Argentina vs Brazil preview

Posted on | July 15, 2007 | 2 Comments

After 25 games over nearly three weeks, we have come down to the last game of the 42^nd Copa America- the final. And it will be played by the two best teams in the competition- a final dreamt of by the pundits- Brazil vs Argentina. It will be played at the Estadio Jose Pachencho Romero in  Maracaibo, the second largest city in Venezuela.

For once, Brazil will not be the favourites while going into an international match. And the tag of underdogs might suit coach Dunga and his boys quite well. Without star players like Barcelona’s Ronaldinho and Milan’s Kaka, the Selecao have performed quite well in this tournament. The team is young, and will take time to get used to each other. They have been inconsistent and at times, even sluggish, but they have managed to produce results when needed. Striker Robinho is almost certain to finish atop the goal charts. With six goals out of Brazil’s tournament total of twelve, he is two short of Pele’s all time Copa record of eight. Brazilian skipper Gilberto Silva will miss this game thanks to suspension. He is expected to be replaced by Elano. Mineiro, Josue and Julio Baptista will support him in midfield. The centre of the park is the place the main battle will be fought- with the presence of Juan Roman Riquelme in the Argentine team. The rest of the team is likely to remain unchanged- Doni in goal, Juan, Alex, Gilberto and Maicon at the back and Robinho and Wagner Love prowling upfront. If they win, it would be a great boost to Dunga’s credentials as manager.

Argentina brought their strongest team to Venezuela, and despite losing Hernan Crespo against the USA, have easily looked the best team in the tournament so far. With an all win record and a total of 16 goals scored, they can easily claim to be the best attacking team of the tournament. Coach Basile has chosen to play the same team on most of the occasions- barring the game against Paraguay where he played his reserves. The main question will be the person he plays upfront- Diego Milito or Carlos Tevez  or Crespo, who reports claim to be fit to play. If Crespo is indeed fit, then it will most likely be him. If he had played the remaining games, there would have been a good chance that the Inter Milan forward would have been at the top of the goal charts, instead of Robinho. The two other men Brazil will watch out for will be Juan Roman Riquelme, Argentina’s top scorer in the tournament with five and Lionel Messi, the new age Maradona. Maradona was never able to win a Copa, and Messi will be keen to add this trophy to his cabinet. Argentina’s defenders have kept a clean sheet in both the knockout games- although that might be a little more difficult to maintain against Brazil’s pace and trickery. If Argentina win, it will be an unprecedented fifteenth title for the Albicelestes.

This is a repeat of the 2004 final, which Brazil won on penalties. Argentina here are the superior team on paper as well as on form. They are the favourites, and they should win 2-1. Crespo, Riquelme/ Mascherano and Robinho/Josue on the scoresheet. Argentina are hungry for success- their last title was in 1993, but Brazil have nothing to lose either. It is also a battle between the two coaches- both of whom have a point to prove. It should be an interesting clash, irregardless of the outcome.

Related posts:

1. Brazil vs Venezuela preview
2. Argentina vs Mexico preview
3. Brazil vs Uruguay preview
4. Argentina vs United States preview
5. Argentina vs Colombia preview

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