Argentina will play one of Colombia or Ecuador in the quarter finals of the Copa America.

Lionel Scaloni’s team have secured a top two finish in the group which means that the only way they can play Brazil would be in a potential final. However, before even getting to a final, there’s the matter of a quarter final and a win there would still mean a semi-final match.

While we know that Argentina will finish in the top two, we also know the final standings of the other group. Brazil top the group to no one’s surprise, while Peru finish second. Third and fourth places go to Colombia and Ecuador respectively while Venezuela finish last in the group and miss out on the knock out rounds.

Should Argentina finish first in their group, they would play Ecuador in the quarter finals. But a second place finish means a match vs. Colombia in the quarters.

A win in the quarter finals for Argentina would mean a match vs. Colombia or the second runner up in Argentina’s current group. That is one of Paraguay, Chile or Uruguay.

The final matches in the group will be played on Monday as Argentina are up against Bolivia and Uruguay against Paraguay.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed the starting XI for the match vs. Bolivia on Monday.

Lionel Scaloni has made six changes from the team which got the 1-0 win vs. Paraguay. With six players on yellow cards, Scaloni has rested all six players who are one card away from suspension.

That means Emiliano Martinez, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Gio Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes, Joaquin Correa and Lautaro Martinez will all start the match on the bench. Speaking at a press conference, Scaloni confirmed the following XI for the match:

Armani, Montiel, Pezzella, L. Martínez, Acuña, G. Rodríguez, Palacios, A. Gómez, A. Correa, Messi and Agüero

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni reportedly has an eleven in mind for Monday’s match.

Lionel Scaloni has many things to take into consideration when thinking of his starting eleven vs. Bolivia for Monday’s Copa America match. He presently has six players on yellow cards and should any one of them get another yellow, they would miss the quarter final clash.

The other thing is Lionel Messi. There have been rumors that Scaloni would be resting Messi for the match but it appears as if that will not be the case. There remains a few doubts in the team regarding the eleven but most are apparently confirmed. Per a report by Ole, this will be the starting eleven:

Emiliano Martínez or Franco Armani; Gonzalo Montiel, Germán Pezzella, Lisandro Martínez, Marcos Acuña; Exequiel Palacios or Papu, Guido Rodríguez, Nicolás Domínguez; Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero and Ángel Di María or Ángel Correa.

With Paraguay winning 2-0 vs. Chile on Thursday, Argentina secured a top two finish in group A. Therefore, the Argentina national team will go through the lower area of the draw, while Brazil, already qualified as firsts in group B, will go through the upper half.

There is just one matchday left in the Copa America group stage and the quarterfinal brackets are still uncertain. Up to now, these are the standings (courtesy of google.com):

Of the 10 national teams, eight will be in the next round. This means that the top four from each group qualify to the quarterfinals with those finishing last in the groups being eliminated.

Bolivia has already been eliminated since they are last in group A, four points behind fourth place Uruguay.

Here, the quarterfinals brackets based on the group positions:

2B vs. 3A
1B vs. 4A
2A vs. 3B
1A vs. 4B

To date, with one matchday away, this is the current quarterfinals draw (courtesy of promiedos.com.ar):

This Sunday, the remaining two games of group B will be played, while on Monday, group A will be completed. Here is the schedule for matchday 5 of the Copa America:

Sunday 27
Group B:
Brazil (1º) vs. Ecuador (4º)
Venezuela (5º) vs. Peru (3º)
Free: Colombia (2º)

Monday 28
Group A:
Argentina (1º) vs. Bolivia (5º)
Uruguay (4º) vs. Paraguay (2º)
Free: Chile (3º)

Argentina will be flying back to Ezeiza following their match vs. Bolivia on Monday at the Copa America.

Lionel Scaloni’s team are based in Argentina for the Copa America and have been flying in and out following the matches. There were some reports that the team would remain in Brazil and prepare there for the quarter final match but that will not be the case. Per a report by TyC Sports, the team will fly back to Ezeiza.

The team stayed in Brazil following the match vs. Uruguay as that match was played on Friday and the team played Paraguay on Monday.

In regards to the match, it still remains to be seen who will be starting. Six Argentina players are on yellow cards and there’s also the decision of possibly resting Lionel Messi as the team has already qualified and secured a top two finish in the group.