Argentina choked in yet another final as holders Chile successfully defended their Copa America title after winning on penalties again. Lionel Messi and Lucas Biglia both missed from the spot as La Roja were crowned champions for the second year running.
Having romped their way to the final with 18 goals scored, this was supposed to be Argentina’s year to lift a major trophy. But unfortunately, La Albiceleste blew it and endured a huge heartbreak for the third consecutive major football final.
Chile, a kind of underdogs in the game, did well to keep Messi and co. at bay, although they spurned a few good chances of their own. The match headed into extra-time after finishing deadlocked at 0-0, but produced no outright winner, leaving the prospect of a penalty shoot-out decider, as it was the case in 2015.
Arturo Vidal missed the opening kick for Chile, but Messi shockingly failed to take advantage of it as he blasted his shot well over the bar. The scoreline then read 3-2 in Chile’s favour after Biglia saw his effort saved by Claudio Bravo, allowing Francisco Silva to seal the fate.
Let’s discuss the major talking points from the finale as Messi’s long wait for a silverware with Argentina prolongs.
#1 Chile in dreamland
When Chile lifted the Copa America trophy on home soil last year, it was touted to herald a new dominance in the continent. The Reds were the new force in Latin-America and pipped to usurp the likes of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay as the continent’s bigwigs, but since the turn of the year, Chile looked a pale imitation of themselves.
Just one win and four defeats in the first five games of 2016 raised doubts over their title defence. The poor run included a 2-1 opening game defeat to no one else but Argentina and Chile were starting to be written off. But in a mysterious turn of events, Jose Antonio Pizzi’s side found some form thereafter and eventually made it to the final.
The Skyblues were although huge favourites to lift the trophy regardless, ran out of luck yet again as Chile threw a spanner in their works to successfully retain their title, which brings us to the next talking point...
#2 Argentina in dystopia
Three consecutive major finals and three consecutive defeats, Argentina are left in absolute dystopia. The series of near misses has not only earned them the ignominious tag of ‘chokers’, but has also prolonged their international trophy drought that the nation is desperately waiting to end.
After successive defeats in 2014 World Cup and 2015 Copa America finals, La Albiceleste looked determined to put the records straight as they won all their games until the finals, scoring a mammoth 18 goals in the process.
Brushing every hurdle on their way aside, Gerardo Martino’s men looked like the force to be reckoned with and were on course to lift the trophy. However, fate had other plans as they were denied in the shoot-outs again.
#3 Messi fails when his side needed him the most
Up until the finals, Barcelona ace Lionel Messi was the best player of the tournament by a country mile. With 5 goals and 4 assists, the 29-year old was in the form of his life for Argentina and looked set to finally deliver an international trophy that the country is yearning for long.
The MetLife stadium was packed to the rafters waiting keenly for him to weave his magic, but the fans were left disappointed in the end. Messi not only failed to show up but also missed his kick from the spot, failing to take advantage of Vidal’s miss earlier.
For all his awe-inspiring performances in the competition so far, La Pulga was largely inconspicuous in the finals and was even booked for an apparent dive in the penalty area in the first-half. The miss in the shoot-out merely summed up his miserable evening.
The world watched with bated breath as Messi was on the cusp of finally lifting a trophy with Argentina, but it was the same old story in the end – so close yet so far.
#4 Higuain squanders another golden chance in a final
For the third year on the trot, Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain was presented with a golden chance to win it for his side, but the Napoli striker just can’t seem to get it right, eventually seeing them lose on all three occasions by the tightest of margins.
In the 2014 World Cup final against Germany, Higuain was gifted with a chance after a blunder from Toni Kroos but frustratingly blasted it wide. Then a year later in the 2015 Copa America finals, had a shot at redemption when he was at the receiving end of another gilt-edged opportunity to seal the tie, but failed to connect with the cross from Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Now, in 2016 Copa America Centenario finals, the 29-year old missed his third big chance in three finals when he smashed his shot wide after being sent through on goal following a mistake from Gary Medel.
Gonzalo Higuain would’ve easily overshadowed Messi as the hero for Argentina had he taken those chances, but instead, now sees his reputation with the national team become tarnished with a certain Sergio Aguero waiting on the wings.
#5 Pizzi refurbishes his credentials
Juan Antonio Pizzi replaced Jorge Sampaoli at the helm of Chile during the turn of the year, and pressure began mounting soon enough. The Spaniard oversaw just a solitary win in his first five games in-charge and did appear to guide Chile to another trophy anytime soon. However, with the 2016 Copa America success, he not only cut himself some slack but also proved his managerial credentials.
Chile took some time to get going under their new manager, but once they did, there was no looking back. Following the 2-1 opening game defeat to Argentina, The Reds embarked on an upward trajectory that is only complemented by the triumph in the finals. Although it was far from perfect, but Pizzi wouldn’t mind.
The Chileans seem to be on the rise again, and Pizzi can now happily look forward to the Confederation Cup next year in Russia for more glory.
