Argentina are in the final of yet another international tournament.
Their 4-0 win against the USA marks the third final appearance for the Albiceleste in consecutive years and they’re hoping this one has a different result as they seek to claim their first major title since the 1993 Copa America.
Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and then followed that up by dropping the championship match of the 2015 Copa America to hosts Chile.
“We weren’t able to do it,” Argentina head coach Gerardo Martino said about the 2015 Copa run in his postgame press conference. “And immediately they set their sights on the next opportunity, this one [2016 Copa America Centenario], and now we’re in the same place we were a year ago [in a final].”
When asked if he feels like Argentina is currently the best team in the tournament, the former Barcelona head coach sidestepped the question.
“I don’t think it helps us much to answer if we are or are not the best,” Martino said. “The answer we have to give it on Sunday [in the final] and the result of the game, not even the performance, will determine if we’ve been the best.”
On Tuesday night, Argentina dominated possession and pressured the USA into turnovers inside their own half. The game plan that was executed against the Americans is exactly what Martino would like to see from his team in the championship match at MetLife Stadium against either Chile or Colombia.
Argentina has blitzed opponents this tournament, scoring a combined 18 goals, while only conceding two. But Martino is still not happy. He was categorical: The tournament will not be considered a success unless Argentina go home with a trophy.
“There may not be many teams that can do it better, but if we want to play that style, we have to compete against them, like with Chile and Germany,” Martino said. “Today, we did it, yes, throughout the whole game. But in front of us, it wasn’t Chile or Germany.”
