Sabasports Match Preview
Copa America: Argentina vs Colombia
Kickoff Time: 2024-07-15 08:00 (HKT)
Source: USA TODAY Sports/Vincent Carchietta
This is the final of the 2024 Copa America. If the game is tied after 90 minutes, there will be a 30-minute extra time. If the extra time is still tied, a penalty shootout will take place.
Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, is known for his tactical expertise. In the previous five games, he has used five different starting lineups. He makes subtle adjustments based on the opponent and the condition of his players. It is difficult for the opponents to predict Argentina’s strategy. One of Argentina’s strengths is that they maintain the core players from the Qatar World Cup and have a good understanding of the game and tactics. During the match, Argentina often focus on ball possession and play the ball back to their own half to create space for coordination. This tactic may seem less exciting and slower, but it suits Lionel Messi, who is 37 years old and may not keep up with a fast-paced game. Scaloni has designed a strategy for Messi to play at a slower tempo, with quick attacks. The aim is not necessarily to defeat the opponent in the first half, but to take advantage of the opponent’s weakness and make adjustments through substitutions in the second half.
Colombia are known for their aggressive style of play. They press forward and disrupt the opponent’s offensive rhythm even resorting to fouls. Former Real Madrid star, James Rodriguez, has had resurgence in this Copa America, scoring one goal and providing six assists. With Rodriguez’s presence in midfield, Colombia have demonstrated both offensive capabilities and defensive stability. However, Rodriguez can also be considered a weakness for Colombia. If he is heavily marked, it can cause problems for their offense and defense, and there is a risk of defensive vulnerability when he is neutralized. The 5-0 victory over Panama is an example of this. Despite the scoreline, Panama had 14 shooting opportunities, indicating that Colombia do not have complete control over the game. Facing the Argentine forwards who are adept at seizing opportunities, it is foreseeable that Colombia may struggle as the game progresses.
Argentina have an additional day of rest, which is an advantage for their older main players. Considering that Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Peru in the group stage was held at the Hard Rock Stadium, the Argentine players are more familiar with the venue than Colombia. So we believe Argentina can defeat Colombia within regular time and successfully defend the Copa America.
Argentina’s Last 5 Games: WDWWW
24-07-10 Argentina 2-0 Canada
24-07-05 Argentina 1-1 Ecuador (PEN 4-2)
24-06-30 Argentina 2-0 Peru
24-06-26 Chile 0-1 Argentina
24-06-21 Argentina 2-0 Canada
Colombia’s Last 5 Games: WWDWW
24-07-11 Uruguay 0-1 Colombia
24-07-07 Colombia 5-0 Panama
24-07-03 Brazil 1-1 Colombia
24-06-29 Colombia 3-0 Costa Rica
24-06-25 Colombia 2-1 Uruguay
Head To Head Record:
22-02-02 Argentina 1-0 Colombia
21-07-07 Colombia 1-1 Argentina (PEN 3-2)
21-06-09 Colombia 2-2 Argentina
19-06-16 Argentina 0-2 Colombia
18-09-12 Colombia 0-0 Argentina
Prediction: Argentina to win