The gods of football have offered fans a final that they have been praying for where Brazil and Argentina will face off in the final of the Copa America this Sunday in the Maracana stadium.
2007, the last time both sides met in a Copa America final. Brazil came out on top in a 3-0 win a game which was also Lionel Messi’s first final with his Argentina national team in a major tournament.
The two last met in a major tournament at the semifinals of the 2019 Copa America, a game in which Brazil came out on top in a 2-0 win and also went on to win their record ninth Copa America title.
Prior to this final, both sides have met in 3 finals before(1937, 2004, 2007). Brazil has won twice(2004, 2007) and Argentina has only won a final against Brazil in 1937.
Brazil came into the tournament as favorites. The Samba boys won their first 3 fixtures in the group with an average of 3 goals per game and then drew their last game of the group against Ecuador. At the knockout stages, they were 1-0 victors against Chile and Peru at the quarters and semis respectively. They have scored 2/3 of their tournament goals in the second half.
Brazil will look forward to emulating Chile(2015,2016) and successfully defend the Copa America title. This will also be Neymar’s chance to win the title with his national team having missed out in 2019 with an injury.
Argentina topped Group A with 10 points from 4 games, the Albicelste scored 7 scored with 6 of them coming in the first half. Onto the knockout stages, at the quarterfinal vs Ecuador, they won 3-0 and for the first time in the tournament, they scored more than 1 goal in the second half. At the semifinal, they eliminated Colombia 4-2 in the penalty shootouts after a one-all draw in full-time.
Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi will have a fourth shot at winning the Copa America title having been unsuccessful in 2007, 2015, and 2016. Messi has been involved in more than 3/4 of the Albicelste’s goals in this tournament and his teammates hope he will be on top of his form on Saturday night and inspire them to a national team triumph for the first time since 1983.
Very close friends Neymar and Messi both have welcomed the opportunity to play against each other in the final with Neymar earlier in the tournament hoping that his Brazilian side could go all the way to the final and meet the Argentines. While Messi did state that he knows Neymar and he hopes that they will have a good game.
So all eyes will be focused to Brazil on Sunday morning when two of the biggest teams in South America and two super power houses in the world of football face off for the Copa America.
Also, read: UEFA Abolishes the Away Goal’s Rule from all its Tournaments
Author: Katende Basajjabaka
Katende writes about sports and occasionally technology.
