Di Maria hands Martino major fitness boost for Argentina final against Chile

Pumas winger Di Maria is fit for the final. PHOTO BY AFP

LOS ANGELES. Angel di Maria has made a full recovery from an abductor injury in time for Argentina’s Copa America final date with Chile on Sunday night.
The PSG midfielder has been absent since the group stage and it was initially feared that he would miss the entire tournament.
But Argentine coach Tata Martino has revealed that the 28-year-old was available for the 4-0 semi-final win over USA and he is expected to start in the final in New Jersey. Speaking after Tuesday night’s win Martino said: ‘From a physical point of view, Angel is ahead of Nico [Gaitan]. ‘He was ready for [Tuesday’s semi-final against USA], and Nico had a more recent muscular problem and I don’t know if Di Maria (pic left) will have chances of being fully recovered for Sunday.’
Sunday’s match sees a repeat of the final in last year’s competition, with Chile overcoming Argentina 4-1 on penalties following a goalless draw in Santiago.
With Argentina approaching their third final in successive years - after losing the World Cup to Germany in 2014 - Martino is determined to improve his country’s record. ‘We have to elaborate better and make better pressure. We certainly did it during the whole match [against USA] but in front of us weren’t Chile or Germany.’

Comparison to Euro
The Copa America has often been dismissed as a poor relation to the Euro, so much so that the latter has frequently been dubbed by the media as “the World Cup minus Brazil and Argentina.”
But a comparison of the two tournaments, which are being played simultaneously for the first time since 2004, suggests it may be time to ditch the old stereotype.
The Copa America, being played in the United States, features World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, five of the top 10 teams in the Fifa world rankings and seven teams who made the knockout stages at the World Cup two years ago.

Its European counterpart in France includes Messi’s bitter rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the other five top teams in the FIFA rankings and five of the teams who played the knockout phase in Brazil.
Direct comparisons between the two tournaments are difficult.
The European Championship is regarded as the pinnacle of the continent’s international football and has been held on a regular basis in a tournament form since 1980.

TOMORROW - THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF
Colombia vs. USA
(World Football, 3AM)
MONDAY - FINAL
Argentina vs. Chile
(World Football, 3AM)