While this summer’s Copa America tournament seems likely to go ahead, where the tournament will take place is not yet known. However, what is known is that many of the teams involved in it will warm up for that event with the latest couple of rounds in the marathon South American World Cup Qualifying campaign.
These CONMEBOL teams will play a total of 18 World Cup Qualifying games in total, with all teams currently having played four games. Brazil top the table, with four wins from four, while Argentina are just two points behind having amassed three wins and a draw from their games.
Four teams qualify for the World Cup Finals outright from this regional section, with the team finishing in fifth place advancing to the Inter-Confederation Playoffs for a final chance to earn a spot in Qatar in the winter of 2022.
With Matchdays 5 and 6 postponed in March this year, the games coming up in June will form Matchday 7 and 8 in the schedule, with the postponed dates from March due to be played at some point in the future.
If you are interested in having a bet on the outcome of the competitive games taking place this week in South America, rather than the friendly games that are taking place across Europe, then check out the latest odds at bet365 Sport and remember you can enjoy In Play betting along with the usual pre-match bets.
If you’ve recently joined the site, then remember you can use up some of the bet365 bet credits that you have earned on the site to enjoy a bet on these games.
Alternatively, if you live in the United States state of Pennsylvania, then BetRivers PA is a great option for all American-based sports betting, as well as sports based in Europe and beyond. This of course includes South American World Cup Qualifiers, as well as the forthcoming Copa America.
Let’s now preview the five games taking place this week across South America.
South American World Cup Qualifiers
Thursday 3rd June
- Bolivia v Venezuela
10th faces 8th in the table in what is even at this point a must-win game for both these teams. With much more difficult opponents to come, these two teams are generally regarded as the weakest in South American qualifying.
Both these teams don’t really possess the strength in depth of the top sides in this qualifying region, and at best, the fifth place spot and a shot at the Inter-Continental playoffs is the best that they could hope for.
Venezuela did pick up a big win over Chile in their last game but Bolivia only have one point from their four games so far, that coming in a 2-2 away draw with Paraguay.
The key factor in this game though will be the altitude which gives the home side a huge advantage and as such, I am going to back Bolivia to land the win here. You can back the home side to win at 19/20 with bet365.
- Uruguay v Paraguay
This is a game that has big ramifications for qualifying for both these teams. Paraguay are undefeated but have drawn three of their four games, winning the other. Uruguay have already lost twice, but won their other two games to sit on the same number of points as their visitors as we stand.
Paraguay’s strength is in their resilience to dig out draws and avoid defeat. They have done this admirably for a few years now and they have some talented players as in Miguel Almiron, Gabriel Avalos and Fabien Balbuena. However, they do lack a star name to perhaps take them onto the next level.
Uruguay are a real mix of outstanding talent, especially in attack with Suarez and Cavani, and defence with Godin and Gimenez. However, the team is now ageing considerably and they were not the force they once were and that is reflected in recent results.
That said, Uruguay’s talent is such that at home, I would expect them to do enough to get the better of Paraguay here and land the win. So back Uruguay to win at 7/10.
- Argentina v Chile
Argentina may have eyes on Copa America glory first and foremost this summer, but they know that they will need to pick up points in their World Cup Qualifying campaign too, as the thought of them missing out on Qatar 2022 is unthinkable for a squad with such talent.
They face a Chile side whose better days are well behind them now with their most talented players like Arturo Vidal, Charles Aranguiz and Alexis Sanchez, all now the wrong side of 30. However, they have called up Blackburn Rovers 22-year-old striker Ben Brereton in what was an unusual move.
Chile are never easy to play against and on their day, they are well capable of beating any team, but it is hard to see them getting a result in Argentina against Lionel Messi and co, especially when you consider the depth of talent that Argentina have available to them.
With their fearsome attacking talent, I expect the home side to land the win here and to put in a performance that will have their fans hoping of perhaps landing the Copa America in a few weeks time. Take Argentina for the win relatively comfortably at 11/20 with bet365.
- Peru v Colombia
Both these teams will be disappointed with their performance in the World Cup Qualifying campaign so far. Peru have just one point to lie 9th in the table, while Colombia are seventh with four points having lost their last two games very heavily, 0-3 at home to Uruguay and then 6-1 away to Ecuador.
Colombia have sprung a surprise by not including James Rodriguez in their squad, the Everton man admitting his surprise at his omission. The likes of Radamel Falcao, Juan Cuadrado, Duvan Zapata and Alfredo Morelos still give them plenty of attacking power.
Peru do not have the abundance of attacking riches that Colombia possess. Like other teams in South America, their best players are all pushing well beyond 40 and this has been reflected in a downturn in performance since reaching the Copa America final a couple of years back.
With that in mind, I think Colombia have what it takes to land the victory here even on the road and I am backing them to take the win at 13/10 with bet365.
Friday 4th June
- Brazil v Ecuador
Brazil are comfortably top of the table and face an Ecuador side who have been surprisingly good in qualifying so far, winning three of their first four games and putting six past Colombia in their last World Cup qualifier.
So Ecuador won’t be hugely overawed at taking Brazil on in their back yard but even so, I would expect the home side to come through this game and make it five wins out of five in the World Cup Qualifiers.
I must admit that this Brazil side isn’t packed with as much star talent as others in the past but they do seem to have a strong work ethic and this has served them well over the last 12-18 months in particular.
This will be closer than most people expect but I am backing Brazil to win here at 1/4.
