Copa America Final 2015: Date, Schedule, Preview And Bet for Chile vs. Argentina

Chile-vs-Argentina-copa-america-2015-finalThe 2015 Copa America champion will be decided on Saturday evening as tournament hosts Chile seek to send favourites Argentina packing from Santiago trophyless.

Two of South America’s best and brightest have fought through adversity to reach the Estadio Nacional, but Argentina’s 6-1 semi-final rout of Paraguay would see them enter the final in higher spirits.

Read on for full preview of Saturday’s closing encounter, along with details of where and when to watch this year’s Copa America crescendo.

 

Date: Saturday, July 4

Time: 9 p.m. BST/4 p.m. ET

Venue: Estadio Nacional, Santiago

Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

 

Chile Hoping Home Advantage Works Wonders

More so now than ever, the throngs of home fans in Santiago must back La Roja and help instil the belief they are capable of moving mountains, because the foe opposite them is a daunting one indeed.

La Albiceleste showed with a demolition of would-be dark horses Paraguay just how devastating they can be when firing on all cylinders, with Lionel Messi one particularly important cog in their machine.

Up until now, not all Chile’s attacking weapons have been working at their optimum, with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez one of those yet to really hit his stride. The final is the opportune moment to change that.

There has been talk of Chile being granted an easier path to the Santiago final, but Bleacher Report’s Tim Vickery writes to dispel that myth, with the greatest task now in front of Jorge Sampaoli‘s side:

If they’re to beat Argentina, Chile will most certainly require some stroke of fortune to go along with whatever success they conjure on the pitch, but then that’s part and parcel of the Copa America.After all, Argentina had their chance to take a certain other major title in Brazil last year before finding themselves nullified at German hands, with Chile now hoping the Estadio Nacional can have a similarly intimidating effect.

Argentina’s Brawn Takes On Chilean Brains

 Both Chile and Argentina have a chance of seeing one of their players presented with this year’s Copa America Golden Boot award as Eduardo Vargas (4), Arturo Vidal (3) and Sergio Aguero (3) all sit high in the goal charts.

However, one would be inclined to agree with the notion that it’s Argentina chief Gerardo Martino who possesses the more potent attacking threats, with Messi, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain backing up Aguero.


Sampaoli showed a global audience at the 2014 World Cup the tactical ingenuity his Chile side possess, but we perhaps haven’t seen as glamorous a side of it this year.

This is particularly true in defence, with La Roja conceding three goals to Mexico early on in the competition and being exposed by Peru in the semi-finals. However, Portugal coach Fernando Santos has provided Sampaoli with some advice on how to beat the Argentinians, per Chilean newspaper El Mercurio (h/t Goal’s Tom Webber):

Argentina is a very strong opponent, they have great players. To win, you have to play the perfect match and have a little luck.

You cannot mark [Messi] man to man, because the only thing you gain is a problem. He is so good that he always finds a way of having more freedom.

It is better to use zonal marking … you have to prevent him from receiving the ball.

A midfield trio of Marcelo Diaz, Vidal and Charles Aranguiz may be up to the task of taking on Messi and Co., but Martino possesses vast resources up front that will prove hard to exhaust.

David Cartlidge of beIN Sports noted earlier in the competition that superior teams could expose Chile as the contest progresses, with Argentina as likely as any to pick holes:

Although they currently sit as the tournament’s top scorers, Chile’s main concern will lie in restraining Argentina first and doing their own damage second.Should the hosts be caught early on, they may find themselves at risk of being torn to shreds in a manner not dissimilar to that of the recently departed Paraguay.

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Chile has 3.58 odd to win the match on NaijaBet while Argentina  has 2.14 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 336. –

Chile – Uruguay Preview: Copa America hosts dodge tough ties

Chile-vs-Uruguay-Quarter-Final-Preview-2015-Copa-AmericaArgentina and Brazil cannot be faced until the final of the tournament but first Jorge Sampaoli’s side must beat the reigning champions after finishing top of Group A

Chile will be relishing the relatively straightforward path to the Copa America final they have been handed ahead of Wednesday’s quarter-final against Uruguay.

Should La Roja defeat the Celeste – who do not look like the side who conquered the competition four years ago – then they would face Bolivia or Peru in the last four, dodging Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay until at least the final.

Host nation Chile are the competition’s top scorers with 10 from their three games as Jorge Sampaoli’s side booked their place in the last eight by topping Group A.

Having taken four points off Ecuador and Mexico, Sampaoli’s men hammered Bolivia 5-0 to set up a quarter-final tie with a Uruguay team yet to hit such heights, claiming just four points in their group campaign.

The defending champions have only scored twice – the long-term absence of suspended striker Luis Suarez undoubtedly a contributing factor – although captain Diego Godin returns from suspension for the match in Santiago.

While Tabarez can welcome back influential skipper Godin into his back line, full-back Alvaro Pereira will serve a suspension after accumulating two yellow cards.

It is up front where Tabarez has problems, with Edinson Cavani struggling to fire in a central position. Reports suggest that the Uruguay boss could opt for a three-man defence with Cristian Rodriguez used as one of two full-backs.

The city of Santiago was shut temporarily on Monday due to smog concerns, although things have since improved in the capital, with Godin playing down any fears over the pollution.

“We saw on TV about the pollution but we have not discussed anything with the doctor,” Godin said, before turning his attentions to the pressures that Chile may face.

“Chile are favourite. They are local and want to win the title for the first time, they are with their people and have that pressure. We know it is their opportunity to earn a historic title.”

NaijaBet

As at this post Chile has 1.76 odd to win the match on NaijaBet while Uruguay  has 5.07 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 3.57.

Copa American Preview: Argentina – Uruguay

ageArgentina has been urged to replicate its first-half showing against Paraguay when it faces Uruguay on Tuesday.

Sergio Romero says Argentina can take positives from its Copa America opener, despite dropping points from a winning position, as the side prepares for this week’s Group B clash against Uruguay.

Gerardo Martino’s side threw away a two-goal lead in La Serena, as Nelson Valdez and Lucas Barrios scored in the final half hour to salvage a point and frustrate the World Cup finalist.

Argentina had led thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, with both Martino and captain Messi left frustrated by their second-half collapse.

Uruguay was also unconvincing in its opener – a 1-0 win over Jamaica – but Romero says both sides will take positives from their first Copa outings.

“Uruguay will not give away anything and although they had a tough match against Jamaica, they played their game and their style,” he said. “They also have dangerous strikers such as Cebolla [Cristian Rodriguez] and Edinson Cavani.

“On Tuesday, hopefully we can play our game and if we play like we did in the first half [against Paraguay] I think it will be alright. The first half against Paraguay was not good, it was excellent. Argentina had the ball, kept it on the floor and generally played the game the coach wants.”

Defending champion Uruguay looks on course to move into the knockout stages after Rodriguez’s winner ensured the side of top spot in the group at the end of the first round of matches.

Jamaica had more than enough chances to take something from the game but failed to break down a stubborn defense well marshaled by the likes of Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez.

Uruguay won the most recent instalment of this famous rivalry – a 3-2 success in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup – with Tabarez backing his side to grow into the tournament.

“We will continue to work in these few days,” Tabarez said on Sunday. “We were not at our best but that’s not the case just for us, not many teams arrive in their best form and it is widely expected that teams improve.”

The sides meet after Paraguay takes on Jamaica, with the picture of the group set to look a lot clearer after close of play on Tuesday.

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Argentina has 1.69 odd to win the match on NaijaBet while Uruguay has 5.53 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 3.69.