Brazil Open as Early Favorites to Win 2019 Copa América

• The 46th edition of Copa América takes place from June 14-July 7
• Host nation Brazil open as favorites with odds of +125
• Chile are the two-time defending champions

This summer sees the return of South America’s Copa América tournament. Beginning on June 14, 2019, 12 nations will compete to lift the trophy.

With eight titles in their history and having the advantage of hosting the tournament, Brazil currently own the shortest Copa América odds at an average of +130.

2019 Copa América Odds

*Odds taken 04/22/19

The 2019 Copa América includes the 10 South American CONMEBOL nations, as well as invitees Japan and Qatar.

Defending champions Chile, who won this tournament in 2015 and 2016, have average odds of +880.

Can Brazil Take Advantage of Home Soil?

Played out over five different Brazilian cities, the Selecao will hold the advantage of playing at home throughout the tournament. They last hosted a Copa América tournament in 1989, where they defeated Uruguay in the final.

The win was the start of five trophies over nine Copa América tournaments. During that period they were also finalists on two occasions. Included in that time frame saw them win four of five from 1997-2007.

Odds to Win Group A

Much of the Brazilian’s success will of course rest on the shoulders of Neymar.

Though out since January due to injury, the striker returned this weekend for French side PSG as the Parisians clinched the Ligue 1 title.

Neymar comes on for PSG at half-time vs. Monaco to make his first appearance for the club since 19th January.

Just in time for the title celebrations. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YgaZogI3tf

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 21, 2019

With no obvious challengers within Group A, Brazil do look like easy money to top the group. Across all competitions they’ve only lost three times in 35 matches. Their last defeat came to Belgium in the quarterfinals of the World Cup last summer.

Across all competitions Brazil only lost three times in 35 matches.

They’ve since gone 7-1-0 during international friendlies.

One of those three losses did come to fellow Group A member Peru during Copa América 2016. The Peruvians advanced to their first World Cup through a playoff, but failed to move on from their group finishing third behind France and Denmark.

Peru will likely enter Copa América in shaky form. Since the World Cup they are just 2-1-5 in friendlies. However, a 3-0 home win over contenders Chile back in October could be reason for optimism.

Group A Best Bet: Brazil (-650)

Argentina & Messi Look to Top Group B

It would be a shock to see anyone other than Argentina and Colombia gain direct passage to the knockout rounds from Group B.

The Argentines have the second-most titles in the tournament with 14, although they have failed to win since 1993. With Lionel Messi in their ranks they are always in contention and have reached the final in four of the past five tournaments.

Odds to Win Group B

Both Argentina and Colombia have been in similar form over the past year.

In the lead up to World Cup 2018, Argentina finished third in CONMEBOL qualifying with 28 points, while Colombia was fourth with 27. That was just above Peru’s 26 points in fifth for automatic qualification.

Each side also advanced to the World Cup quaterfinals where their tournaments came to an end.

[SPORT] | Simeone: "The criticism is not fair, Messi is extraordinary."

🔶 The Atléti coach defended Messi against the criticism he receives in Argentina.

🔷 He said that Leo took them one step away from winning a World cup and that Barça play like a team, unlike Argentina pic.twitter.com/jKcnIUXqK1

— Basit Ali (@Babish_A) April 20, 2019

For Argentina, their form in recent friendlies has seen them go 5-1-2. That included a 0-0 draw with Colombia and an unexpected 3-1 home loss to Venezuela.

For all of Messi’s accomplishments, he’s often failed to bring glory to his national team. However, Argentina are not Barcelona, and La Albiceleste just barely qualified for the World Cup and almost failed to advance from their group. There are no certainties with Argentina.

Colombia topped their World Cup group alongside Japan, Senegal and Poland prior to their round of 16 defeat. Since, they’ve gone 4-1-1 in friendly competitions.

The votes are in! 📩

👏James Rodriguez is your March Player of the Month! ⭐️🇨🇴#FCBayern pic.twitter.com/kNOgrvtSGe

— 🇺🇸 FC Bayern US 🇨🇦 (@FCBayernUS) April 8, 2019

Colombia last won this competition in 2001 in a year in which they hosted. Their recent success against Argentina has not been great, having last defeated the Argentines in 2007 and failing to do so in eight matches since.

Group B Best Bet: Argentina (+145)

Is a Three-Peat in the Cards for Chile?

Group C features current champs Chile, alongside Uruguay.

Uruguay were second in CONMEBOL qualifying for the World Cup behind Brazil and fell to eventual champions France in the quarterfinals.

Odds to Win Group C

The 2011 winners should field one of the strongest teams in the tournament.

With a solid defense and world-class strikers Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez up front, La Celeste will surely be contenders. Even without the likes of Cavani and Suárez participating, Uruguay were recent champions of the China Cup.

Diego Godín on Uruguay's desire to win the Copa América in Brazil:

"We have to believe it and understand it. You have to play like a championship team."

The captain wants this Copa – and so do I! Can't wait for the tournament! pic.twitter.com/06g0bVANyE

— Warriors of Uruguay (@UruguayanHeroes) April 20, 2019

However, winners of the past two Copa América tournaments Chile, will surely feature in the mix.

The Chileans just barely missed out on World Cup participation, finishing one point behind Colombia in CONMEBOL qualification. Their record in friendlies since those qualifiers has been a mixed bag of results seeing them go 4-4-4.

The Chileans just barely missed out on World Cup participation, finishing one point behind Colombia in CONMEBOL qualification.

Ecuador started their World Cup qualification campaign strong, running undefeated in five matches. That included wins over Argentina and Uruguay. So they can prove capable.

However, what followed was only two wins in 14 and six straight losses in qualifying to finish eighth in CONMEBOL.

In friendlies since September, they’ve returned to winning ways having gone 4-2-2.

The hosts of the next FIFA World Cup have won their first ever Asian Cup 👏🏆

Qatar defeated four-time winners Japan 3-1 in today's final in Abu Dhabi. pic.twitter.com/jqNmEAlEcI

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 1, 2019

Rounding out the group are invitees Japan. Playing a long way from home, the Japanese may not be favored in any match, though they did advance to the round of 16 at the World Cup, before losing to Belgium.

Since that loss, Japan have been on an excellent run of form going 11-1-2 across all competitions. This included reaching the Asian Cup finals against Qater where they lost 3-1.

Group C Best Bet: Uruguay (+145)

2019 Copa América Best Bet

Only three times in the past 11 tournaments has the hosting nation won Copa América. While Brazil should no doubt make a deep run, I’ll look to grab a little more value on Uruguay. Shop around for the best price as +850.

Best Bet: Uruguay (+850)