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Argentina will take on Brazil in the final of Copa America 2021 and it promises to be an absolute cracker of a match. Argentina and Brazil have been the best sides at the tournament and both have truly earned their place in the final.
La Albiceleste registered three wins and a draw in four matches in the group stage. They thumped Ecuador 3-0 in the quarter-finals before beating Colombia 3-2 in a shootout in the semi-finals. Emiliano Martinez was the hero of the night as he saved three spot-kicks to help Argentina progress.
Brazil will be Argentina's toughest opposition at Copa America 2021
Argentina will face their toughest yet as they take on an in-form Brazilian side. Brazil have scored 12 goals in six matches at Copa America 2021 so far and have conceded just two. The eternal rivalry between the two nations will get a new chapter on Sunday and it will be interesting to see who gets to have the last laugh.
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Without further ado, let's take a look at five things Argentina need to do to win against Brazil in the Copa America 2021 final.
#5 Quell Brazil's counter-attacking threat
Despite all the attacking talent that Brazil have at their disposal, they've taken a rather cautious approach so far at Copa America 2021. Brazil's preferred starting XI features Casemiro and Fred in a double pivot at the heart of midfield.
Danilo and Renan Lodi start as the full-backs but they've not been very adventurous with their forays into the final third. Against Argentina, Brazil will look to make every turnover in possession count. They have a lot of pace in their frontline and have some excellent ball-carriers as well.
Argentina need to be wary of Brazil's ability to break and ensure they have enough bodies behind the ball whenever they lose possession.
#4 Argentina need to be wary of Brazil's bench strength
Tite has been wary of Brazil's tendency to be overreliant on Neymar. He has tried to consistently find alternative systems throughout the tournament. The Brazilian manager has rotated his squad and has also used his bench strength quite well.
Brazil have made five substitutions in each game and they usually shake things up entirely across midfield and the frontline. That has helped them dominate teams in the second-half of the matches.
Argentina are not really short on options on the bench either. But they will do well to manage their personnel over the course of the game.
Also Read: Copa America 2021: 5 best players from the semi-finals.
#3 Contain Neymar
With two goals and three assists to his name, Neymar has been Brazil's best player at Copa America 2021. He has showcased his incredible set of skills and has displayed his amazing passing range as well. It is worth noting that Neymar was adjudged the player-of-the-match in both of his last two outings against Argentina.
He has scored three goals and assisted four in his 10 matches against La Albiceleste. Lionel Scaloni will want someone like Guido Rodriguez to mark Neymar and keep him as quiet as possible for the majority of the match.
If Neymar is unable to impose himself, Brazil will suffer from a lack of creativity. Except for Lucas Paqueta, there are no other players who are known for being creators in this Brazil team. So one obvious way to contain Brazil is to contain Neymar.
#2 Play Giovani Lo Celso and Rodrigo De Paul in midfield
Giovani Lo Celso and Rodrigo De Paul have done a great job at protecting Lionel Messi. De Paul and Lo Celso have both been great for Argentina in the centre of the park and both players have the ability to create chances.
As such, teams can no longer expect to stop Argentina by marking Messi out of the game. Lo Celso played a brilliant defence splitting pass for Messi in the game against Colombia which ultimately culminated in Lautaro Martinez's opening goal.
De Paul has been an enterprising presence in midfield for Lionel Scaloni's men and has contributed well on both sides of the pitch. Having De Paul and Lo Celso adds more dynamism to Argentina's game. With them on the field, they are a team that can hurt the opposition in a variety of ways.
#1 Give Lionel Messi the freedom he needs
Lionel Messi has undoubtedly been the best player at Copa America 2021. Messi has scored four goals and provided five assists so far in continental competition. The Barcelona attacker has been a man on a mission and will stop at nothing to end Argentina's 28-year-old dry spell at the Copa America.
It is also perhaps his final chance to win the continental competition. Messi's critics have always used the lack of a major international trophy as a point to further the argument that he is not the greatest of all time. So a win here could be monumental for the diminutive genius.
He has looked incredible with the ball at his feet in the tournament and has been ably supported by Lautaro Martinez and Nicolas Gonzalez in attack.
The likes of Thiago Silva and Marquinhos cannot afford to switch off at any point during the game because Messi will punish them for it. Argentina need to show up as a team to shoulder the responsibility and help produce the kind of environment where Messi can thrive.
