Copa America: 5 Reasons why Argentina are favourites to lift the title
Copa America, which is due to start on 11th June, 2015 in Chile, is the most awaited men’s International football event this year. Four out of the last 6 times, it was Brazil who clinched this tournament, with Uruguay the most recent winners in 2011. However, this year, we believe that its Argentina who is entering into Copa America as the real favorite, and not Brazil, and we have 5 points to make the case of it for our reader’s to understand:
Messi in the Form of his Life
A year that started with so much disappointment after losing to Germany in the final of the World Cup, Messi is the real example of what a difference of time period of 12 months can do in an individual’s life. From an outstanding World Cup that remained an unfinished business, Messi had an incredible year where he proved instrumental in taking Barcelona to the very top once again. Due to his outstanding performance throughout the season, in which he scored more than 50 goals and provide more than 20 assists in all competitions, he proved to be the focal point of Barcelona’s treble success throughout the season. Messi would love to win Copa America, which he himself stated that winning it would somewhat compensate for the World Cup Final loss to Germany, and with him in the form of his life, it pretty much seems like what the case will be on 4th July, 2015.
Pastore – the midfield maestro
A talent who was underachieved for a very long time, Javier Pastore finally emerged onto the big stage with his best season for PSG so far. Absence of Zlatan in the middle of the season made Blanc to change his formation and play one centre forward in Cavani, which led to the evolution of Pastore, who is now one of the most promising young talent in France and Europe. He is creative, can hold the ball very well, and is always looking for his touch of elegance to provide a pass that can unlock the other side defense completely, and that is why he was the highest assists provider (12) for PSG in League 1 and the 2nd highest assist provider in the league in 2014/15 season. With him in the team, Argentina will have the option of keeping the ball better, as well as his creativity will be also be of immense use, which was the missing link in the World Cup, where it was only Messi and to some extent Di Maria, who looked threatening enough to open up the oppositions defense.
Tevez’s last hurrah
Carlos Tevez, who had more than just outstanding season with Juventus, where he led them to the Champions league final and a domestic double by scoring 29 goals and provided 7 assists, is being called back after he missed out in the World Cup due to reports of rift with Messi, for which Argentina were made to pay in the World Cup after Aguero got injured. Tevez, who is going to be 35 by Russia 2018, in all likely hood is going to take part in his last major International tournament & will want to do whatever it takes to win another trophy this year, and show a moment of brilliance every now and then which will ease the pressure on Messi to step up every time when Argentina need someone.
Deadliest attacking mix
Argentina will lead undoubtedly the strongest attack out of all the teams in the tournament. With the inclusion of Tevez, Argentina will have the services of the Golden shoe winner in the Premier League in Aguero (Manchester City), 2 of the top 5 leading goal scorers in Seria A in Tevez (Juventus) and Higuain (Napoli) & joint highest goal scorer in the Champions league and a potential Ballon D’or winner in Messi (Barcelona). With all four of them available and fit to play, Martino will have a hard time selecting the strikers to play in the final XI, but that’s a problem that will surely make him happy.
A more experienced Tata Martino
Tata Martino, who was appointed as the Argentina manager in last August after the departure of Alejandro Sabella, who led Argentina to the World Cup Final in 2014, has a first real task as the Argentina manager, where he will hope to lead Argentina to the Copa America glory for the first time in more than 2 decades. Martino will get benefitted from the experience he had while coaching at Barcelona, where he not only had the opportunity to coach one of the best teams in the World, but also had the opportunity to deliver in front of one of the most demanding fans in the world of football. Even though it did not go as he would like it to be, but having the experience of working with the likes Messi and Mascherano along with other top quality player will only going to benefit him and will make him react to a situation far better than many of his opponents would. His traditional style of attacking and assertive football, where his team will ideally press high up the pitch, can cause all the teams a lot of trouble and prove to be a real success in the current campaign.