Argentina-Colombia is the Copa América last we deserve

The Copa America last is right here, and after three weeks of bonkers soccer, the 2 finest groups within the match are left standing. Argentina and Colombia will take the sphere earlier than a offered out Onerous Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday night time with one objective in thoughts: elevate the Copa America trophy as champions.

How you can watch

Argentina vs. Colombia

Location: Onerous Rock Stadium, Miami

Kick-off time: 8:00pm Japanese, 5:00pm Pacific

Accessible TV: Fox (English), Univision (Spanish), TUDN (Spanish)

Accessible streaming: Fox Sports activities (English), Vix (Spanish), FuboTV (Free Trial)

Photograph by KENA BETANCUR/AFP through Getty Photos

How did Argentina get right here?

Argentina entered the match because the reigning champions and reigning World Cup champions, and with Lionel Messi because the captain, the group had the largest goal geared toward them. As reigning champions, they opened the match in opposition to Canada on July 20.

Profitable that match whereas wanting considerably shaky within the course of, we noticed a brand new type of Argentina start to emerge. They have been capable of get wins in opposition to Chile and Peru as effectively within the group stage, rising with an ideal 3-0-0 report. Whereas they didn’t concede a objective within the group stage, the soccer was a bit rockier than their followers are used to seeing.

The message was fairly clear: outcomes matter greater than flashiness.

Photograph by Elsa/Getty Photos

They’ve been capable of win matches simply, they usually’ve additionally needed to powerful out some wins. They beat Ecuador within the quarterfinals on penalties. Argentina additionally needed to overcome Lionel Messi lacking the primary penalty of the shootout, however Emi Martinez — probably the greatest goalkeepers on the earth — was capable of assist Argentina by way of to the semifinals. There, it was a better win in opposition to Canada than we noticed within the opener. They’re hoping to proceed the Copa América pattern we’ve seen since 1979:

How did Colombia get right here?

Colombia entered the match as the most popular group on the earth, with their final loss coming in February 2022. That streak hasn’t modified, as that they had two wins and a attract Group D play to win the group over Brazil. They defeated Costa Rica and Paraguay and regarded wonderful doing it earlier than they pulled a 1-1 draw in opposition to Brazil within the group stage finale.

That arrange Colombia for a quarterfinal in opposition to Panama, the place they completely had their finest show of the match. They gained 5-0, wanting like the most effective group on the earth within the course of. Then, it was Uruguay within the semifinals, who had knocked off Brazil within the quarters. The match was forwards and backwards, with Colombia getting the thirty ninth minute objective from Jefferson Lerma off a James Rodriguez nook after which having to fend off La Celeste with 10 males after a second yellow to Daniel Munoz within the first minute of first half stoppage time.

Photograph by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP through Getty Photos

In some way, they have been capable of grind it out, regardless of Uruguay having a ton of scoring alternatives within the second half with the person benefit. The unbeaten streak stays intact, and now they get to place it on the road within the hopes of dethroning the champions and hoisting the trophy for the primary time in 23 years.

Each fanbases have dominated this match.

Whereas there have been many issues over the dearth of followers who needed to pay a number of hundred {dollars} in tickets to attend most of the Copa America matches, there are two fanbases that didn’t care about any of that: Colombia and Argentina. Each groups’ followers have dominated stadiums throughout america all through the match, promoting out a number of matches and being enormous boosts to their groups with their boisterous ambiance. If Onerous Rock Stadium may maintain 150,000 folks, it nonetheless wouldn’t be sufficient to carry all of the followers of Colombia and Argentina who’ve packed staidums on their very own the previous three weeks. Count on this crowd to be break up, with the yellow of Colombia poking by way of the albiceleste of Argentina and creating an epic ambiance appropriate for a last.

Photograph by Robin Alam/ISI Photographs/Getty Photos

In the end, the principle winner of this last is not going to be both group. It is going to be soccer followers all over the world who’re positive to see a stunning show of soccer between the 2 finest groups at this match. We’ll have pageantry, we’ll have a Shakira efficiency, and we’ll have some wonderful soccer between two groups on the prime of their sport proper now. Will Argentina maintain onto the title, or will The Streak proceed for Colombia, permitting them to rejoice as Copa America champions. Tune in Sunday night time to search out out.

Prediction: That is the primary match of the match the place additional time is an possibility, and it’ll come to that. This can be an epic last, with Colombia profitable 3-2 after additional time with a late objective to make them champions.