Argentina vs. Chile: Early Form Guide, Predictions for 2016 Copa America Final

Chile overcame Colombia 2-0 on Wednesday to book their spot in the 2016 Copa America final against Argentina, the same opponents they beat on penalties to claim the trophy last year.

The defending champions are on an upward trajectory, having overcome Los Cafeteros in effective fashion four days on from their 7-0 drubbing of Mexico in the quarter-finals.

However, at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Chile will face an Argentina side that has looked the best in the tournament from the word go, and their talisman, Lionel Messi, is in inspired form.

Read on for a look at the two sides' respective recent form, along with predictions for how the final will pan out, as Chile go for back-to-back Copa wins and Argentina look to get their hands on the trophy for the first time since 1993.

Form Guide

Argentina	Chile
Won 4-0 vs. USA	Won 2-0 vs. Colombia
Won 4-1 vs. Venezuela	Won 7-0 vs. Mexico
Won 3-0 vs. Bolivia	Won 4-2 vs. Panama
Won 5-0 vs. Panama	Won 2-1 vs. Bolivia
Won 2-1 vs. Chile	Lost 2-1 vs. Argentina

Argentina have a perfect record so far at the 2016 Copa America. They opened with an Angel Di Maria-inspired victory over Sunday's opponents, and they have since swept all before them, on Tuesday recording a 4-0 semi-final win over hosts the U.S.

The fact they have already beaten Chile in the tournament is likely to give Argentina a boost, but La Roja are a different side than they were in the group stage.

Chile have grown into the tournament. They followed their defeat to Argentina with an edgy, and fortuitous, 2-1 victory over Bolivia before finally showing some of their attacking flair with a 4-2 victory over Panama, with Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sanchez both netting braces.

Their defence looked vulnerable in the group stage, but the knockout rounds have seen the true Chile emerge.

Their 7-0 mauling of Mexico was one of the more startling results in Copa history and a true display of just how good Chile can be—El Tri were on a 22-match unbeaten run.

Vargas scored four times against Mexico and will be the key man for Chile in the final, along with the ever-reliable Sanchez and the returning Arturo Vidal.

Chile's victory over Colombia was a different kind of win but similarly impressive, as they netted two early goals and then kept Los Cafeteros at bay for the rest of the match, with goalkeeper and captain Claudio Bravo putting in an inspired performance after an inconsistent tournament so far. Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl was impressed with the Barcelona 'keeper's efforts:

As they proved last year, Chile have what it takes to win the Copa, and they have improved with almost every game to be at their peak for the final this time around.

But that does not necessarily mean they will be able to prevail over Argentina. Gerardo Martino's men are the top-ranked international side in the world, per FIFA, and they have shown why during the 2016 Copa America.

Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe believes Argentina have been the best side throughout the tournament:

Messi has been in superb form since he entered the fray as a substitute in Argentina's second match of the competition, against Panama—in which he scored a hat-trick—netting five goals in four appearances, per WhoScored.com.

He has played the full 90 minutes in both of Argentina's knockout matches, as they have eased past Venezuela and the U.S.

But even if Chile somehow stop Messi, they will have a string of other world-class talents to shackle.

It is quite extraordinary that this generation of Argentinian players have never won a major tournament together.

OMAR TORRES/Getty Images

Messi is joined in the squad by Di Maria—who should return from injury for the final—Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Javier Mascherano, Javier Pastore and Erik Lamela to name only a handful.

They have more than enough quality to win on Sunday but will carry the scars of having lost the Copa final in 2015 and the World Cup final in 2014, while Chile can take confidence from having prevailed last year.

It should be a fascinating matchup between two sides in top form, but it feels as though it may finally be Argentina's time.

Prediction: Argentina to win on penalties. Lionel Messi and Eduardo Vargas to score in a 1-1 draw in normal time.