Argentina-Colombia is the Copa América ultimate we deserve

The Copa America ultimate is right here, and after three weeks of bonkers soccer, the 2 greatest groups within the event are left standing. Argentina and Colombia will take the sphere earlier than a offered out Onerous Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday night time with one aim in thoughts: carry the Copa America trophy as champions.

Easy methods to watch

Argentina vs. Colombia

Location: Onerous Rock Stadium, Miami

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

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

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

Photograph by KENA BETANCUR/AFP through Getty Photos

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 staff had the most important goal aimed toward them. As reigning champions, they opened the event towards Canada on July 20.

Successful 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 properly within the group stage, rising with an ideal 3-0-0 report. Whereas they didn’t concede a aim 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.

Photograph by Elsa/Getty Photos

They’ve been in a position to win matches simply, they usually’ve additionally needed to powerful 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 the earth — was in a position to assist Argentina by means 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 development we’ve seen since 1979:

How did Colombia get right here?

Colombia entered the event as the most well liked staff on the earth, with their final loss coming in February 2022. That streak hasn’t modified, as that they had two wins and a attract Group D play to win the group over Brazil. They defeated Costa Rica and Paraguay and seemed 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 greatest show of the event. They gained 5-0, wanting like the perfect staff on the earth 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 aim 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.

Photograph by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP through Getty Photos

By some means, 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.

Each fanbases have dominated this event.

Whereas there have been many considerations over the shortage of followers who needed 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. Each groups’ followers have dominated stadiums throughout the USA all through the event, promoting out a number of matches and being big boosts to their groups with their boisterous ambiance. If Onerous 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. Count on this crowd to be break up, with the yellow of Colombia poking by means of the albiceleste of Argentina and creating an epic ambiance appropriate for a ultimate.

Photograph by Robin Alam/ISI Pictures/Getty Photos

In the end, the primary winner of this ultimate won’t be both staff. Will probably be soccer followers all over the world who’re certain to see a stunning show of soccer between the 2 greatest 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 night time to seek out out.

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