Brazil and Chile collide in the Copa America quarterfinals. Find out where the best bets are to be had. Saturday’s soccer betting card in Copa America features the blockbuster matchup between Brazil and Chile as both advanced out of the group stage, despite enjoying contrasting fortunes, into the quarterfinals. Brazil finished top of their group while Chile squeezed into the knockouts after settling into fourth place.
Based on these two familiar foes’ respective accounts in the tournament so far, Copa America 2021 odds are suitably representative of their perceived form and quality. Thus, Brazil are being installed as the runaway faves while Chile are the quintessential longshots. Do the markets have it right? Is betting on Brazil the smart bet as the soccer odds would suggest? Or can Chile deliver a massive upset that would certainly send seismic shockwaves through the tournament?
Chile vs. Brazil
Friday, July 02, 2021 – 08:00 PM EDT at Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium
Brazil The Team To Beat
Copa America hosts Brazil came into the tournament as the team to beat according to multiple top sports betting sites, having lifted the last tournament crown in 2019 and, importantly, showing good form in the lead up to the tournament. There’s no team more star-studded than the Selecao is too.
The Selecao underscored their lofty credentials with a formidable start to their campaign this year after beating Venezuela and Peru by a combined score of 7-0 in their first two games. They then went on to beat Colombia 2-1 on matchday 3 before settling on a 1-1 draw to Ecuador on matchday 4, the latter of which was the most surprising result of the final lap of round robin action.
In spite of dropping points in their final group game, Brazil nevertheless clinched top spot in group action and Tite will be confident about his side’s chances ahead of Saturday’s date with Chile. Neymar has been in top form since the opening game and has two goals in the competition. Other stars such as Everton Ribeiro, Richarlison, Maquinhois, Roberto Firmino and Casemiro to name a few are also in fine form. Not to mention, Tite rested his stars in the final group game, hence the rather modest result.
Chile Dangerous Floaters
At face value, Chile’s campaign in the 2021 Copa America leaves much to be desired after they finished in fourth place behind a 1-2-1 mark, but to look closely at their run is to discover that there’s an element of the dangerous floater about La Roja. Chile opened its campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Argentina and then they went on to beat Bolivia 1-0. On matchday 3, Chile rose to the challenge of Uruguay and settled on another 1-1 draw before stumbling on matchday 4 in a 2-0 loss to Paraguay.
Martin Lasarte’s side isn’t flashy or nearly as star-studded as Brazil is, but they have the quality to pull off the upset even if bookies aren’t putting much stock in it at the sports betting floor. They’ve been without the services of Alexis Sanchez, who missed the group stage entirely. But he may be fit enough to participate in Saturday’s pivotal game against the tournament faves. Should he not, the bulk of the attacking responsibility is likely to fall on Eduardo Vargas again. Vargas has two goals in the competition.
Soccer Betting Predictions and Picks
Brazil’s march towards a second straight Copa America title has yet to be properly challenged. They cruised through the group stage, save for the minor hiccup in the final group game and they go into the knockouts in good form and riding serious momentum. That’s not to mention the home advantage they’re enjoying in this tournament with overwhelming fan support.
By and large, Brazil is likely to be the popular soccer picks in most betting circles with only a fewer bettors bold enough to back the upset by Chile. And yet, Brazil have shown some vulnerability defensively, which was exploited in their last two group games. Chile are disciplined enough to exploit that aspect, in which case that could give La Roja wiggle room for optimism, if not for the upset then to keep this game closer than most would expect it.
Soccer Pick: Chile +1.5 (-140) with Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
