COPA AMERICA 2021 FINAL PREVIEW: BRAZIL VS ARGENTINA

14 years since their last meeting in a Copa America final, Brazil are set to face Argentina in the final of the 2021 Copa America, in a clash of the titans on Saturday at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.

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The Selecao come into this game after an unbeaten run in the group stage which they had continued into the knockout stage as well. After their free-flowing play in the opening matches, Brazil have shown grit and determination to their game in the two 1-0 wins against Chile and Peru, in the quarterfinals and semi-finals, respectively.

GAME CHANGERS

NEYMAR

As seen in the previous group stage games, most of the Brazilian attacks have to go through Neymar, and that is not a surprise at all. The Paris Saint-Germain forward is one of the best players in the world and can break open defence at will with his silky footwork and goalscoring abilities.

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With two goals and three assists in the campaign, Brazil’s talisman is in superb form and Tite will hope that he continues to do the same, while also expecting the continuation of the support offered by his fellow attackers Lucas Paqueta, Richarlison, and Gabriel Jesus.

LIONEL MESSI

This tournament might well be Lionel Messi’s last chance at winning a Copa America title and the mercurial forward will look to pounce upon every opportunity that arises in the game against Brazil and has been unstoppable in the tournament.

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The mercurial magician is topping the charts in both goals and assists, four and five, respectively, and will be Scaloni’s primary weapon in opening up a resolute Brazilian defence. Striker Lautaro Martinez also has had a tremendous Copa campaign and the manager will hope that the Inter Milan striker continuous his rich goalscoring form.

PREDICTION

With both squads having filled with a plethora of talent and having a near-identical run into the final, it is difficult to pick a winner out of the blue and proclaim them as the champions of the 2021 Copa America.

Brazil will want their attacking superstars to finish the job, while also banking on their resolute defence while Argentina will depend on the magic of arguably the best player in the world, hence, FootTheBall says, Brazil 1-1 Argentina, Brazil win on penalties.