The Copa America 2024 final is upon us. After almost a month of breathtaking soccer, we are close to crowing a winner for the tournament. With the final set to take place this Sunday, July 14th in Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium, we take a look at Colombia and Argentina's teams and how they managed to get to the finals this year.
Both Colombia and Argentina have had an impressive run, and with tickets for the final starting at $1,800 a ticket, many people expect the final game of the tournament to be one for the ages.
Argentina is coming back to the final as reigning champions of the 2021 Copa America tournament and current World Cup winners. Colombia on the other hand hasn't won the Copa America tournament since it last hosted in back in 2001, but are on an impressive 28 game winning streak since February 2022, having lost only to--Argentina.
Will Colombia become Copa America 2024 winners, keeping their two year winning streak alive while getting even with Argentina for their last loss back in 2022? Or will Argentina further solidify their dominance as the world's best football team in the world, winning back-to-back Copa America titles while getting the World Cup title in between? We take a look at the stats so far in this tournament between the two teams, and who might shine in the final, paving the way for their team to win the title.
Argentina and Colombia have not faced each other since Colombia lost to Argentina back in February 2022 during World Cup qualifier matches. Both teams are on impressive win streaks and while Argentina has remained mostly the same team we have been used to seeing over the last five years, Colombia has made great strides in their play making ability. Both teams have outplayed their opponents in goal scoring, with Argentina scoring eight goals while only conceding one. Colombia on the other hand has also been impressive, scoring 12 goals while only conceding two.
Both teams have been able to make as many goals because of assists with Argentina having seven assists in the tournament and Colombia having nine. Both teams know how to play together, keep control of the ball, and create goal scoring opportunities for their teammates. Neither has lost a match in the tournament, although Argentina came close when they headed to penalty kicks against tying against Ecuador 1-1 after full time. Argentina went on to win 4-2 on penalty kicks.
With both teams featuring a cohesive squad of players that are a mix of veterans and newcomers, the Copa America 2024 final is most likely going to be a hotly contested game with neither team having the championship in the bag just yet.
Copa America 2024 Finals: Players to Watch
Lionel Messi
Messi was slated to be the biggest tool for Argentina heading into the Copa America. His performance has been a bit lackluster this tournament, and he suffered a thigh injury in his match against Chile in the group stage, casting doubt over the Messi's ability to bounce back and play at full strength. After missing the game against Peru, Messi came back and was able to play the rest of the matches in the tournament.
Although statistically Messi has not been able to do much this tournament, the psychological fact that he is on the pitch plays a role in how opponents defend, sometimes creating opportunities for other Argentinian players that are left open because of the double coverage on Messi.
Fans around the world are watching with excitement as Messi returns to the final and battles for another trophy. Will the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner put his foot to good use in the final and help secure yet another championship?
Lautaro Martinez
Martinez has shown that Argentina is not all about Messi. The Inter Milan striker is the current top scorer of the tournament, with four goals scored and a 40% shot conversion. His ability to open up when Messi gets double teamed will be essential for Argentina heading into the final. Will it be him or Messi that secures the championship?
James Rodriguez
James Rodriguez who has made an impressive comeback in the tournament, leading his team and the Copa America in number of assists made. With his assist in the match against Uruguay putting him at six total, Rodriguez has broken Messi's record for most assists ever in the Copa America tournament. He has been a crucial player for Los Cafeteros in being able to place the ball exactly where it needs to be. His corners, free kicks, and long passes have played a big role in advancing Colombia to the finals.
After being discounted as a 33 year old player past his prime, Rodriguez has shown he still has gas left in the tank, and may just be getting into his prime now.
Luis Diaz
Luis Diaz has also been a pivotal player for the Colombian team. His quick speed up the flank and ability to keep control of the ball has caught many teams off guard, leading to many scoring opportunities for him. Having scored two goals in the tournament so far, Argentina will have to keep a close eye on him if they want to keep Colombia's goals to a minimum.
His ability to energize his teammates and the crowd helps build momentum and energy, helping his team stay at the top of their game. It will be interesting to see the role Diaz plays in the finals. Will his quick speed and control lead the Colombian team to a goal? Or will his motivational tactics and ability to energize his teammates be what puts them over the top?
With both teams on impressive win streaks and their ability to play top-notch football, the Copa America 2024 finals will be one for the history books. Argentina is looking to solidify their foothold as world champs, while Colombia has other plans. Will James and Diaz be able to overcome Messi and the smaller pitch size that awaits them? We'll find out on July 14th.
What's After Copa America 2024?
With the tournament ending on June 14th and a winner being crowned, there is still one more stop for the winning team of the Copa America tournament. As a fairly new tradition, the winners of the Copa America 2024 tournament and the winners of the EUFA European Championship Tournament will face each other at the third CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions game, also known as the Finalissima, sometime in June or July 2025.
With England facing off against Spain, and Argentina facing off against Colombia, two teams will be crowned winners in their respective tournaments and head to a final match to see who truly is the reigning champion of football until the next world cup.
It's been an amazing month of football, and with the Paris 2024 Olympics starting in a few weeks, the fun will continue as we see countries display their up and coming talent. Will we see the new Messi during the Paris 2024 Olympics? Only time will tell.
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