Brazilian team goes in search of tenth title while Argentines try to fourteenth
It’s classic day! Brazil and Argentina! Neymar and Messi! Today we know that he will be the champion of the Copa America 2021. The ball will roll at 9 pm (Brasilia time), at Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, for the most anticipated game of this competition. Unlike the quarterfinals and semifinals, the decision will have two extra periods, with 15 minutes each. If equality on the scoreboard remains, the title will be defined in the penalty kick.
Both teams are unbeaten in the competition. Brazil tries to maintain its recent sovereignty on the continent. Reached nine finals of the last 14 editions, won seven and seeks the tenth title of the tournament. The biggest winner is Uruguay with 15 trophies.
Argentina, the second biggest winner with 14 titles, wants to leave the list of achievements. The team has not won a title in an official competition with the senior team since 1993, when it won the Copa America itself. Since then, it has lost two finals to Brazil (2004 and 2007) and two to Chile (2015 and 2016). Messi will have one more opportunity to lift the first cup with the Albiceleste shirt.
Tite will not have Gabriel Jesus, suspended after expulsion in the quarterfinals, available for the game this Saturday (10). The coach should put Everton Cebolinha in the Manchester City striker’s place. Alex Sandro, who is recovering from injury, was on the field in the last training session, but the expectation is that Renan Lodi will be the starting left-back. In addition to Neymar, who is on the rise is Lucas Paquetá, who was decisive in both games kills the forest.
The Argentine squad is full of doubts in the defensive sector. There is a possibility that defender Cristian Romero will return, out of the knockout games due to a knee injury. He and Pezzella compete for position. On the sides, there are also doubts: on the right with Molina or Montiel, and on the left, Tagliafico or Acuña.
The main person responsible for defensive security in midfield is also not defined. Guido Rodríguez’s maintenance is more likely, but there is also the possibility of Paredes entering. Doubt also permeated the eve of the semifinal. The duo Latauro and Messi is the main headache in Brazil.
The South American derby between Brazil and Argentina was played on 106 occasions, with a balanced retrospective between the teams. While the Brazilian team has 45 victories, the Argentines have 38 victories, in addition to 25 draws.
