2024-07-17 11:17:46
The battle of ideas between Messi and James Rodríguez, Julián Álvarez against a defense that is barely vulnerable and Lucho Díaz against his intimate enemies, are the expected duels of the final of the 2024 Copa América between Argentina and Colombia, on Sunday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
The Albiceleste, world and continental champions, and the coffee growers will meet in an unprecedented duel in the history of the Copa América finals with a variety of millionaire stars, led by both number 10s, and others valued at the highest level of demand in Europe.
The match will also be an excellent opportunity for two Argentine coaches to meet: the multi-champion and leader of La Scaloneta, Lionel Scaloni, and Néstor Lorenzo, a revolutionary on the Colombian bench, two lovers of offensive football but with different weapons to express it.
– Messi and James, owners of the ball –
Winner of eight Ballon d’Ors and best player at the 2022 World Cup, where Argentina won the third star with the help of El Diez, Messi is looking to conquer America for the second time after achieving it in Brazil 2021.
The Argentine star recovered from discomfort in his right adductor and against Canada in the semi-finals he showed glimpses of his inexhaustible talent, just as he did in his debut against the same rival, both matches ending in a 2-0 victory.
In his seventh and final Copa América, Messi, with a goal and an assist, is looking to make Argentina the tournament’s most successful team, a ranking it shares with Uruguay with 15 titles.
James, at 33, is experiencing a newfound youth in yellow, and his football is flowing with one goal and six assists in the tournament, leading Colombia to its third historic Copa final, after the defeat against Peru in 1975 and the victory against Mexico in 2001.
The Colombian number 10 found under the protection of Néstor Lorenzo the minutes of football that he was denied in Sao Paulo this season, demonstrating in the continental competition his ability to pull the strings of the national team with his prodigious left foot.
Messi and James have faced each other twice in the Copa América. In Chile 2015, they clashed in the quarter-finals, where the Albiceleste won on penalties. Both number 10s converted their shots. The second time occurred in the group stage of Brazil 2019, with the Colombians winning 2-0 and James providing an assist.
– The Spider on the attack –
Manchester City’s Argentine centre-forward Julián Álvarez has scored twice at USA 2024, against the same opponent: Canada, once in the group stage and the other in the semi-finals.
The former River Plate player has alternated the position with Lautaro Martínez, who has 4 in the account, and against Colombia he will once again be Scaloni’s number 9.
The Spider knows how to exploit spaces and takes advantage of his good finishing both inside and outside the area. He is a versatile forward and easily adapts to the roles entrusted to him in attack.
Their test will be facing one of the least vulnerable defenses in the tournament, with just two goals allowed in five games – against Paraguay and Brazil in the group stage.
Dávinson Sánchez (Galatasaray, TUR) and Carlos Cuesta (Genk, BEL), the Colombian central defender duo, will now test their effectiveness against one of the breakthrough strikers since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Colombia, however, will suffer from the expulsion of right-back Daniel Muñoz, the Colombian player who came out from the back in that area. The Crystal Palace defender’s place will be taken by the experienced Santiago Arias.
– Lucho Díaz and the ‘English’ –
Luis Díaz knows what it means to face the Argentine defense.
The Premier League has been the stage where the Colombian from Liverpool has battled against Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest) and Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez (Aston Villa).
Truly intense duels last season, in which Lucho sometimes won and managed to score, and in others the balance tipped in favor of one of the Argentine world champion clubs.
But the most eagerly awaited face-to-face encounter will be with Alexis Mac Allister, his teammate at Anfield. “‘Luchito’ is a crack. He has incredible skill. Today, without a doubt, he is one of the best South Americans in the world,” the Argentine confessed at the end of the European season.
© Agence France-Presse
