Regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s top-versus-bottom Group A clash between Colombia and Bolivia in Santa Fe, under-fire hosts Argentina must win against Costa Rica in Cordoba on Monday evening if they are going to reach the quarter-finals of the Copa America.
A draw will be enough to see Colombia through on Sunday and that would mean the Costa Ricans can follow them into the knock-out stages by holding the under-performing Argentines to their third successive draw of the group stage (5/1 Draw 90 Minutes).
With a game of huge meaning looming large, Argentina coach Sergio Batista appears set to press the panic button and wield the axe to his misfiring attacking line-up as he attempts to keep the nation on course for a first South American title since 1993.
Fernando Gago, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain all look set to be given a chance to save the hosts by receiving a place in the starting XI at the expense of Manchester City’s unsettled talisman Carlos Tevez, Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, Ever Banega and Esteban Cambiasso.
World player of the year Lionel Messi will be given another chance to finally replicate his Barcelona form for his country after struggling to make an impact in the opening two matches.
However, with the backing of team-mate Javier Masherano, 22-year-old Messi is confident it will be third time lucky for Argentina and they will see off Costa Rica to book a last-eight spot.
He said: “I am feeling good and looking forward to it. I am confident that the team will qualify. We will progress.”
There is an element of déjà vu looking ahead to an Argentina game as it is always felt that the pre-tournament favourites will suddenly click into gear and their big guns will fire them to victory.
But that has not happened in the opening two games and Costa Rica won’t be rolling over to make it happen for them in an encounter they will be as desperate not to lose in order to go through to the quarter-finals.
Ricardo La Volpe’s Central American tournament invitees bounced back from an opening defeat to Colombia with a 2-0 success over Bolivia thanks to second-half goals from Josue Martinez and Joel Campbell.
Their cause was helped by the fact Bolivia played the second 45 minutes with nine men following two red cards, but they will have been handed a confidence boost from the win which they should take into the Argentina match (Costa Rica 11/1 To Win 90 Minutes).
The fact Costa Rica are sitting in second place going into the final group game is a surprise given that, like Mexico, they sent a youthful squad to the Copa America as part of their preparations for next summer’s Olympics, having already featured in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in America this summer which was seen as their priority.
But to dismiss them would be a mistake and that is something Argentina cannot afford to do when they go head-to-head on Monday.
Prediction: Argentina To Win 90 Minutes @ 2/11
Value Bet: Argentina 2-0 Correct Score @ 19/5
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