Argentina-Colombia is the Copa América closing we deserve

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

How to look at

Argentina vs. Colombia

Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

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

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

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

Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP through Getty Images

How did Argentina get right here?

Argentina entered the event because the reigning champions and reigning World Cup champions, and with Lionel Messi because the captain, the crew had the largest goal geared toward them. As reigning champions, they opened the event towards Canada on July 20.

Winning that match whereas wanting considerably shaky within the course of, we noticed a brand new type of Argentina start to emerge. They had been in a position to get wins towards Chile and Peru as effectively within the group stage, rising with an ideal 3-0-0 document. While 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.

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

They’ve been in a position to win matches simply, and so they’ve additionally needed to robust 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 this planet — was in a position to assist Argentina by way of to the semifinals. There, it was a better win towards 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 event as the most well liked crew on this planet, with their final loss coming in February 2022. That streak hasn’t modified, as they’d two wins and a attract Group D play to win the group over Brazil. They defeated Costa Rica and Paraguay and appeared wonderful doing it earlier than they pulled a 1-1 draw towards Brazil within the group stage finale.

That arrange Colombia for a quarterfinal towards Panama, the place they completely had their finest show of the event. They gained 5-0, wanting like the very best crew on this planet 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.

Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP through Getty Images

Somehow, they had been in a position to 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.

Both fanbases have dominated this event.

While there have been many issues over the shortage of followers who wished 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. Both groups’ followers have dominated stadiums throughout the United States all through the event, promoting out a number of matches and being enormous boosts to their groups with their boisterous environment. If Hard Rock Stadium might 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. Expect this crowd to be break up, with the yellow of Colombia poking by way of the albiceleste of Argentina and creating an epic environment appropriate for a closing.

Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Ultimately, the principle winner of this closing won’t be both crew. It might be soccer followers world wide who’re certain to see a blinding show of soccer between the 2 finest groups at this event. 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 recreation 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 evening to search out out.

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