It’s the final thought most likely ahead of the competition and the one most neutrals will have desired: hosts Chile, seeking a first ever international title, will take on the pre-tournament favorites, Argentina, for the Copa America trophy in Santiago on Saturday. And the pressure for both to deliver the silverware will be phenomenally intense.
For Chile, it surely represents their best ever chance to end their long wait for glory. Not only are they playing in front of a passionate home support, but they have a great generation of talent at their disposal. Included among that is a spine of the team excelling at some of Europe’s biggest clubs -- Barcelona’s Claudio Bravo, Juventus’ Arturo Vidal and Arsenal’s Alexis Sánchez. But, while that trio has been influential, Chile’s success, and in particular its run to the Copa America final, has been helped massively by players of lesser reputations producing their best in the colors of their country.
Two of those players stepped up big in the knockout rounds. First, Mauricio Isla, who has featured little for Juventus since joining them in 2012 and spent last season being relegated from the Premier League while on loan at Queens Park Rangers, scored the only goal in a tense quarterfinal with Uruguay. And then his teammate last season, having been loaned out repeatedly by Napoli, Eduardo Vargas, rescued a nervy Chile with two goals in a 2-1 semifinal win over Peru.
It is a team where the collective and the system is the star. Ironically, Chile’s high-pressing, thrilling brand of play, was installed in them by an Argentinian, in Marcelo Bielsa, and is now being continued by his disciple and compatriot Jorge Sampaoli
In contrast, the Argentina team is one bristling with star power, with the task for coach Gerardo Martino simply to try and maximize their influence. Through much of this Copa America that ambition has struggled to come to fruition. Despite featuring a team containing Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Ángel di María and Javier Pastore, and with Gonzalo Higuaín, Carlos Tevez and Éver Banega among those available from the sidelines, Argentina scored just four goals through its first four matches.
Still there was a sense, especially in a quarterfinal with Colombia that somehow finished goalless after 90 minutes despite Argentina laying siege to the opposition goal, that the dam was about to break. Sure enough, it did so spectacularly in the semifinals. Messi put on a playmaking masterclass, assisting three goals and playing a part in the other three, Pastore backed up a fine season at Paris Saint-Germain while Di Maria put a wretched first season at Manchester United behind him with two goals as Argentina beat Paraguay 6-1.
The task now is to repeat that level and perhaps even improve upon it when the title is on the line against Chile. Having lost last year’s World Cup final to Germany after extra-time, this could be the last great chance for a brilliant generation to finally deliver some senior silverware and end Argentina’s own drought, which, improbably, dates back to 1993.
Since that time, Argentina has won the Under-20 World Cup an incredible five times, with the 2005 generation leaving the greatest mark. Indeed five of Argentina’s first-choice starting lineup in this tournament -- Messi, Aguero, Lucas Biglia, Pablo Zabaleta and Ezequiel Garay -- played in the win over Nigeria in the final a decade ago.
Messi has been among the Argentinean contingent stating that he would give everything to win this Copa America. But for Chile, too, the chance to overcome a history of near-misses, including four Copa America final defeats, is at stake. At the Estadio Nacional on Saturday, something will have to give.
Prediction: So much of this final depends on the how both sides handle the occasion and the pressure. Will Chile be inspired by the home support and the chance for national immortality, or will they continue to show the edginess on display in their semifinal? On the opposite side, will Argentina now play with freedom after finally getting among the goals, or will the fear of losing another major final stifle their attack?
From a physical standpoint, both teams have the attacking weapons to hurt defenses that have shown signs of vulnerability. And if Argentina are at their best then they could really pick holes in a Chile backline that is often left exposed. Yet, Chile have played with a sense of destiny and a powerful will throughout this competition and, combined with their devotion to their coach’s system, that could see them edge what has the potential to be a thrilling final.
Predicted score: Chile 2-1 Argentina
Date and time: Saturday, July 4 at 4 p.m. EDT
Chile vs. Argentina: Date, Start Time, Live Stream for 2015 Copa America Final
Chile and Argentina will both be looking to end trophy droughts in Santiago on Saturday evening, as these two South American juggernauts are gearing up for the final of the 2015 CopaAmerica.
Jorge Sampaoli is hoping to steer hosts Chile to a triumph in the continental showpiece for the first time in their history, while Argentina have the chance to end 22 years without silverware.
That means there seems to be even more at stake in a game that needs no added incentives, and given the manner in which these two teams have plotted their way to the tournament finale, it should be a fitting climax. Here's all the key viewing information to consider ahead of this one and a closer look at how this match is likely to play out.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 4 p.m. (ET), 9 p.m. (BST)
Live Stream: Premier Player (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)
Chile and Argentina on the Cusp of Glory
The manner in which Argentina clicked into gear against Paraguay would have made for pretty ominous viewing for the host nation.
A determined and diligent Paraguay team were made to look average by an Albiceleste attacking masterclass, with Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi all in inspired form. It was the kind of display Argentina boss Tata Martino has been striving for throughout this tournament.
As we can see here, courtesy of WhoScored.com, even though Messididn't get on the scoresheet, he was a sensational influence on this game:
If Argentina can preserve this attacking sparkle in the final alongside the defensive sturdiness they've showcased throughout the competition, Chile—or any side on the planet, for that matter—will struggle to live with them. But is this performance set to be an anomaly given the manner in which the Albiceleste have trudged through games so far?
Perhaps, but even if Argentina do revert to functional form in the final, they have proved they know what’s required to get over the line in big matches. They'll have a major mental edge coming into the game too, as we can see here, courtesy of OptaFranz:
This time, the Albiceleste will be facing a different kind of Chile team. La Roja have always been enterprising and entertaining to watch, but now they are effective too, as was evident in the manner in which they dispatched two pragmatic outfits in Peru and Uruguay in the knockout stages.
La Roja simply won't allow Argentina the space to dictate matters as they did so magnificently against Peru. Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas will set the tone from the front, while the tenacious midfield skills of Arturo Vidal, Charles Aranguiz and Marcelo Diaz will look to cut off the supply lines to the sophisticated front players.
That's something Argentina have become acquainted with, especially in the quarter-finals against Colombia, when underhand tactics turned into bald thuggery. As such, expect Messi and Co. to cope well with niggling tackles and a partisan crowd.
What the Albiceleste may struggle to cope with is the intensity Chile play with. All of Argentina’s opponents so far have been physical in their play, and while LaRoja can mix it with most sides, the intricate talents of Sanchez and Vargas will pose an unfamiliar challenge for Nicolas Otamendi and Ezequiel Garay.
If Argentina can pass through the press, then spaces will be there to be exposed for Messi, Aguero and Di Maria. But a lack of a quality distributor at the base of the midfield will allow Chile to get on top in that area and see La Roja edge a high-octane game.
Prediction: Chile 2-1 Argentina
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