Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
Both of these teams came into this tournament with plenty of momentum but in the space of a single game, it feels like everything has changed.
Colombia followed up their terrific run of international friendlies with a brilliant 2-0 win over Argentina to kick off their Copa America campaign in style. Qatar, on the other hand, didn’t quite fall at the first hurdle but did stumble. They had to settle for a single point following a 2-2 draw with Paraguay. Their friendly loss to Brazil now feels like a bad omen.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for Qatar by any means. There’s no shame in losing to Brazil and although a draw isn’t ideal, there was plenty of positives in their match against Paraguay. Besides, you need only look to their recent Asian Cup triumphs to see how good they can be.
Colombia vs Qatar Prediction: Colombia 1-0 Qatar
Unfortunately for Qatar fans, in our opinion, while the team is certainly underrated by many, this is a case of them being good but probably not good enough. Performance wise, Colombia just looked on a higher level in their opening contest, and have been impressing ever since they dropped out of the World Cup. Nonetheless, this is sure to be a fiercely contested match. Both of these teams know just how vital this game is: their chances in the Copa America hugely depend on it. With that in mind, our scoreline prediction is a close 1-0 to the home team.
Our recommended tip: Falcao Scores First
Well, you know that we think this game will come down to a single goal. We suppose the question left is who do we think will be the man behind the ball? One of the most impressive things about Colombia’s victory over Argentina is they did so without utilising one of their deadliest weapons. We are, of course, talking about El Tigre himself: Radamel Falcao. It has been some time since he last tasted the back of the net with Colombia and will be itching to do so here. Ladrokes offer generous 3/1 odds on Falcao scoring the first goal of the match.
Previous matches
One of the best things about the Copa America is how many different fixtures this tournament throws together. And there is no better example than this match right here. Colombia and Qatar have never faced off against each other anywhere, at any time. This makes this even more of an exciting matchup because things are so much more unpredictable. Neither team truly knows what to expect when coming up against each other. Hopefully, they’ll have many more clashes to come and this will be the first chapter in a long and storied history.
Top 3 Copa America Bookies
Players to watch: Radamel Falcao & Almoez Ali
Colombia: Radamel Falcao
Considering our recommended tip, we could hardly go with anybody else. We do think there’s a very good chance Radamel Falcao will be the difference maker here. There’s a sense that the stars simply didn’t align for him to hit the back of the net against Argentina, but it feels almost inevitable that it’s coming at some point. Regardless though, Falcao is a world-class player whether he scores or not, and is always one to watch.
Qatar: Almoez Ali
Unlike Falcao, we have seen Almoez hit the back of the net already in the Copa America. His second-half goal against Paraguay set their comeback in motion and helped rescue a point for his team. However, Qatar fans are unlikely to be surprised. After all, he scored nine goals on their way to win the Asian Cup. He’s also known for scoring early, meaning he could be the man to shock Colombia and tip the balance in Qatar’s favour.
