Ecuador attempt to pull off a major upset when they meet defending champions Argentina at NRG Stadium in Houston on Thursday in the quarterfinals of Copa America 2024. Ecuador went 1-1-1 in the group stage to finish second in Group B and earn the opportunity to avenge their 3-0 loss to Argentina in the quarterfinals of this tournament in 2021. The Ecuadorians are seeking their best finish in Copa America since 1993, when they settled for fourth after being edged by Colombia 1-0 in the third-place game. The Argentinians, who went 3-0-0 during group play, are looking to snap a tie with Uruguay and win a tournament-record 16th title. The sides last met on June 9, when Argentina posted a 1-0 victory in an international friendly.
Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET. The Argentinians are -250 favorites (risk $250 to win $100) in the latest Argentina vs. Ecuador odds, while the Ecuadorians are +950 underdogs. A 90-minute draw is priced at +320 and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. Argentina are -750 to advance, while Ecuador are +490. Before locking in any Ecuador vs. Argentina picks, you need to see what proven SportsLine soccer insider Jon "Buckets" Eimer has to say.
Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, he has covered the English Premier League, Serie A, the FA Cup and much more. In 2023, he was red-hot, going 248-234-12 for a profit of $2,593 for $100 bettors.
Now, Eimer has broken down Argentina vs. Ecuador from every angle and locked in his picks and 2024 Copa America predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Eimer's picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Ecuador vs. Argentina:
- Argentina vs. Ecuador money line: Argentina -250, Ecuador +950, Draw +320
- Argentina vs. Ecuador over/under: 2.5 goals
- Argentina vs. Ecuador spread: Argentina -1.5 (+135)
- Argentina vs. Ecuador to advance: Argentina -750, Ecuador +490
- ARG: The Argentinians have won their last three Copa America quarterfinal matches by a combined 9-1 score
- ECU: The Ecuadorians have lost six of their last seven competitive contests against Argentina
- Argentina vs. Ecuador picks: See picks here
Why you should back Argentina
The Argentinians haven't lost in Copa America since the 2019 semifinals, where they dropped a 2-0 decision to Brazil. They went on to defeat Chile in the third-place game that year and posted a 5-2-0 record en route to the title in 2021 before winning all three of their group-stage matches in this edition. Argentina did not allow a goal in any of those contests and have posted clean sheets in 14 of their last 17 games across all competitions.
Messi, who shared first place in the tournament in 2021 with four goals, has yet to convert this time around. Striker Lautaro Martinez, who was the leading scorer in Serie A this past season with 24 goals for Inter Milan, tops all players in this competition as he has netted four of Argentina's five goals - including both in their 2-0 triumph over Peru. The 26-year-old has recorded six goals during his current four-game streak with the national team. Messi and Martinez both converted in Argentina's victory against Ecuador in the 2021 quarterfinals. See which team to pick here.
Why you should back Ecuador
The Ecuadorians are hoping a pair of trends continue in this quarterfinal showdown. The club did not allow a goal before intermission in any of its three group-stage matches, while Argentina failed to convert in the first half of their contests. Ecuador will need to find a way to break through offensively, however, as the defending champions have yet to concede in the tournament and posted six clean sheets during their current eight-game winning streak across all competitions.
Jeremy Sarmiento and John Yeboah have both scored two goals for the national team this year, with the former tallying in Ecuador's 2-1 loss to Venezuela in their group-stage opener. Following an own goal, the club received goals from 17-year-old midfielder Kendry Paez and 21-year-old winger Alan Minda to register a 3-1 triumph over Jamaica in its second match before battling Mexico to a 0-0 draw. Paez entered Copa America 2024 with one goal in nine career contests for Ecuador, while Minda did not score in four games with the national team prior to the tournament. See which team to pick here.
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How to make Argentina vs. Ecuador picks
Eimer has broken down Ecuador vs. Argentina from every possible angle and is leaning Under on the goal total. He also has locked in a pair of confident best bets, including one that offers a plus-money payout, and is offering a full breakdown of this match. He's sharing his Copa America 2024 picks and analysis only at SportsLine.
So who wins Argentina vs. Ecuador on Thursday, and where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see which wagers in Ecuador vs. Argentina have all the value, all from the soccer expert who was red-hot in 2023, and find out.
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