The U.S. men’s national team’s dream of a Copa America crown on home soil is still alive. However, the odds will very much be stacked against them in their semifinal matchup against the best team left in the tournament: Lionel Messi’s mighty Argentina. Can the Albiceleste make it back-to-back Copa finals at the hosts’ expense or will the USMNT score one of the biggest upsets in team history?
Read on below for our complete preview of the USMNT’s showcase semifinal matchup with Argentina.
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USA vs. Argentina Preview
Where: NRG Stadium – Houston, Texas
When: Tuesday, June 21, 9:00 PM ET
Line: USA +510 vs. Argentina -240, tie +315; total: 2.5 – view all Copa America Centenario lines
TV Broadcast: Fox Sports 1
Betting on the USA (+510)
The U.S. men’s national team battled to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ecuador in the quarterfinals, but that victory came at quite a cost.
Manager Jurgen Klinsmann’s side was already going to be a huge underdog heading into the semifinal against overwhelming favorites Argentina, and they will be in an even tougher spot without two-thirds of their first-choice midfield.
With the U.S. significantly undermanned, Klinsmann will need to come up with a tactical master class in order to remain competitive against a clearly superior Argentina. Although he’s been criticized – and rightly so – for his tactical ability in the past, Klinsmann showed that he’s capable of very good strategizing after making some astute changes which led to victory against Ecuador.
Klinsmann will likely adopt a more defensive formation against Argentina, with veteran defensive midfield Kyle Beckerman coming in to bolster what has been a very good American defense. The U.S. has kept clean sheets in four of its last six games, but will be hard-pressed to add another one against Argentina.
Dempsey has scored in three consecutive games at the Copa, and will be the U.S.’s biggest threat against an Argentinian defense that is far from the most convincing.
Betting on Argentina (-240)
Argentina has been the all-conquering juggernaut everyone was expecting entering this year’s Copa America. The Albiceleste have won all four of their matches thus far, with their opening game against Chile (2-1) – the same Chile which annihilated Mexico 7-0 in the quarterfinals – the most competitive of the four.
They’ve gone on to win their next three matches by at least three goals, their latest victory a 4-1 thrashing of Venezuela in the quarters.
Lionel Messi has been gradually working his way to full fitness in the tournament, and now looks back to top form. He played all 90 minutes against Venezuela, scoring once (his fourth goal of the tournament) and setting up two more. Meanwhile, Gonzalo Higuain got on the scoresheet for the first time in the tournament with two goals.
Angel Di Maria remains a doubt with a groin injury while Nico Gaitan will be suspended for his second yellow of the tournament. Thankfully, manager Tata Martino will still have the likes of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Erik Lamela (two goals in his last two games) ready to step in.
But with the way Messi is playing at the moment, it hardly seems to matter who’s playing alongside him. The five-time world player of the year is fully capable of winning this game by himself, as he showed with his stunning nine-minute hat-trick against Panama. The U.S. will throw several bodies in front of their goal, but it could be just a matter of when (not if) Messi and co. eventually break through.
Writer’s Prediction
Argentina (-240) continues its march to the Copa America title with a 3-0 win over the U.S.
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