Argentina and Colombia Face Off in the Copa'24 Final: Who Will Take the Trophy, Messi or James Rodríguez?
Argentina welcomes Colombia for the 2024 Copa America final, and all exterior looks aside, we are excited. This competition is set to be an epic showdown battling for South American football supremacy. What you need to know about it is as follows: https://essayusa.com/.
Canada then fell to Argentina, securing their place in the finals. Julian Alvarez had opened the scoring before Messi slotted home goal number two to give his side a 2-0 victory in the competition.
It hasn't been a smooth ride for the La Albiceleste, which went through a penalty shoot-out scare against Ecuador in the quarterfinals.
On the other hand, Colombia went through hell and back with a controversial 1-0 win over rivals Uruguay that resulted in a fight between fans. But, it's been a memorable rise to the top for the Colombians, winning all 28 international games, marking the longest winning streak in their history.
Could this be the passing on the baton for Messi? Or will the streak continue as Messi adds another infinity title to his arsenal?
Key Insights: Argentina vs. Colombia
The Hard Rock Stadium will host the finals as Argentina search for their record-breaking 16thCopa America title. Also, it makes their second title in a row after beating rivals Brazil in the 2021 showdown.
They face a well-organized Colombia side; watching the competition has been a marvel. The side holds a national record for most unbeaten runs – 28 games. Los Cafeteros are headed by the rejuvenated James Rodriguez, who is surely a shoehorned name in the Player of the Tournament.
Despite going ten men down in their battle with Uruguay, they managed to hold on to their lead to secure a spot in the finals. It was such a momentous moment for coach Nestor Lorenzo, who's done a formidable job of assembling young recruits and established stars to form a balanced side.
Team Dynamics
Argentina looks more confident heading into the match, given their recent jubilations and their performance at the previous final against Brazil. Messi is back in form after shaking off a leg injury and remains pivotal in their bid to secure the trophy. Apart from magic on the pitch, he provides the needed leadership to rue the young crop of talent, marking their name in the competition.
Despite gaining limited time leading the frontline for Manchester City, Julian Alvarez has been clinical with two important goals so far. Another supportive attacker who redeemed himself after a horror show at the World Cup is Lautaro Martinez, leading the goal scorers in the competition with four goals.
Defensively, the side remains formidable, thanks to the partnership between Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez. Martinez missed a big part of the season for Manchester United through injury but made an excellent comeback in the group stages. He makes up for his lack of height with good game reading, aggressiveness, and defensive resoluteness.
On the other hand, things are not all rosy heading into this match, especially with the suspension of Daniel Munoz. Fortunately, they're blessed with a talent crop, possibly Santiago Arias, who is setting into the right-back position.
Some nailed-on names who are likely to make an impact on the attacking front include red-hot form Luiz Diaz and Jhon Cordoba. James Rodriguez's creativity is needed to break the lines and offer counterattacks.
Tactical Overview
This is undoubtedly a chess match for both Lorenzo and Scaloni. We expect drama and hiccups on the road as most credible sports analysts are blogging about, like an essayusa review.
Scaloni prefers a 4-4-2 setup, which has gotten them this far in the tournament. Moreover, it accommodates their need for more pacey and direct wingers on the camp.
Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico will take the full-back positions. The midfield trio looks complete, with Rodrigo de Paul and Enzo Fernandez locked in. De Paul looked shaky in their last matches but remains a solid contender for locking down James Rodriguez to cut off the supply of through palls and line passes.
Alexis Mac Allister and Angel di Maria will operate the flanks, feeding the attacking duo of Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez.
Lorenzo is looking for ways to bypass the defensive unit for the Argentinian side without compromising on their defense. The best bet is James Rodriguez's high IQ in finding Luiz Diaz with acres of space to attack.
Their defensive setup looks to feature David Sanchez and Carlos Cuesta. The absence of Munoz makes Arias the nailed-on candidate to deputize him at right back. Ricardo Rios and Jefferson Lerma are the two holding midfielders to stop the attack.
History favors Argentina, which has won most of its recent encounters, with a clean record of 11 wins and one loss in its last 12 fixtures.
Players to Watch Out For
It's dumb to rule out Messi as a potential match decider in the match. The Inter Miami star has now scored in 6 different Copa America editions. His first goal in the tournament was a 17-year-old Messi against Peru in 2007. He holds the longest goal-scoring streak in the competition, beading Zizinho's previous record.
Another possible aerial threat is Jefferson Lerma, who won in their previous match against Uruguay with a towering header. This marked the side's fifth goal to come through a header and most of any team in the tournament. The set pieces could come in handy in crowning the champion, and Colombia has the best odds to score from one.
Another hero who has risen from the dark is James Rodriguez, with six assists in the competition. This is the most assists recorded by a player in the edition, surpassing the previous record at five, held by Messi in 2011.
Apart from leading the assists sheet, he also leads in terms of chances created (17) and 12 coming from set pieces. It looks like this would be his last tournament, but maybe a surprise is in store.
Final Takeaway
It's hard to decide who will walk away as the 2024 champions. The two teams showed incredible form and consistency in reaching the finals. Our best bet is who wins the aerial duel to clinch the decider.
15.07.2024