Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Argentinavs.Colombia

sportsmole.co.uk, 12 July 2024, 23:40
Seeking to win an unprecedented 16th Copa America title, defending champions Argentina lock horns with Colombia in the final of this summer's tournament at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on Monday.

This eagerly-anticipated contest represents the first time these two nations have met in the showpiece event, with Argentina preparing for a record 30th appearance in the final as Colombia gear up for just their third.

Match preview

After advancing from the quarter-finals with a nervy penalty-shootout triumph over Ecuador, Argentina secured a 2-0 victory over Copa America debutants Canada in the semi-finals on Wednesday, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 matches in the process.

Julian Alvarez's first-half opener was followed by a record-breaking second-half strike from Argentine icon Lionel Messi, who has overtaken Iran's Ali Daei to become the second-highest male goalscorer in international football history with 109 goals.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni has insisted that Argentina's course to the Copa America final has been no "bed of roses" as many predicted, and he has heaped praise on his players for overcoming "extremely tough" challenges en route to reaching a third successive major tournament final.

Ranked first in the world by FIFA, Argentina have had plenty of success during their time in the States and have still not lost a major tournament knockout fixture in regulation time on American soil since they were beaten by Romania at the 1994 World Cup.

Now just one victory away from an outright record 16th Copa America title - currently level on 15 with Uruguay - Argentina will have few issues motivating themselves for Monday's final, which will be Angel Di Maria's 145th and last match for the national team before he retires - Messi plans to continue playing beyond this summer's tournament, though.

La Albiceleste will be confident of success against Colombia as they have won 26 of their previous 43 meetings in all competitions, including a penalty-shootout victory in the 2021 Copa America semi-finals, but they will be wary of the exceptional run of form put together by Los Cafeteros heading into the showpiece.

Indeed, since Colombia lost 1-0 to Argentina in World Cup qualifying in February 2022, they have set a new record for their longest-ever sequence without defeat, with Thursday's semi-final triumph over Uruguay extending their impressive unbeaten run to 28 matches (W22 D6) in all tournaments.

Jefferson Lerma headed Colombia into a 39th-minute lead before Crystal Palace teammate Daniel Munoz was sent off in first-half stoppage time. Despite that, Los Cafeteros valiantly quelled the threat of Uruguay and held on to claim a slender 1-0 victory in North Carolina.

Buenos Aires-born Nestor Lorenzo, who is yet to taste defeat as Colombia head coach since his appointment in July 2022, believes his side were rewarded for their bravery in the win over Uruguay in a contest that was marred by unsavoury scenes at full time, as Uruguayan players were involved in a mass brawl with supporters in the stands.

Ranked 12th in the world by FIFA, Colombia have reached the final four in three of the last four Copa America tournaments, but after falling short in 2016 and 2021 - finishing third on both occasions - Los Cafeteros are now preparing for their first Copa America final since they were crowned champions for the very first time back in 2001 on home soil.

Although Colombia are understandably in high spirits thanks to their superb unbeaten run, Lorenzo's men will enter Monday's showpiece event as underdogs, as they have only beaten Argentina three times in 21 meetings this century, including their most recent victory (2-0) in the group stage of the 2019 Copa America.

Argentina Copa America form:

W

W

W

W

W

Argentina form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Colombia Copa America form:

W

W

D

W

W

Colombia form (all competitions):

W

W

W

D

W

W

Team News

Argentina have no injury or suspension concerns and Scaloni could name an unchanged starting lineup for the final, with a back four of Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Nicolas Tagliafico set to remain intact.

Giovani Lo Celso and Exequiel Palacios will both be pushing to start in centre-midfield, but Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo De Paul are expected to retain their places in the first XI, while Angel Di Maria is set to have his last dance on the international stage on the right flank.

Lionel Messi, who overcame a leg injury to play the full 90 minutes against Canada, will start in attack with Julian Alvarez, meaning Golden Boot-chasing Lautaro Martinez - who has scored a tournament-high four goals - is set to begin as a substitute once again.

As for Colombia, Daniel Munoz is ruled out through suspension following his dismissal in the semi-finals, so 58-cap Santiago Arias is set to start at right-back, joining Davinson Sanchez, Carlos Cuesta and Johan Mojica in a four-man defence.

Colombia captain James Rodriguez, who has registered a Copa America record six assists in five games at this summer's tournament, is set to continue in the number 10 role, with Liverpool's Luis Diaz and Fluminense's Jhon Arias occupying the flanks.

Jhon Cordoba has been preferred to start up front ahead of Aston Villa's Jhon Duran and former Eintracht Frankfurt man Rafael Santos Borre in each of the last four matches, in which he has chipped in with two goals and two assists, and the Krasnodar striker is in line to retain his spot in the first XI for the final.

Argentina possible starting lineup:

E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico; Di Maria, De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez

Colombia possible starting lineup:

Vargas; S. Arias, Sanchez, Cuesta, Mojica; Rios, Lerma; J. Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Cordoba

We say: Argentina 2-1 Colombia

Argentina supporters will be pleased to know that Opta's supercomputer has given Scaloni's side a 62.9% chance of retaining their Copa America title this weekend, but coming out on top against a resilient Colombia outfit, who have not lost in any competition for over two years, will be no mean feat.

Having said that, the reigning champions, boasting plenty of big-game experience, should prevail, especially if they can find a way to stop in-form Rodriguez from pulling the strings and have their own magician in Messi stepping up for the showpiece.

Previews by email

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has revealed that he 'decided not to sulk' when being exiled from the first-team squad by Enzo Maresca. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford will look to pick up their first away points of the season when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to continue their respective unbeaten runs, Millwall and league leaders Sunderland will clash for a tasty-looking Championship battle at The Den on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aberdeen, looking to extend their unbeaten start to the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season, will travel to The Smisa Stadium on Saturday afternoon to face St Mirren. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Heading back to his old stomping ground for a weekend, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca takes his Blues team to the King Power Stadium for a Premier League lunchtime date with Leicester City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With three points separating them in the bottom half of the Championship table, Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City will do battle at Hillsborough on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City head coach Steve Cooper could be without as many as five attackers for Saturday's Premier League showdown with Chelsea at the King Power Stadium. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to halt their worrying winless run, Preston North End will welcome Derby County to Deepdale for an all-important Championship clash on Saturday afternoon in Lancashire. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is of the opinion that Leicester City hold the advantage ahead of Saturday's Premier League fixture. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Rio Ferdinand was left stunned after learning that he almost became teammates with Robert Lewandowski at Manchester United. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed yet another injury to the luckless Reece James ahead of Saturday lunchtime's Premier League fixture against Leicester City. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rangers, aiming to build consistent form after a challenging start to the season, host Dundee United at Ibrox Stadium on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly identified Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez as their leading forward target for next summer, with the Red Devils believed to have put a plan in place to sign the Argentina international. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Enzo Maresca has revealed that Chelsea captain Reece James has been dealt another injury blow. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Oxford United play host to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will move them away from the relegation zone. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City play host to Burnley on Saturday afternoon with the opportunity to catapult themselves up the Championship table. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After losing four games in a row across all competitions for the first time under manager Pep Guardiola, Manchester City will endeavour to return to winning ways during a tricky fixture schedule leading up to Christmas. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The faltering title hopefuls meet the unexpected Champions League challengers on Saturday afternoon, as Arsenal and Nottingham Forest collide at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League. 21 November 2024 talksport.com The chance to make your first senior start in professional football is what any player dreams of - unless you've been up partying all night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo will have to assess a couple of his international contingent before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal at the Emirates. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up on what the impact of moving to Saudi Arabia had on his family. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has several fitness doubts to assess for Saturday's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at the Emirates. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Remarkably only separated by goal difference in the Premier League standings, ailing Arsenal and high-flying Nottingham Forest prepare for an intriguing battle at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to make it successive wins in La Liga when they travel to Leganes on Sunday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City could be boosted by the return of several first-team stars for Saturday's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will endeavour to close the five-point gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Juan Mata has made history by investing in new MLS outfit San Diego FC. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim's first taste of Premier League football will come on Sunday afternoon, when he leads his Manchester United team against Ipswich Town at Portman Road. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Ruben Amorim is reportedly backing Manchester United to re-sign Angel Gomes as part of his Old Trafford rebuild. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Celtic will be looking to remain top of the Scottish Premiership when they take on Hearts at an unusual time this weekend.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon