AS hosts, Argentina are fighting the weight of expectation as they head into the opening match of the Copa America tonight/early tomorrow. Having split with the legendary Diego Maradona last year, replacement gaffer Sergio Romero has plundered on without looking much of an improvement.
Their defence is creaking, deathly slow in places, even if they have an astonishing amount of experience collectively. Gabriel Heinze, Gabriel Milito, Walter Samuel and Javier Zanetti have all seen better days and the real concern for Argentina will be the pace up top that so many of their rivals possess.
Bolivia embarrassed El Diego a few years back when they thumped Argentina 6-1 in La Paz but they're now one of the weakest sides in South America and tonight's result could easily be a reverse.
Batista is set to start Carlos Tevez up front and he's 4-1 with Boylesports to score first or evens with Sporting Bet to score anytime.
Lionel Messi is also expected to start and the world player of the year is a great or 8-13 with Boylesports to net anytime, a massive 16-5 to score first or 15-4 (bet365) to start his campaign with a hat-trick.
Bolivia will look to the likes of 6ft 1″ Shakhtar Donetsk striker Marcelo Martins (9-2, bet365 to score anytime) to counter up front. However, Bolivia have scored just two goals in their last six games, so William Hill's 4-6 on Argentina to be the only ones to find the net is attractive at bigger money.
Argentina to win by four goals or more pays out at 11-5 with Stan James.
- Argentina v Bolivia is live on ESPN at 1.45am on Saturday. It's also streamed free on bet365.
In December 2020 we sadly 
