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19 March 2024

Copa Final: Chile ready for Messi challenge

Argentina's Lionel Messi kicks the ball during a training session in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 25, 2016, on the eve of the Copa America final against Chile. (AFP)

Published
By Agencies

Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said Saturday he has a plan in place to shackle Lionel Messi as the champions prepare to face Argentina in the Copa America Centenario.

Twelve months ago, Chile unleashed midfield enforcer on Messi during the final in Santiago, effectively neutralising the threat of the Argentina captain.

Pizzi would not say if he planned a similar man-marking tactic in Sunday's final but acknowledged that Chile would be ready to face the five-time world footballer of the year.

"Playing against the most transcendental player in history is going to be no easy task," Pizzi said.

"We're going to use whatever weapons we can to stop our opponent's actions, and of course, within these strategies there is the question of Messi," Pizzi added.

"Messi really spurs forward the offensive capability of Argentina. We see him do it all the time, with Argentina, and with Barcelona.

"He has the ability to destabilise opponents - so we must have some mechanism in place otherwise he can win the game."

Messi did not play when Argentina defeated Chile 2-1 in the group stage earlier in the tournament.

Pizzi however said the outcome of that encounter would have little bearing on Sunday's showdown at the MetLife Stadium.

"The circumstances around this match are completely different. It has nothing to do with what we did 20 days ago," he said.

Pizzi indicated Chile will seek to rattle Argentina early, using their aggressive high-tempo pressing game to knock the favourites out of their rhythm, just as they did in previous rounds against Mexico and Colombia.

"Our defining feature when we set out for matches like this is our rhythm and our intensity and our aggressiveness that we aim to deliver from the start," Pizzi said.

"We're able to achieve it most times and this is how we feel most comfortable and its what gives us the best results," he added.

FAILURE

Meanwhile, Argentina coach Gerardo Martino said failure was not an option as his team aims to erase the bitter memory of back-to-back major final defeats.

The Argentinians take on Chile at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford bidding to end a 23-year trophy drought following agonising near-misses in the 2014 World Cup and last year's Copa America.

A determined Martino told reporters that Argentina had already overcome their biggest pre-tournament concern, which had been to ensure that they reached Sunday's final to have another crack at silverware.

"The biggest burden was getting to this situation rather than playing the final," Martino said.

"Going through the same thing was not easy and it was a big achievement; it took a lot to get here in the final again.

"The only thing to worry about now is winning tomorrow's game. The people want it, the players all want it, we all want it. And that's why we're willing to give our all to turn around last year's result."

Argentina were beaten on penalties by Chile in last year's final in Santiago after 120 minutes finished level at 0-0.

The match was another shattering loss for Lionel Messi and his teammates, who only 12 months earlier had suffered an extra-time defeat to Germany in the World Cup final.

Asked what conclusions he had taken from last year's defeat Copa America final, Martino replied: "What we can't do is lose another final. That's the biggest conclusion to draw."

Martino, meanwhile, paid tribute to Messi's scintillating form en route to the final, saying the Barcelona superstar had reproduced his best club form at the international level as a result of stability in the squad.

"Really I think for a long time now he has been performing very well with the national team," Martino said.

"He has had many more positive performances than not so good performances. I don't think we've done anything differently.

"He has been playing with the same people for a long time. That makes him feel happy, he's in a good place - the way he was feeling in Brazil (at the World Cup), the way he was last year, the way he's playing right now."

Martino and Argentina are, meanwhile, bracing for a severe test against the reigning South American champions.

"Chile develops their game well and they apply pressure - those are the fundamental weaopons that they brandish and that's what makes them one of the best teams in the world," Martino said.