Two consecutive draws have left Argentina at the verge of first-round elimination.
Fred saved Brazil against Paraguay, Sergio Aguero did the same for Argentina in the opening game, but none of the South American powerhouses have yet been able to celebrate their first Copa America victory.
Costa Rica, on the other hand, redeemed themselves after a disappointing debut by defeating Bolivia 2-0, thanks to Joel Campbell's superb form. He sets Costa Rica's pace and rhythm, and the Argentinian defenders should keep him under a close watch.
It's undeniable Sergio Batista must introduce several modifications in his scheme to make the best out of his squad.
I believe Sergio Aguero earned his place in the starting eleven and could give both the aggressiveness and playing style Batista looked for in Carlos Tevez and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Ricardo La Volpe is likely to adopt a defensive scheme for this third clash, relying on the counter-attack to harm Argentina when they're most vulnerable. Costa Rica's coach introduces Francisco Calvo in the starting eleven, an amateur defensive midfielder who will be in charge of stopping Messi from building the attack.
Argentina and Costa Rica depend only on themselves to claim their place among America's fittest eight. Costa Rica occupies the second position in the group with three points, and they need a single point to secure their qualification, while Argentina must bag the full scoring at all costs.
I'm not sure Gonzalo Higuain is what Argentina is missing at the moment. His offensive capabilities might be simply overwhelming, but I think Argentina needs to be more organized to secure the victory.
Will Sergio Batista give Javier Pastore an opportunity to show his worth to the whole continent? He chose Fernando Gago as a substitute in the last game, but former Boca Juniors' midfielder could never find his place on the pitch.
Pastore took advantage of every minute on the field in the last few friendly matches, and I'm positive his presence will provide a major boost to Argentina's attack.
And what about Costa Rica? We've seen La Volpe utilize both an aggressive and a defensive style in the first two games, always prioritizing the wings to lead the attack. He knows Argentinian football far too well, will he deliver a fatal blow to Sergio Batista this Monday in Cordoba?
Costa Rica, on the other hand, redeemed themselves after a disappointing debut by defeating Bolivia 2-0, thanks to Joel Campbell's superb form. He sets Costa Rica's pace and rhythm, and the Argentinian defenders should keep him under a close watch.
It's undeniable Sergio Batista must introduce several modifications in his scheme to make the best out of his squad.
I believe Sergio Aguero earned his place in the starting eleven and could give both the aggressiveness and playing style Batista looked for in Carlos Tevez and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Ricardo La Volpe is likely to adopt a defensive scheme for this third clash, relying on the counter-attack to harm Argentina when they're most vulnerable. Costa Rica's coach introduces Francisco Calvo in the starting eleven, an amateur defensive midfielder who will be in charge of stopping Messi from building the attack.
Argentina and Costa Rica depend only on themselves to claim their place among America's fittest eight. Costa Rica occupies the second position in the group with three points, and they need a single point to secure their qualification, while Argentina must bag the full scoring at all costs.
I'm not sure Gonzalo Higuain is what Argentina is missing at the moment. His offensive capabilities might be simply overwhelming, but I think Argentina needs to be more organized to secure the victory.
Will Sergio Batista give Javier Pastore an opportunity to show his worth to the whole continent? He chose Fernando Gago as a substitute in the last game, but former Boca Juniors' midfielder could never find his place on the pitch.
Pastore took advantage of every minute on the field in the last few friendly matches, and I'm positive his presence will provide a major boost to Argentina's attack.
And what about Costa Rica? We've seen La Volpe utilize both an aggressive and a defensive style in the first two games, always prioritizing the wings to lead the attack. He knows Argentinian football far too well, will he deliver a fatal blow to Sergio Batista this Monday in Cordoba?
