Previews
DOM 26.06.2016
In a case of déjà vu, Argentina and Chile are set for a Copa America final rematch in this special edition of the competition, the Copa America Centenario, with La Albiceleste bidding to avenge their defeat a year ago. Excitement and goals look guaranteed in a game in which LaLiga will have a big say, with up to 10 players from the Spanish top flight set to play their part.
Lionel Messi and Claudio Bravo will lock horns in what will be one of the match's most compelling individual battles. The FC Barcelona teammates areboth talismanic captains for their countries and could hold the key to where the trophy ends up. It will be feet against hands; striker against goalkeeper; Messi's technical majesty and goalscoring prowess up against Bravo's poise, long wingspan and reflexes.
Messi is...#LaLiga's all-time leading scorer
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) June 22, 2016
Barça's all-time leading scorer
Argentina's all-time leading scorer pic.twitter.com/sBtixRxwWE
Other Spain-based figures in the picture for Argentina are Augusto Fernandez, Matias Kranevitter, Javier Mascherano and Ever Banega, while Chile's LaLiga contingent is completed by Marcelo Diaz, Pablo Hernandez, Fabian Orellana and Enzo Roco.
Inspired by Messi, who has become Argentina's all-time top scorer during the tournament, Gerardo Tata Martino's men have swept all before them en route to the final. They have scored 18 goals in their five matches, including comprehensively dispatching Venezuela in the quarter-finals and hosts the United States in the semis. The Chileans have been almost as prolific, netting 16 times so far. The reigning champions got the better of Mexico and Colombia respectively in the knockout rounds.
Who will prevail and conquer the Americas? The answer will come this Sunday, 26 June, from 20:00 local time (02:00 on Monday morning CET) at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
© LALIGA - 2016