It is very much a fitting finale. Two teams with a philosophy, two teams that like to attack, two teams with style and swagger. Chile versus Argentina is the game this Copa has been waiting for ever since it kicked off on June 11.
It has been a long time coming. While Chile faced an ebullient Ecuador team that had a real go in the tournament's opening game and then met Mexico in the most entertaining encounter of the group stage (a 3-3 draw), exciting matches have been at a premium in this competition.
After bashing Bolivia 5-0 in their final group game, La Roja advanced to the final by beating Uruguay and Peru in two tight games in which they were only able to take control after their rivals had been reduced to 10 men. Tense and gripping games they were. Classics there were not.
Argentina have had it even worse. Gerardo Martino's men first faced a pragmatic Paraguay team in a 2-2 draw, before beating an excessively physical Uruguay side 1-0 and overcoming a negative Jamaica by the same scoreline. Then, in the last eight, the Albiceleste eliminated a Colombia outfit far removed from the one that played probably the finest football of the whole competition at Brazil 2014. And in the semi-finals, Paraguay had little left in the tank in a one-sided meeting in which only Argentina attacked for much of the 90 minutes in their stunning 6-1 win.In the pre-match press conference, an Argentine journalist said to Martino: "Ramon [Diaz] says he is going to attack. Do you believe him?" Tata laughed. He knew it was unlikely. Instead, he has spoken of staying true to a style of play - even after he was severely criticised when his team threw away a two-goal lead against Paraguay in the sides' first meeting.
"The Argentine national team has never had a defined style," he said. And that is exactly what he is aiming to instil in this team as they seek their first Copa America since 1993.
Chile, meanwhile, have won many friends for their brave brand of attacking football over the last few years under Jorge Sampaoli. Both Martino and Sampaoli are students of former Argentina and Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa and Tata is sure that La Roja will remain positive in Saturday's showpiece.
"It's very difficult for them to change their style," he said. "They have been insisting on an idea for some time now, so they may change personnel, but when it comes to the game itself and how they approach it, Chile will be the same as they always are."
And asked if he had a special plan to contain Lionel Messi et al, Chile coach Sampaoli said: "We will use the system we have utilised all through the Copa. That is the system and the defined style that has allowed us to get where we are now, so we will keep trying to play in the same way."
Chile's Gonzalo Jara was suspended for his cynical provocation of Edinson Cavani against Uruguay, but overall La Roja have played some of the finest football in this tournament - much more than fellow candidates Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay.
So, Chile against Argentina is a fitting finale in a competition marked by negativity and cynicism. The two best and most positive teams battle it out for the trophy on Saturday in what should be the purest partido yet at this Copa, something that could help the legacy of this particular edition of the Copa. And who knows, it may just convince the rest of the sides to be a little more positive next time around.
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