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The five favourites to win the 2020 Copa America

The Copa America returns for the second successive summer this year, with South America’s leading sides – plus invited nations Australia and Qatar – once again doing battle to be acknowledged as the continent’s champions.

Brazil head into international football’s oldest tournament as the current holders after beating Peru in last year’s final on home soil, but who are the leading contenders to lift the trophy this time around?

So for those of you interested in the latest international football betting, here are the five favourites to win the 2020 Copa America…

Chile – 13/1

Chile would end their long wait for a first Copa America success by beating Argentina on penalties to win the 2015 edition as the host country, before making it back-to-back successes by again defeating the same opposition in another shoot-out the following year.

Semi-finalists in last year’s tournament, Chile’s odds are reflective of an ageing side who is reaching the end of its cycle, the country’s established core including the likes of Gary Medel, Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez having all entered their thirties.

Placed on the side of the draw containing Argentina and Uruguay, Chile would expect to qualify for the knock-out stages but how far Reinaldo Rueda’s side can progress remains to be seen.

Beaten by surprise finalists Peru in comprehensive fashion in 2019, Chile have the talent make an impact but remain a distant favourite to lift the trophy for the third time in four tournaments.

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Uruguay – 8/1

Uruguay head into the tournament as fourth favourites, despite major question marks hanging over the record 15-times winners.

Record goalscorer and talisman Luis Suarez is facing a race against time to make this summer’s Copa America after undergoing knee surgery at Barcelona, whilst Edinson Cavani has struggled for form and fitness at Paris Saint-Germain and failed to engineer a move out of the French capital in January.

That duo played in Uruguay’s victorious 2011 campaign and have combined for a huge 109 international goals throughout their illustrious careers, though this is likely the last chance to add a second Copa America to their collection – the tournament returning to being held every four years with the next edition scheduled for 2024.

Should either player fail to make the tournament, Valencia’s Maxi Gomez is likely to lead the line ahead of a talented young midfield including the likes of Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde and Juventus star Rodrigo Bentancur.

Having failed to progress past the quarter-final stage since lifting the trophy nine years ago, Uruguay will be hoping for an improved performance this time around.

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Colombia – 9/2

One of the two host nations for the tournament alongside Argentina, Colombia will be seeking to win the trophy for just the second time in their long history this summer.

The 2001 winners have suffered unfortunate penalty shoot-out exits at both last year’s Copa America and the 2018 World Cup, whilst they would secure a third-placed finish after losing to eventual winners Chile in the semi-finals of the Copa América Centenario five years ago.

Star duo James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao have endured mixed fortunes of late but are likely to be key personnel ahead of this summer’s home tournament, whilst Luis Muriel will hope to make a big impression after an impressive debut campaign at Champions League debutants Atalanta.

Coached by former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz, Colombia contain Premier League representation in the form of Yerry Mina, Davinson Sanchez, Jefferson Lerma and Steven Alzate, whilst Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos is also likely to make their final squad.

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Brazil – 9/4

The reigning holders are once again amongst the favourites to lift the trophy, having secured their ninth Copa America trophy with an impressive campaign last summer, conceding just one goal – in the final against Peru – on their way to lifting the trophy.

It was Brazil’s first victory in over a decade and the first time they had progressed past the quarter-final stage in four tournaments, though the Seleção will be in confident mood of once again reaching the latter stages.

Head coach Tite guided Brazil to just two defeats in their 16 fixtures throughout 2019, whilst he has a wealth of talent to call upon including the likes of Alisson, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, though Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar remains the star of the side.

The 28-year-old recently moved past 100 appearances for the national side and has scored 61 goals, just one short of matching the legendary Ronaldo and moving behind only Pele as Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer.

Neymar would miss last year’s success with an ankle injury, and will no doubt want to make up for that absence this summer despite a difficult period in Paris.

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Argentina – 7/4

Can Argentina and Lionel Messi put an end to their major tournament failings this summer?

One of the world’s great footballing nations has endured torrid luck in the finals of major showpieces in recent times, losing in extra-time during the 2014 World Cup final before suffering consecutive Copa America final defeats to Chile on penalties in 2015 and 2016.

Now without a major trophy in almost three decades, Argentina will hope that this can be the summer their drought ends, the bookmaker’s placing Lionel Scaloni’s side as favourites to emerge triumphant on home soil.

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La Albiceleste’s greatest strength undoubtedly remains in their forward line, possessing the world’s finest player in Messi alongside the likes of Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Juventus star Paulo Dybala and emerging Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez.

Including the nation’s best attacking talents whilst maintaining balance has proved difficult in recent years, though Scaloni has bounced back from a semi-final defeat in last season’s Copa America by guiding Argentina to a seven-game unbeaten run including impressive victories over Brazil (1-0), Mexico (4-0) and Ecuador (6-1), alongside draws with the likes of Germany and Uruguay.

Messi’s detractors point to a lack of success on the international stage during comparisons with the game’s all-time greats, and perhaps now is the best chance for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner to silence the critics

Read – Analysing Messi’s UCL goalscoring record against every top six Premier League side

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