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Of the two sides, Colombia are the more recent winners, having lifted the trophy in 2001. Argentina last won in 1993 but have appeared in four of the last five finals. Argentina reached the Copa final in 2015 and 2016, having also made the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Three major finals in as many years would be a success for most nations, but failing to win any of them will have been a bitter disappointment for La Albiceleste. That is especially the case given they were favourites against Chile in both Copa finals, and they had the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and other top-class attacking players in their ranks.
It is a testament to Messi in particular that they even made it to those finals, as the team has rarely resembled a cohesive unit in recent years. Los Cafeteros have warmed up for the tournament with back-to-back 3-0 wins over Panama and Peru, and they have plenty of firepower.
Radamel Falcao turned 33 in February, but he scored 15 goals for a poor Monaco side in Ligue 1 last season to help them avoid relegation by two points. What’s more, Duvan Zapata bagged 28 goals in all competitions for Atalanta, outscoring Cristiano Ronaldo in Serie A.
Colombia haven’t beaten Argentina since 2007, but between their in-form strikers and playmaker James Rodriguez, they have the tools to cause them plenty of problems on Saturday.
After two straight runner-up appearances, Argentina is hoping to win it all and put an end to a trophy drought that extends to 1993. In its last tune-up for the tournament, Argentina played Nicaragua in a friendly and walked away with a 5–1 win thanks to a pair of goals from Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez and one from Roberto Pereyra.
Colombia, playing in its first competition under new manager Carlos Queiroz, defeated Peru 3–0 in a friendly last Sunday. Mateus Uribe scored twice for Colombia and Duvan Zapata scored in stoppage time.
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