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| Brazil vs Argentina |
The 2019 Copa America semi-finals have arrived with host nation Brazil facing fellow heavyweights Argentina in what many had predicted would be the tournament final.
The matchup will take place on Wednesday morning at 10:30am AEST with the winner to face either Chile or Peru (who meet on Thursday AEST) in the final.
Brazil made it to the quarter-finals after a tense penalty shootout against Paraguay, while Argentina edged out Venezuela 2-0 thanks to goals from Lautaro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso.
This match represents a chance for both teams to redeem themselves after the last Copa America. Brazil embarrassingly crashed out early in a group containing Peru, Ecuador and Haiti. Argentina made it all the way to the final but bowed out on penalties to Chile, with Messi missing a penalty in the shootout.
The last time these sides faced off in the Copa America was the 2007 final, where Brazil triumphed 3-0.
Brazil last hosted the Copa America in 1989, and in what can only be considered a good omen, they won the tournament with Argentina finishing with the bronze medal. While that was 30 years ago, could we see a repeat this time around?
BRAZIL SO FAR
The Copa America seems to be a giant hurdle for Brazil. The last time they won the tournament was in 2007, but since then the Selecao have failed to even finish in the final four.
For all of the hype around the players they have, Brazil just haven’t been able to turn it into results. Widely tipped as a hot favourite for the 2018 World Cup, the side crashed out in the quarter-finals to Belgium on the back of a herculean effort by Belgium ‘keeper Thibaut Courtois.
All tournament long, Brazil have had bucketloads of possession. With 75 per cent of the ball against Bolivia, 69 per cent against Venezuela 69 per cent against Peru and 71 per cent against Paraguay, it is imperative that Tite’s side make that possession count.
Being thwarted by stubborn defences against Venezuela and Paraguay, how will Brazil score their goals? Playing more on the counter attack will present more opportunities for the side. While dominant victories over Peru and Bolivia gave their gargantuan amounts of possession some credibility, Brazil need to start thinking of a plan B.
Tite has enjoyed considerable success since taking over as Brazil’s manager, losing only two games throughout his tenure — the game against Belgium, and a friendly match against Argentina in Melbourne two years ago.
ARGENTINA SO FAR
For Argentina, they shouldn’t need a lot of motivation to be fired up for this matchup. The opportunity to defeat their continental rivals on their home turf, let alone win the whole tournament, would allow Argentinians to gloat for years to come.
Argentina had a mixed bag of results on their road to the semi-finals. After an opening game defeat to Colombia, they drew 1-1 with Paraguay before a 2-0 victory against guest entrants Qatar sealed their passage into the knockout stages. Another 2-0 victory, this time against Venezuela, booked them a ticket to arguably the biggest matchup of the Copa America.
One man that is synonymous around the globe with Argentina is none other than Lionel Messi, and he is no doubt the big story heading into this one. But not because of what he’s achieved, but rather what he has not — a trophy with Argentina.
Argentina have had their chances to win tournaments. In the previous five editions of the Copa America, Argentina finished as runners-up, with the exception of 2011 when they bowed out in the quarter-finals. That also happened to be the last time they hosted the tournament.
The Copa America is the first tournament for Argentina gaffer Lionel Scaloni, with the 41 year-old only 13 games into his tenure at the helm of La Albiceleste. Winning the continental showpiece would be an incredible haul for Scaloni in what is his first managerial job.
Argentina have a large quantity of players who are so used to their club teams dominating the possession, but Scaloni seems to be singing from a different hymn sheet. Against Venezuela in the quarter-finals, his side had the ball for just 40 per cent of the time, but fired off 17 shots with seven on target. Could this be their approach against the hosts?
Scaloni has been somewhat of a tinkerman this tournament, changing his formation from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 and then more recently a 4-4-2 diamond with Messi playing as the No.10
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