No international side teeters on the edge of brilliance and catastrophe as much as Chile. Gary Medel almost lost the ball once already in setting up Chile’s attack six minutes into their semifinal match against Colombia, which would have resulted in Jackson Martinez going 1-on-1 with Claudio Bravo. He instead kept his patience amidst the Colombia press and found Charles Aranguiz at midfield to break the pressure. Chile went from box to box in a matter of seconds as Aranguiz (who appropriately plays for Bayer Leverkusen) scored the opening goal. 

Their second goal was more direct. Bravo played a long ball to Alexis Sanchez, who overpowered right back Santiago Arias, and Jose Fuenzalida (creator of the first goal with his pace down the right wing) scored the rebound. The two sequences were straightforward, powerful and quick. It was what we’ve come to know from modern Chilean soccer.   

As impressive as the first half against Colombia was, their 7-0 win against Mexico in the quarterfinals was the most dominant performance of the tournament. The takeaway from these two matches is the necessity of both defensive organization and midfield dynamism in finding a path through Chile’s pressure and energy. A lack of attacking structure plays straight into Chile’s defensive press, resulting in a series of turnovers (often in the midfield or worse). On top of that, opposing midfielders must match the energy, technique and tactical intelligence of Aranguiz, Medel and Arturo Vidal.

Beating Colombia without Vidal showed off both the depth of Chile’s midfield and the importance of implementing an overarching playing style. Francisco Silva and Pablo Hernandez replaced Vidal and Marcelo Diaz in midfield and the side played with the same continuity and energy. The groundwork for the all action style was famously laid down by Marcelo Bielsa nine years ago. Jorge Sampaoli edited the edges and Chile won their first ever Copa America last year. So it was appropriate to ask how far new manager Juan Antonio Pizzi could further develop the side after the historic win.

But the blueprint was there all along. Pizzi’s responsibility wasn’t to reinvent the stylistic wheel - the base formation still remains a 4-3-3 that swaps into a three player backline in attack. His challenge instead was balancing the physically demanding system with the core group of players approaching 30 and older. There were initial growing pains as Pizzi won just one match out of his first five. Argentina out-pressed Chile in the opening match of the tournament, scoring two goals off turnovers in their own half. Then Pizzi, and his team, responded by pressing and attacking in a manner reminiscent of Bielsa. They’ve scored 15 goals in the four games since the opening match loss, and face Argentina in a rematch of last year’s Copa America finals. 

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As surprising as it may be, Argentina haven’t won a senior international trophy since the 1993 Copa America (Messi topped Gabriel Batistuta, who scored two goals in that final against Mexico, as Argentina’s all time leading goal scorer in this year’s semifinals). In the 13 combined Copa America and World Cups since, Argentina have finished runner up four times. 

The match against Chile on Sunday is Argentina’s third straight final of a major tournament, all in consecutive summers. They lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany to a Mario Goetze goal in the 113th minute. Last year’s heartbreak came in penalties. Both losses were to countries that focused on developing a national playing style years earlier and peaked at the right moment. Winning was their reward for taking a long-term approach. This was in contrast to a disjointed Argentina side that always felt like Messi and ten players. 

Yet this year’s side is more cohesive than the previous two finalists. Perhaps it’s age and maturity - the attacking combination of Messi, Ever Banega, Angel Di Maria, Lucas Biglia and Gonzalo Higuain are all between 28 and 30 years old, and in the prime of their careers where savviness and intelligent make up for a loss in pace. The backline featuring Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Otamendi and Ramiro Funes Mori is as athletic as they’ve had in recent memory. And no one deserves an international trophy more than Javier Mascherano.

There are further subtle yet important changes when comparing the lineup that started in last year’s final. Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis are replaced by the younger Gabriel Mercado and Funes Mori. Ever Banega, who is in the form of his life, replaces Javier Pastore in midfield (and a healthy Augusto Fernandez would start over Biglia). Sergio Aguero will come off the bench this time around in favor of Gonzalo Higuain. The talents are similar, yet the changes seem to have had a calming influence on the team.  

The prevailing sentiment from last year’s match was that it was Chile’s time. They were playing at home, for starters. The audaciousness of Alexis Sanchez’s penalty kick to win the match told a story of confidence and belief all its own. As for Argentina, once Di Maria went off injured (like he did in the World Cup the previous season), there was no link between Messi and the midfield (as per what happened in the World Cup the previous season). But Argentina started off this tournament beating Chile without Messi, with directness and pressing lead by Mascherano, Banega, and Higuain.

Messi’s return has only accentuated that initial identity. Argentina are one of a handful of teams in the world that can stand toe to toe with Chile’s energy and win. The midfield matchup between Aranguiz and Vidal, and Mascherano and Banega, will be worthwhile on its own. The finals should play out in a similar to the opening in terms of relentless pressing and directness. Except this time, Chile are much more cohesive. And Messi returns for Argentina.

So if Chile’s title last year felt like destiny with a generation’s worth of ideas culminating into one tournament at home, then it’s Argentina this time around who are peaking at the right moment. Perhaps not necessarily in terms of a national playing style, but in team chemistry, their midfield and attack all in their prime, and figuring out how to play with and without Messi. It hasn’t been 99 years without a title like it was for Chile. Regardless, this Sunday will be Argentina’s turn to relieve the tension of their own soccer history. Momentum is on their side.