Brazil vs Argentina: Copa America 2021 final preview

Argentina take on Brazil in the finals of the 2021 Copa America in yet another big chapter of their epic rivalry in the continent. Their clash is further magnified by the fact that both of them are still unbeaten in the tournament. 

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has urged his team to proceeed carefully ahead of the big game. “We have to take it easy and with caution,” Scaloni said. “We have to do everything possible to win, without any anxiety. This pandemic has shown that football is important but not that important.

Brazil have been dominant on their way to the final of the competition, dispatching Ecuador and Chile in the semi finals. On the other hand, Argentina have beaten Ecuador and Colombia in the knockout stages to make it into the last game of the competition. 

“That is history. Looking at the past is not a reference,” Brazil head coach Tite told a virtual news conference on Friday. “We are undefeated in the last two Copa Americas and we have better numbers but I don’t see that having much importance.”

This will be Lionel Messi’s fifth big final representing Argentina, and he could finally break his silverware drought with the national team in a few hours. But, in his way stand the hosts, Brazil, with an in-form Neymar ripping up oppositions in the Copa. Incidentally, Brazil have won the tournament every time they have hosted the tournament and the odds favour them to win the competition once again. 

Argentina predicted XI: Martinez, Molina, Pezzella, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Paredes, De Paul, Lo Celso, Martinez, Gonzalez, Messi 

Brazil predicted XI: Ederson, Danilo, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Renan Lodi, Fabinho, Casemiro, Paqueta, Richarlison, Firmino, Neymar