Football News

Argentina vs Ecuador Copa America live stream: Confirmed team news and probable line-ups

By Dean Smith

Published: 16:14, 2 July 2024

The 2024 Copa America quarter-finals get underway on Friday, with reigning champions Argentina returning to the field as they take on an Ecuador side looking to become the ninth member of CONMEBOL to lift the coveted trophy.

Argentina are definitely the team to beat in this competition having won each of their three group games and La Albiceleste have now also won eight consecutive matches, with six of these being accompanied by clean sheets.

Ecuador, meanwhile, qualified as runners-up in Group B behind Venezuela and had to grind out a goalless draw with Mexico last time out to ensure their place in the next round, while simultaneously eliminating El Tri.


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A change in striker for Scaloni?

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has kept faith with many of his World Cup winning roster from 2022, with 21 members of that 26-man squad making the cut for the Copa America.

Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez has been the man that Scaloni has trusted to lead the line from the off but the forward has managed only one goal so far in the United States – coming in the group opener against Canada.

With just one goal to show from his five shots, Alvarez could be in danger of losing his starting spot in the Argentina side and one man in particular will be champing at the bit to be the main man up top for the Albiceleste.

Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez has had a fantastic tournament despite starting just one game. The 26-year-old is the top scorer at this year’s Copa America with four goals and he has a shot-on-target percentage of 77.8%, with seven of his nine efforts testing an opposing goalkeeper.

His form will surely be causing Scaloni a selection dilemma and it could well be time for Alvarez to drop to the bench to allow the free-scoring Martinez to continue his purple patch.

Argentina vs Ecuador Team News

Lionel Scaloni made wholesale changes for their final group game – a 2-0 victory over Peru – and should revert back to a stronger starting eleven for their first knockout fixture.

Lionel Messi is back in training after nursing a slight hamstring issue and should return to the fray, while the likes of Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis Mac Allister are both likely to feature from the off.

Ecuador head coach Felix Sanchez Bas only made one change to the starting line-up for their draw with Mexico, with captain Enner Valencia returning from suspension, and a similar side should be named on Friday.

Kendry Paez – who is due to sign for Chelsea in 2025 – has shone for La Tri in this tournament and should retain his spot in the number 10 role, while Alan Minda and Angel Mena will both be hoping to feature having made cameo appearances from the bench last time out.

Argentina vs Ecuador predicted line-ups

Argentina (4-4-2): E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Gonzalez; Messi, La. Martinez

Ecuador (4-2-3-1): Dominguez; Preciado, Torres, Pacho, Hincapie; Caucedo, Franco; Sarmiento, Paez, Rodriguez; Valencia

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