argentina 4 Bolivia 1
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