Argentina vs Colombia Time, lineups, TV, streams, odds, prediction for Copa America Semifinal. Even Brazil’s Neymar has stated his desire to see Lionel Messi and Argentina in the final.
The much-anticipated Copa America title match between Brazil and Argentina on Saturday, July 10 is just one game away from becoming a reality. Brazil contributed by defeating Peru in the semi-finals. Only Colombia, ranked 15th in the world, stands in the way of Argentina, ranked 8th in the globe.
Don’t think Los Cafeteros aren’t aware of what’s going on. When they face Messi and co. On Tuesday at the Estadio Mané Garrincha in Brasilia, they’ll be out to ruin the party. They also have the credentials to pull off the upset.
Colombia defeated Argentina 2-0 in the group round of the 2019 Copa America. Colombia also fought back from a 2-0 deficit to draw Argentina in a World Cup qualifier in June. Head coach Reinaldo Rueda has built belief and calm confidence in a team of seasoned professionals, many of whom also play in Europe’s best leagues, and who will not be frightened by the event or Argentina.
Rueda has a defensive first strategy. So it’s no wonder that Colombia has struggled to score goals, owing to the absence of Everton star James Rodriguez, who did not make the final team. Meanwhile, Argentina will respond with a slew of attacking weapons led by Messi, who has four goals and four assists in Copa America.
But, above all, Messi wishes to win the Copa America and earn his first piece of the trophy with Argentina’s senior men’s squad. If Argentina advances, it would be their third Copa America final in six years, versus arch-rival Brazil. The first trophy against that backdrop would be one of Messi’s most significant career achievements.
So, what can we anticipate from the semifinals? Colombia has previously said that it will strive to play an orderly game, manage the tempo of play, and commit as few errors as possible. Colombia will take a cautious, defensive approach, hoping to delay the Argentines before scoring on a breakaway or set piece.
Argentina is a high-pressing squad with players who will battle for every ball and take on every challenge. The Argentines will attempt to force turnovers and get possession of the ball as high up the field as possible. And once they do, they will fly vertically, straight for the goal, and at high speed. And they have the players to carry out that strategy in Messi and forward Lautaro Martinez. They’re also hazardous to set pieces.
Argentina’s identity has made them difficult to beat — they are undefeated in 18 matches (11-0-7) since a loss in the 2019 Copa America semifinal against Brazil — but it also means the Argentines aren’t blowing teams away, and the quarterfinal against Ecuador was much closer than the final score (3-0) would have you believe.
Expect a slog in this elimination match, with Argentina aiming to chip and claw its way through the Colombian low block or drawing the Colombians out of their stance. Grinds, on the other hand, are generally sluggish, low-scoring games until an early goal breaks things open. Colombia’s five matches have all been one-goal affairs or 0-0 draws.
Low goal totals, narrow margins of victory, and Argentina are the way to go in this one. Argentina has a game-changer in Messi. And the same script that played out for Neymar and Brazil against Peru — Neymar’s brilliance setting up Brazil’s crucial goal in a 1-0 triumph — will most likely play out again here.
Lionel Scaloni, Argentina’s head coach, stated in advance that he had several fatigued players carrying knocks, and he made a handful of changes from the lineup that defeated Ecuador in the quarterfinals.
Guido Rodriguez will start in central midfield instead of Leandro Paredes, and Nicolas Tagliafico will replace Marcos Acuna at left back. Scaloni already announced that centre defender Cristian “Cuti” Romero will be absent again due to injury, with German Pezzella taking his place in the back. Papu Gomez and Angel Di Maria will be available off the bench if Argentina needs an attacking spark throughout the encounter.
Colombia is boosted by the return of their greatest player, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, who served a one-game ban. Los Cafeteros’ main lineup choice was always going to be who plays at forward. With only two goals from the run of play in five games, the greater output is anticipated from a strong front line.
Against Argentina, Rueda went with the Duvan Zapata-Rafael Santos Borre combination. Borre was revealed as a new signing by Eintracht Frankfurt on Monday. Miguel Borja, who now plays in the Colombian division, and Zapata’s striking partner at Atalanta, Luis Muriel, are both available off the bench.
