Argentina has not played in a World Cup or Copa America final in more than a decade. The run of misfortune ends Sunday when Argentina plays rival Brazil in the Copa America final in Lima, Peru, (2:30 p.m., WGBO-Ch. 66 in Spanish).
Argentina advanced with a 3-0 trouncing of Colombia in the semifinal, bringing its goal total to 14 in five games, more than any team in the tournament.
Argentina has won 14 Copa titles, including eight against Brazil, and will be favored again Sunday in Latin America’s version of the European Championship. Brazil beat Argentina 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier two months ago, but that Brazilian team included Ronaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos, all of whom won’t play Sunday.
“More than anything, we have the hunger to reconquer,” Argentine captain Roberto Ayala said last month. “Our group wants to add in gold letters to the successful history of Argentine football.”