The
regional rivals have a chance to put years of disappointment behind them with
triumph at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago. Host Chile has never won the continental
title, while Argentina has gone 22 years without lifting a major trophy.
The winner will celebrate a historic achievement. The loser will be left wondering how much longer the title drought will last.
Victory
would also be extra special for Lionel Messi, who has thrived with Barcelona
for years but is yet to give his national team much reason to celebrate. If
Messi can finally lead his nation to the title, he will be silencing many of
the critics who say that he has never played as well with the national team as
he does with his club.
Argentina
hasn't won a significant trophy since the 1993 Copa America, when Messi was
only 6 years old. Since then, it failed to succeed in seven Copa Americas and
six World Cups, with Messi playing in five of those tournaments. The playmaker
helped Argentina's Under-23s win the Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Games in
Beijing, but he still has nothing to show for when it comes to the senior
squad.
Argentina
came close to breaking through for a major title when it reached the World Cup
final in Brazil last year, losing 1-0 to Germany in extra time. It had been
eliminated in the quarterfinals both in 2006 and 2010. The Argentines lost
consecutive Copa America finals to Brazil in 2004 and 2007. In the 2011
tournament at home, Argentina didn't make it past the quarterfinals.
``We
are stubborn,'' Argentina defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano said. ``We
keep trying to win one of these championships. Hopefully it will finally happen
on Saturday.''
If
it does happen, Argentina will win its 15th Copa America title, tying Uruguay
as the tournament's most successful nation.
Argentina
will be brimming with confidence after trouncing Paraguay 6-1 in the
semifinals, when Messi didn't score but helped set up five goals, a performance
reminiscent of the ones he constantly pulls off with Barcelona.
For
Chile, hosting this Copa America has given it the best chance yet to break
through for a major championship, and a runner-up finish will be no
compensation.
``For
a lot of people it would be enough to have reached the final,'' said Claudio
Bravo, the Barcelona goalkeeper who is the national team's most experienced
player all-time with nearly 100 caps. ``What could be better than winning the
Copa America playing at home?''
Chile
has one of its best generations of players. Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli is
leading a team that includes Juventus teammates Arturo Vidal and Mauricio Isla,
Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, Napoli striker Eduardo Vargas, Inter Milan
defensive midfielder Gary Medel, Fiorentina attacking midfielder Matias
Fernandez and Palmeiras playmaker Jorge Valdivia.
Chile
reached the round of 16 of last year's World Cup, being eliminated by host
Brazil on penalties. It is playing in its first Copa America final in 28 years.
The Chileans finished runner-up four times, including at home in 1955.
``We
are committed to reaching the next level,'' Chile defender Eugenio Mena said.
``We want to win this tournament once and for all.''
Chile
has the tournament's best offense with 13 goals in five matches. The defense
hasn't been as perfect, conceding five goals and will need to improve to keep
out Argentina's imposing array of scoring options.
``We
are not afraid,'' Bravo said. ``The word `fear' hasn't been spoken by any of my
teammates. This is something only (the media) is talking about.''
Chile,
which defeated 10-man Peru in the semifinals, will be without defender Gonzalo
Jara, who was suspended from the tournament after provoking Uruguay striker
Edinson Cavani by poking his behind in the quarterfinals. Vidal, who crashed
his car while driving drunk a day after one of the group matches, is set to
play after being allowed to stay with the squad.
Argentina
coach Gerardo Martino may not be able to count on defender Ezequiel Garay, who
has been nursing a stomach illness.
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