The Copa America 2021 already has its finalists
The Copa America 2021 reaches its final phase with the dispute of a world football classic. Argentina and Brazil face off in the final that takes place on Sunday, July 11 at the legendary Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Without their national teams having stood out in this edition, the final has the added incentive of seeing two of the best players in history face to face: the Argentine Lionel Messi and the Brazilian Neymar Jr.
The legendary Maracana stadium will witness, once again, a football match for history. The national teams of Brazil and Argentina are contesting the final of the Copa America 2021. ©rogerio_t/Pixabay
This is probably the last chance for Lionel Messi to winning something important with your selection . With 34 years old and waiting for what happens at the 2022 Fifa World Cup that will take place in the emirate of Qatar, the final of the America's Cup it appears as the perfect occasion to start a successful career as a footballer.
But Argentina will not have it easy. In front, the Brazilian national team led by a great Neymar he will certainly want revalidate its success of the last edition when he defeated a surprising Peruvian national team in the final by 3 to 1.
The road has not been easy. Brazil has been the great dominator of the group stage, although its passage to the final has had greater resistance than expected against an ambitious Peruvian team, which protested the refereeing performance a lot. For his part, Argentina solved their pass against Colombia in a dramatic penalty shootout in which Emi Martínez, Argentine goalkeeper of the English Aston Villa, was the absolute protagonist.
Two media idols face to face
When Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the national team in 2016 immediately after losing the Copa America Centenario final to Chile, for the second time in a row, he lamented that they were already four finals lost with his national team , including the 2014 FIFA World Cup final in which the albiceleste came out defeated in front of Germany.
Although the game of the Argentine national team has not been dazzling far from it, the individual quality of their players, Ángel Correa, Sergio Aguero, Rodrigo de Paul, who will be the next Atlético de Madrid player, or Lautaro Martínez, who scored the decisive goal against Colombia, can be enough to decant the final of the Argentine side. Messi's commitment to returning his country to the glory of world football is beyond doubt.
But if anyone can shadow Messi, it's Neymar Jr. Two media idols in Latin America and representing the essence of South American football . Brazil is far from being a team that amazes with its game. In this tournament he has been more effective than brilliant, but Neymar seems today more capable than Messi to take the Canarinha to the conquest of the tournament.
It is curious that Neymar has not been able to win any important tournament with his national team either, beyond the 2013 Confederations Cup, because he missed the 2019 Copa America due to injury that celebrated Brazil as a champion.
Therefore, there's a lot at stake in this final of the 2021 Copa América in which one of the two stars of world football will achieve glory. We will find out next Sunday, July 11th.
Who's the favorite?
The bookmakers have opted for Brazil that pays 1 to 1.50 or 1.75 , according to the bets. Argentina's win is paid 1 to 2.30 up to 2.60. The odds go up a little if the match goes to extra time or penalties, although here Brazil also starts as the absolute favorite. A clear victory for Argentina in the 90 minutes of regulation can reach 4.50 per euro bet.
It will undoubtedly be an intense match in which the main Latin American bookmakers will be very attentive. With the authorization of online betting in various Latin American countries, there are many internationally prestigious operators, bookmakers such as William Hill, Betfair or bwin that already operate to offer the Latin American player bets adapted to their local realities.
Brazil is the most attractive market for the potential turnover . Pending effective regulation in this regard, betting in Brazil is not only dominated by traditional sports such as football, but the country is experiencing a significant growth in e-sports and virtual, representing the first Latin American market in this segment.
