Recent World Cup Finals would have the casual fan of international football believing that the imminent Copa America decider is bound to be a damp squib.
Since 1990, every world championship match bar one has produced under 2.5 goals, with all bar two of the seven seeing neither side score more than once and four, including the last three, going into extra time.
The bwin.com layers are clearly of a similar mindset, ignoring myriad omens to the contrary to make under 2.5 goals in the 90 minutes the 3/4 favourite.
Chile and Argentina are the tournament’s leading scorers by a wide margi, with 13 and ten strikes respectively.
Meanwhile, neither is impervious at the back, with La Roja shipping three to an under-strength Mexico in the Groups and Argentina giving up two against Paraguay.
Both are capable of destroying opposition who are less than fastidious in their defensive work, as the burnt out shells of the Paraguayans and Bolivia will testify.
The Chileans are even disciples of the Argentine maverick Marcelo Bielsa, preacher of a form of neck-high pressing that teeters on the precipice between murderous and suicidal, a goal guarantee.
Yet, still, over 2.5 strikes in normal time remains the even-money underdog.
However, while recent World Cup Finals indicate a turn for the pragmatic among their contestants, Copa America deciders have been anything but.
The last six have seen overs backers rewarded on five occasions, with the scoring efforts of the winners alone enough to tip the 2.5 goal bar in four of the sextet.
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Chile are 27/10 underdogs to win their first Copa America in front of their countrymen, with Argentina 23/20 favourites and the draw a 23/10 bet.
