Seeley’s Selections – Chile v Argentina

It’s the final of the Copa America that everyone wanted (well probably not the BoyleSports odds compilers).

Hosts, Chile, are up against tournament favourites Argentina in the red-hot cauldron of the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos on Saturday evening.

These two sides have been the best two teams in the competition by some distance and this is one for the neutrals. I was very confident that our pre-tournament pick Chile could go all the way and win their first South American Championship and then the real Argentina showed up in the semi-final.

That 6-1 semi-final drubbing of Paraguay has seen BoyleSports slash the odds on Messi and co winning their 15th Copa to just 11/20 with our Chile boys the 7/5 underdogs.

It’s well worth remembering that Paraguay were totally out on their feet in that semi-final and however impressive that scoreline was, they didn’t have much to beat.
Up until the semi-final, coach, Gerardo Martino, has been very negative with the way he’s set his team out and the three Argentinian matches previously have featured only two goals. I can see La Albiceleste being set up to be very defensive minded again in this final, just as they were in the World Cup final last summer.

This match promises so much, but both nations are expecting their teams to win this and with the extra pressure and nerves on these very talented group of players’ shoulders, just like most major finals, I believe this one could turn into a damp squib.

Argentina are just 11/10 with BoyleSports to win this in 90 minutes with the hosts, who will be cheered on by a passionate set of supporters at 13/5.

The draw (which has already attracted some pre-match support) looks the best bet in the 90 minute mark at the 23/10 with BoyleSports.

Despite so much attacking flair on display, I just really can’t see many goals in the game either. Major finals, whatever the sport or the continent, have become very dull over recent years and this one is going to be no exception to that rule.

Four of the last six Argentina matches have seen less than 2.5 goals as a winner in regulation time and at 7/10 with BoyleSports on this one repeating that recent run, that looks worthy of support.

Argentina haven’t won a South American championship for 12 years and Chile have NEVER won one and with so much at stake this could turn into a very tactical affair.
The Argies got through a very tense quarter-final battle with Colombia via a penalty shoot-out and I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see this final going all the way to spot-kicks again.

In that quarter-final I made a bold case for no goalscorer in the game which I found myself shocked to do with the World class attacking line-ups on the pitch and I find myself in a similar position here really liking no goalscorer at 15/2 with BoyleSports.

Two of the last half dozen meetings between these great football nations have ended goalless and with so much at stake and the pressure of a final, there is an awful lot to like about that 15/2 on another shut-out.

If this game is 0-0 with 25 minutes to go, that is the way it’s going to end I’m sure. Nobody will want to over attack in the latter stages and if you are not swayed to back the no goalscorer pre-match, you might be in-play at the 65 minutes mark at www.boylesports.com.

B Lucky!

Seeley’s Selections:
Draw @ 23/10
Under 2.5 Goals @ 7/10
No Goalscorer @ 15/2

*Prices correct at time of publication