Argentina unchanged for Copa final

Argentina coach Alfio Basile has named unchanged team for tonight's Copa America final against arch-rivals Brazil.

Argentina coach Alfio Basile has named unchanged team for tonight's Copa America final against arch-rivals Brazil.

Basile said yesterday that Carlos Tevez would partner Lionel Messi in attack while Hernan Crespo, who has recovered from a sprained thigh muscle, would start on the bench.
   
"It was an easy decision, Tevez has been playing and he has done well while Crespo has not played for 12 days," said Basile.
   
Crespo, who has scored three goals in the tournament, sprained a muscle as he converted a penalty in a 4-2 win over Colombia in Argentina's second game.
   
"Crespo has done a fantastic job to recover and so has the medical team," added Basile.
   
Meanwhile Uruguay defender Diego Lugano, whose missed penalty led to the semi-final defeat against Brazil, was sent off and gave away a penalty as his side lost 3-1 to Mexico in the third-place match.
   
Sebastian Abreu put Uruguay ahead in the 21st minute when he headed in Maximiliano Pereira's header at the far post but the game turned in the 37th minute when Lugano elbowed Gerardo Torrado in the penalty area.
   
Lugano, who missed Uruguay's last kick in the penalty shootout against Brazil on Tuesday, was sent off and a penalty was awarded which was converted by Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
   
Long-range goals from Omar Bravo in the 68th minute and substitute Andres Guardado seven minutes later completed Mexico's win.
 
Argentina: Roberto Abbondanzieri; Javier Zanetti, Roberto Ayala, Gabriel Milito, Gabriel Heinze; Javier Mascherano, Juan Sebastian Veron, Esteban Cambiasso, Juan Roman Riquelme; Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez