5 Goal Scorers to Bet on at the Copa America (Part I)

These players could be responsible for a large chunk of goals the Copa America in Chile.

Though soccer is all about teamwork, even in the artistic and individualistic world of South American football, a world class striker is vital if you want to have a shot at the title as it means that you will have an edge against some of your opponents. Uruguay had Luis Suarez in 2011, and though it might be funny for many of those who bet on sports in the US recently, Brazil had Robinho in 2007 and Adriano in 2004.

• History to be written
• Messi could be unstoppable
• Sanchez to bring Chile’s first title?

The strongest teams at the 44th Copa America all have their top class forwards, so by knowing them you can also get to know their teams’ chances more or less. The top star could decide particular games himself, while in some others his teammates could profit when he gains all the attention of the opponent’s defenders. So, before placing a bet on any game featuring a forward from the list below, don’t forget to consider his chances to score a goal.

1. Alexis Sanchez

One might argue, especially if he or she is a supporter of Juventus, that Chile’s top asset could well be Arturo Vidal, but their top attacker is Alexis Sanchez for sure. The former Barcelona player is now with Arsenal, where he was the best player in his first season. He might seem to be a bit undersized when compared to defenders in the English top flight, but he is still strong, lightning quick, creative and scores goals on a regular basis.

In Group A there is Mexico, Ecuador and Bolivia apart from the hosts. If the Mexicans can reproduce their disciplined defensive play they showed in the World Cup last year, they might be able to stop Sanchez from scoring. The other two however could easily end up counting Sanchez’s goals in their respective matches, as they will hardly have the capability to deny him getting chances after chances.

2. Lionel Messi

All the gamblers who place wagers on soccer games at online sportsbooks in the US, would know that Messi is arguably the best player in the world. He can carry Barcelona on his shoulders and he can do the same with Argentina, like in the World Cup last summer. In Brazil he took his country to the final where they lost against Germany. That showdown revealed that against a German team with that outstanding quality, even Messi wasn’t enough. But he could well be enough to conquer South America.

Argentina had depth problems in attack last year with Sergio Aguero struggling with an injury and Carlos Tevez left out from the team. Thus in the end, after Angel di Maria’s injury, Messi had full responsibility for the attacking play, but Joachim Low’s team proved to be too much for him alone. But now with Aguero and Tevez back in top form, Argentina will have the best forward line at the Copa and with those two distracting the opposing defences, Messi could be able to score the goals countlessly against any team.

3. Luis Suarez

Suarez was the best footballer of the Uruguay team that won the title four years ago. As a player, he was developing constantly since, accomplishing his best ever season at Liverpool last year before joining Barcelona. He is now part of the best attacking section of the world that also features Messi and Neymar, and he instantly justified his acquisition, helping his team to such heights as they reached under Pep Guardiola.

With Uruguay playing in a different style, they can exploit the speed and the ruthlessness of Suarez in a different way, as there will be a lot of empty spaces in front of him on the break. He should even have chances against Argentina, while the more defensive minded Paraguay could stop him from scoring. He could look for a brace against outsiders Jamaica, and the mobile betting audience might expect a goal from his attacking partner, Edinson Cavani as well.

If these superstars will remain healthy, the tournament in Chile could be the perfect opportunity for them to write their names into the history books of international football. It would be an unforgettable achievement from Luis Suarez if he would be able to guide Uruguay top back-to-back Copa victories, while Alexis Sanchez tries to secure Chile’s first ever title. Lionel Messi is amongst the bests ever, but he never won anything in the shirt of the Albiceleste apart from the gold medal at the 2008 summer Olympics.