Colombia will look to pile more pressure on Copa America hosts and Group A rivals Argentina by defeating Bolivia in Santa Fe on Sunday evening and sealing their place in the quarter-finals.
The main talking point of the finals so far has been the failure of the host nation Argentina to register a victory from their opening two matches, against Bolivia and the Colombians.
This has resulted in angry protests from the press and supporters of Argentina and there have now been reports of in-fighting within coach Sergio Batista’s squad.
However, while Colombia’s strong defence held them to a goalless draw on Wednesday, Costa Rica rose to the challenge and defeated Bolivia the following evening to leave them third in Group A and in great danger of an early exit.
Argentina’s anxiousness will not be eased by the prospect of seeing Colombia face bottom side Bolivia on Sunday, knowing one of two quarter-final places will be taken up if they manage even a draw from that game (5/2 Draw 90 Minutes).
Los Cafeteros have shown good signs as a team capable of going possibly winning the tournament and confident defender Mario Yepes insisted that they are ‘well on their way’.
Dario Gomez’s Colombia might have Europe’s most prolific striker in the shape of FC Porto’s Radamel Falcao (Evens Anytime Goalscorer) and his creative team-mate Fredy Guarin, but that pairing have been put firmly in the shade by a resolute defence which has kept six clean sheets in their last nine games (11/10 To Keep A Clean Sheet).
The previous 12 games involving Colombia have failed to produce more than 2.5 goals so, while they don’t score many, opposition teams will always have to work over-time to breach their rearguard (15/8 1 or Less – Total Goals).
That leaves Bolivia with a tall order to secure the win they require to stay in with a chance of progressing to the quarter-finals and do Argentina a favour in the process.
La Verde have something in common with Colombia, in that they have only scored one goal in their opening two games – but they have conceded three which will be a concern to coach Gustavo Quinteros.
Bolivia have also failed to win so far in 2011 with four defeats and three draws from seven games since February, including the two matches played in the Copa America.
Therefore, despite it being a must-win encounter for them (Bolivia 9/2 To Win 90 Minutes), it seems highly likely that their involvement will come to an end on Sunday while Colombia will progress into the last-eight.
Prediction: Colombia To Win 90 Minutes @ 4/7
Value Bet: Guarin To Score & Colombia Win 1-0 Scorecast @ 35/1
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All 12 teams involved have now played one game in the 2011 Copa America and the action resumes on Wednesday evening as hosts Argentina will be looking to give their fans something to cheer when they face a tough second test against Colombia in Goup A.