The 2015 Copa America final comes up this weekend as host Chile battle tournament favourites Argentina in a mouth-watering showdown at the Santiago’s Estadio Nacional stadium on Saturday.
Chile are seeking to win their first ever Copa America title after beating Peru 2-1 in a controversial semi-final in Santiago. La Roja will have the chance to win the Copa America for the first time in the tournament’s 99-year history on Saturday when they face Argentina.
Argentina, 14-time winners, ranked three in the world will be aiming to win the trophy since 1993.
Lionel Messi, with one goal to his name in the tournament, but has effortlessly powered the La Albiceleste to final with an emphatic 6-1 demolition of Paraguay in the semi-final.
Argentina maintained their dominance of Paraguay in the tournament with two goals before the break and four in the second half to set up a final cracker against host nation Chile.
Angel di Maria scored twice with goals coming from Marcos Rojo, Javier Pastore, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain in a brilliant team display, orchestrated by an inspired Lionel Messi.
Argentina have played well throughout the tournament but until Tuesday had scored only four goals as they struggled to get pass their opponents.
However, their victory on Tuesday, was the biggest in a Copa America semi-final since 1997, when Brazil hammered Peru 7-0, and was Argentina’s biggest win over Paraguay in the tournament since 1947, when they beat them 6-0 in Ecuador.
Argentina parades arguably the best players in the world. However, there are no excuses for Argentina for not winning the 44th edition of the Copa America.
Argentina entered the tournament as top favorites, and are still in the front-line to win the illustrious trophy. They were not impressive in the group stage having struggled to defeat Jamaica by just one goal, and drew against Paraguay, 2-2. Even their win over rival Uruguay was just a slim 1-0 margin. Argentina top Group B with seven points scoring just four goals and conceding two.
Argentina coach Gerardo Martino has urged his boys not to relent on the six goals demolition Paraguay.
“Our play was much better than in the match against Colombia,” Martino said.
“But in terms of winning back the ball, anywhere on the pitch, I think we were better in the game against Colombia than in today’s game. We didn’t press well, either when we were in the half of the pitch or when we were forced backwards.
“I’m happy about the 6-1 scoreline and playing in the final but if there’s something that needs correcting I’ll correct it, whether we draw 0-0, lose or win.”
Regardless of their sloppy group state performance, Martino’s side has to get the job done this weekend. Messi will not be in the prime of his career forever. The Copa America is the single greatest soccer tournament in all of South America, but it is also the hardest and most difficult cup to win. Pele may have led Brazil to three World Cup victories, but never won the Copa America championship.
Many soccer pundits thought Argentina would bring home the trophy last time in 2011 because they were the host nation, but that dream ended in mirage. The host nation was bounced out in the quarterfinals against Uruguay by penalty kicks.
Argentina won’t be playing at home anytime soon in this tournament and with the Messi in his prime and the stars in the squad, this seems to be the best and perfect chance for Argentina to win the trophy haven lifted it twelve years ago.
The winner of this year edition will qualify for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup taking place in Russia. A new trophy to be used at the Copa America in the United States in 2016 will be unveiled at the final.
Anthony Nlebem
@AnthonyNlebem
