Reigning champions Argentina lock horns with Ecuador in the quarterfinals of Copa America 2024 at Houston.
ARG vs ECU Match Details
Date: Thursday, 4 July 2024 / Friday, 5 July 2024
Time: 21:00 (EST), 06:30 (IST)
Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston
ARG vs ECU Match Preview
It was the perfect group stage for Argentina in the Copa America as the holders picked up three wins out of three, scored five goals and conceded none. The 2-0 win over Peru in the final group game, even with Lionel Messi missing through a hamstring pull, extended their winning run to eight consecutive matches across all competitions. The talisman will be back for the quarter final clash with Ecuador with the team hoping to maintain their unbeaten streak at this stage in the competition since 2011. Since the 2019 Copa America final loss to Brazil, Argentina has remained undefeated in the tournament and never lost to La Tri in 16 meetings in finals. The last competitive meeting was in 2021 also in the quarterfinal stage with La Albieceste winning it 3-0. It will be a huge shock if Lionel Scaloni’s side fails to progress to the last four and end their title defence on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Ecuador finished second in Group B behind Venezuela and above Mexico on goal difference by playing out a goalless draw with the latter in the final group game. The only win in the group stage for Felix Sanchez’s side came against Jamaica after a 2-1 loss to group winners Venezuela, however, it was enough to qualify for the last eight stage of Copa America second successive time. Ecuador faces an even bigger challenge in the knockouts in the form of holders having not won against them in any contest since 2015 and losing in six of the last seven meetings. Also, La Tri has been eliminated from the quarterfinals in three of the previous four quarterfinals so they have less motivating factor ahead of the clash. The side also lost the last meeting against Argentina in the build-up to the tournament with Angel Di Maria scoring the only goal.
Recent Form (all competitions)
ARG: WWWWW
ECU: WWLWD
Recent Form (Copa America 2024)
ARG: WWW
ECU: LWD
ARG vs ECU Predicted Lineups
Argentina
E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico; Di Maria, De Paul, Mac Allister; Messi, La. Martinez, Alvarez
Ecuador
Dominguez; Preciado, Torres, Pacho, Hincapie; Franco, Caicedo; Yeboah, Paez, Sarmiento; Valencia
ARG vs ECU head-to-head (all competitions)
Played - 40
ARG won - 24
Drawn - 11
ECU won - 5
ARG vs ECU head-to-head (Copa America)
Played - 16
ARG won - 10
Drawn - 6
ECU won - 0
ARG vs ECU Dream11 Match Prediction
Keeping aside any miracle, Argentina should get the job done with a comfortable win over Ecuador to make their place in the last four. We predict a 2-0 win for La Seleccion.
ARG vs ECU Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Lionel Messi
Vice-captain Picks: Laurtaro Martinez
ARG vs ECU Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Dominguez (Cr - 8)
DEF: Hincapie (Cr - 8.5), Romero (Cr - 8.5), Tagliafico (Cr - 8)
MID: Paez (9), Di Maria (Cr - 8), Mac Allister (8.5), Sarmiento (Cr - 8)
FW: Messi (9), L Martinez (9), Alvarez (Cr - 7.5)
Vice-captain: Laurtaro Martinez
Captain: Lionel Messi
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