Argentina can punch their ticket into the knockout stage of the 2024 Copa America when they head to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to face Chile on Tuesday.
In the opening match of this tournament, the reigning champions fended off a pesky Canada side to win 2-0, while Chile could only manage a 0-0 draw with Peru.
Match preview
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Heading into this tournament, the Chileans appeared to have rediscovered their goalscoring form, but that attacking quality was nowhere to be found on matchday one.
Ricardo Gareca's men had scored multiple times in their three pre-tournament friendlies, but they have now failed to find the back of the net in three consecutive Copa America fixtures dating back to 2021.
The former Argentine international is only the fourth person to coach in five consecutive Copa America competitions, joining Oscar Tabarez, Luis Tirado, and Guillermo Stabile as the only others to achieve that feat.
On Tuesday, they can extend their unbeaten run to three matches in all competitions, which will be their longest run since November 2022 - June 2023 (five games).
Since scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Peru in October 2023, La Roja are winless in five successive matches when tied or behind at the interval.
They have claimed a positive result in four consecutive matches against the Argentines, coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in the 2021 group phase.
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Canada did not make it easy on them, but Argentina were able to survive a few scares and begin this tournament on a winning note.
That was the first time since 2016 that they had won their opening Copa America group fixture, and the last two times they have avoided defeat in their opening match of this tournament, Argentina have gone on to make the final.
The reigning world champions have won six consecutive matches since a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier last November, the only defeat for them since losing their opening game at the 2022 finals versus Saudi Arabia (2-1).
A victory by Lionel Scaloni's men on Tuesday would ensure they progress to the knockout phase of this tournament for a 14th consecutive time, not counting when they withdrew from the 2001 Copa America.
Should they win this match and Peru and Canada play to a draw, La Seleccion will top their Copa America group on successive occasions for the first time since 2015 and 2016.
Argentina have never lost a Copa America fixture versus Chile in normal time, but they were beaten on penalties in the 2015 and 2016 finals.
Team News
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Diego Valdes could be a question mark for Chile after being taken off at half time in their previous encounter with an apparent knock.
Victor Davila, Alexis Sanchez and Erick Pulgar were all cautioned in their opener, and the three of them will be suspended for their final group game should they receive another yellow card on Tuesday.
At 41 years and 69 days, goalkeeper Claudio Bravo became the oldest player to feature at the Copa America this century and the first one over 40 to start a match in this competition, celebrating the occasion with a clean sheet.
In their opening match, Argentine skipper Lionel Messi set a Copa America record, making his 35th appearance in this competition, surpassing Sergio Livingstone.
Valentin Carboni received his first call-up from Scaloni, but he and fellow 19-year-old Alejandro Garnacho were unused substitutes in their opening fixture, as was Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez.
Julian Alvarez scored his first-ever goal at the Copa America, which held up as the winner, while Lautaro Martinez replaced him late in the match and scored his sixth all-time at this tournament and 25th internationally, moving above Luis Artime for eighth in the history of this team.
Chile possible starting lineup:
Bravo; Isla, Lichnovsky, Diaz, Suazo; Echeverria, Pulgar; Davila, Sanchez, Diaz; Vargas
Argentina possible starting lineup:
E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Acuna; Di Maria, De Paul, Lo Celso, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez
We say: Chile 1-2 Argentina
On matchday one, the Argentines looked vulnerable in transition, but they have an array of veterans and youthful players that can change the complexion of any match, which is why we have them winning this game.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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