Messi, Argentina face Chile in Copa America final rematch

The Copa América Centenario ends this Sunday with the same final as last year: Argentina and Chile clash again for the South American Cup title, this time at MetLife Stadium, away from the home field advantage that gave the Chileans the title a year ago. “He’s been playing with the same people for a long time – that makes him feel very good, very happy”. He’s the face of the team.

They made it to the championship match at the 2014 World Cup — and lost 1-0 in extra time to Germany.

Messi, Javier Mascherano and Claudio Bravo represent Barcelona here.

Both finalists, as the competition is devised to ensure, look to be in good form and ready to deliver an entertaining game to a large crowd at MetLife Stadium.

None more hard, though, than Argentina when Messi is at his best.

Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said “La Roja” would have a plan ready to contain Messi, making it likely that the spiky midfield qualities of Gary Medel will be deployed to keep the Argentinian captain in check. Di Maria had a goal and an assist in the first meeting with Chile.

He broke Argentina’s goalscoring record in the process, moving above Gabriel Batistuta with his 55th global goal in their semi-final win over the United States – a trademark free-kick into the top corner.

It was then a similar performance in the first 15 minutes against Colombia that allowed Chile to grab two early goals, which it held onto for the remainder of the match and a two-and-a-half hour storm delay. Chile are the reigning champions and are as risky as they come.

Asked what conclusions he had taken from last year’s defeat, Martino replied: “What we can’t do is lose another final”.

“Playing against the most transcendental player in history is going to be no easy task”, Pizzi said on Saturday.

But regardless of what he achieves at club level, unless he can help Argentina break their trophy drought – which stretches back to the 1993 Copa America – the argument for Messi being the greatest ever will always have that one weakness, one that does extensive damage.

“What concerns me”, he said, “is tomorrow’s match”. If Martino’s men can repeat that strategy and intensity, then, with the more decisive quality they possess in the final third, they should finally be able to get their hands on some global silverware.