Copa America 2015 Predictions, Analysis: Why Lionel Messi Will Bring Glory to Argentina By David Salazar staff@latinpost.com

Can Lionel Messi finally shake off his poor
reputation on the international stage in this
summer's Copa America? (Photo : Getty)
Last year's World Cup final featured a South
American side that many felt was the team of
destiny. It was not meant to be.
Argentina continued its international struggles on
the world's biggest stage and will now look to
settle for the consolation prize. Albeit, a very
substantial one.
Winning the Copa America would be a validation
for a number of this side's players, many of
which might not be around for the next World Cup
cycle or will be playing on the wrong side of their
respective primes.
So what is Argentina's outlook in Chile this
summer?
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History
Argentina has hosted the tournament on nine
different occasions and has actually had terrific
success with 14 victories.
The wins have come in 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929,
1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959,
1991 and 1993. Of those wins, six have come as
hosts.
But there are a few patents to take note of. Since
1947, the team has won four of its 14 and since
1993, the nation has gone home empty. It has not
been for a lack of trying. Argentina was in the
final in both 2004 and 2007 and lost against
Brazil; in 2007 the team was a favorite.
But few will forget the most recent display in
2011 when as the host nation, a team stocked
with Lionel Messi, Ever Banega, Javier
Mascherano, Angel di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Carlos
Tevez and Esteban Cambiasso not only failed to
win its group but stumbled in the first knockout
round.
It was a disappointment of epic proportions, and
many felt that Messi would never get it done for
Argentina on the international stage.
He has yet to reverse that general feeling.
Yet.
Key Players
For Messi this might be a do or die tournament
for his international legacy. That, of course, could
be an overstatement, but he must face the facts.
On June 24, when the quarterfinals of the Copa
America begin, Messi will turn 28.
The world has seen his game evolve this season
and watched him soar to heights no one has ever
witnessed him reach. He is not only a deadly
scorer but a consummate playmaker capable of
making everyone around him better in the most
efficient of means.
This is as healthy as Messi has been entering a
summer tournament, and barring an injury, this
might be the healthiest anyone will see him
heading into any summer of his career. So for
him the moment is now.
While he will have next year's Copa America to
cement his international reputation, there is no
telling how healthy he will be. In 2018, he will be
31, and his powers might be on the decline. No
one knows how Messi's form will be in coming
years, so for him this could be the defining
tournament of his career for Argentina.
Other players that will be relied on will obviously
be Angel di Maria, Javier Mascherano and Sergio
Aguero. Mascherano was stellar in Brazil and will
need to be the general that keeps the defense
compact. Aguero and di Maria will need better
performances than those exhibited in the World
Cup.
The most intriguing player of course will be
Carlos Tevez, assuming he makes the cut. His
rivalry with Messi in 2010 and 2011 has been well
documented, but he remains a lethal sniper, and
if he can find a way to work with the Barcelona
man, then Argentina's forward line could be at its
most dangerous in years.
Why Argentina will win
The pressure has never been higher for the
Albiceleste. Argentina has not won anything of
consequence since 1993. Messi is supposed to be
the savior who brings glory back to his nation. He
nearly did it in Brazil last year and is arguably in
better form this time around with a mature squad
that should know how to win. If the squad
cannot do it now, then it is unlikely going to
happen ever.
It also does not hurt to have a relatively easy
group with no major competition outside of
Uruguay (a team without Luis Suarez!). Look for
Argentina to learn from the pain of Brazil and
push itself all the way to the final.
Prediction: Argentina wins it all. This team is too
good, has figured out how to win and Messi will
be looking to finally bring some glory to his home
country.