Argentina Take On Colombia In The Copa América 2024 Final

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? We will find out the answer when Argentina takes on Colombia in the Copa América final in Miami on Sunday night.

We have got a situation on our hands, as the current World Cup and Copa Amèrica holders Argentina play against a Colombia side with the longest current unbeaten run in international football, going 28 games without a single loss. Both teams can be forgiven for believing their name is on this trophy.

Lionel Messi’s band are back together for a shot at a third consecutive major title, where they have skipped towards the final at a relatively relaxed pace. That doesn’t matter too much though, as they have proved that they are a team of winners in the last few years.

Colombia on the other hand, have raced towards this game with flying colours and over the last year they have rivalled Argentina as the team to beat in South America. There is no Lionel Messi on their team sheet but there is Premier League quality, plenty of grit, and the tactical nous that is completely necessary in order to beat a team like Argentina.

The stars will align for one of these teams in Miami on Sunday night in what will either be a second ever Copa title for Colombia, or a record 16th for the World champions.

The biggest compliment you can pay to this Colombia team is that this final really does feel like a “50-50.” A while ago you might have seen them as big underdogs in this tie, but their performances have turned heads and demanded respect on the global football stage.

Late last year, in South American 2026 World Cup qualifying, Colombia were the only team unbeaten after six tricky fixtures. They beat Brazil and drew with a Uruguay team who themselves defeated both Brazil and Argentina. Uruguay were tipped by many as the main contender to Argentina this summer but Colombia disproved that idea in the Copa America semifinals on Wednesday night by beating them 1-0, even though they played over half of the game with 10 men.

In the first period Colombia pressed aggressively and were the protagonists, even if it wasn’t their best performance to date. After the red card they formed an organized low block that was relentless in its concentration. They showed great spirit and togetherness, solid defending and most importantly they remained extremely organised. All tools that won’t hurt them in this Sunday’s final.

Colombia have impressed all tournament and they looked good against Brazil in a game they drew during the group phase. They only needed a point to win the group by that stage but they were the side that looked more likely to take all three. Aside from that encounter they have won every game, scored lots of goals and also challenged Argentina for being the best supported side at the tournament.

Argentina have had the benefit of playing on the ‘light’ side of this 2024 Copa América draw. Colombia played Uruguay and Brazil on their road to the final but Argentina’s toughest test was a quarterfinal against Ecuador where they needed penalties to advance. They have played Canada twice as well as two extremely weak sides in Peru and Chile. They could even afford to rest most of the team in their final group fixture. Argentina have faced big enough tests in the recent past to know that Sunday will be something different though, and they will have to raise their level.

Lionel Messi has looked like a passenger at times so far, he really doesn’t seem 100% fit. Colombia are so fast and physical that you can see him suffering in this final if he isn’t firing from the word go. It seems absurd to suggest given his technical ability. Perhaps he has just been drifting through these games saving himself for the final.

It is also worth mentioning that if Colombia press like they did in the very early stages against Uruguay, where they left gaps to be exploited, then Lionel Messi will not be as wasteful with the space in behind as Darwin Núñez was.

Colombia talisman James Rodriguez appears reborn at this tournament, already notching a record six assists in the Copa. The wand of a left foot never left, but some of the battling we have seen from James, as well as sprints and off the ball runs, are not something he has shown at club level for some time. Recently he has failed to find form with club side São Paulo but with the national team he looks like the player he was at the 2014 World Cup.

Colombia will be slightly disadvantaged by abscneces on Sunday though. Right back Daniel Muñoz has been exceptional in this tournament but a moment of madness in the semis saw him see red and therefore receive a suspension for Sunday’s final. The Crystal Palace defender is a relentless force up and down the right flank but his energy was misplaced when he decided to sink an elbow into his Uruguayan opponent.

Colombian revelation Richard Ríos, who plays for Palmeiras in Brazil and has been on the radar of some top European clubs, is an injury doubt for the final. He has become the poster boy of this Colombian team and dazzled in midfield with his energy off the ball and quality on it. It will be a massive boost if he is fit to start the game and a big miss if he is unavailable.

Expect the atmosphere in the latin hub that is Miami, Florida to go through the roof on Sunday night. Let’s hope the magnitude of the occasion is met with an entertaining game of football and that the best team on the night wins the trophy. For this Argentina group, victory would further cement their status as one of the best national team’s their continent has ever seen, whilst a win for Colombia would be a true Cinderella story for the football history books.