The game tonight against Brazil, in the far west of Venezuela, is one of world football's classics. The host city of Maracaibo is dubbed locally as the coldest city in the world, thanks to the intensity of its air-conditioning.

The 40,000 capacity stadium should see things heat up.

This will be the biggest test yet for Alfio Basile's elegant side in what is a re-run of the final three years ago in Peru, which Brazil won on penalties despite being outplayed for most of the match.

It will also be the biggest examination in this Copa of Juan Roman Riquelme, the Argentina playmaker who, a year ago, retired from the national team as he was forced to shoulder the blame for his country's exit from the World Cup. They lost, again in a shoot-out, to Germany in Berlin, a match the South Americans were winning until Riquelme was substituted by Basile's predecessor, Jose Pekerman.

Saying that the pressures on him were unbearable as well as affecting his mother's health, he also fell out with his coach at Villarreal and tried to gather himself once more in his homeland by joining Boca Juniors on loan.

There is very little chance of Basile, who was appointed after the World Cup, taking Riquelme off against Brazil.

The holders will be without the suspended Gilberto Silva, something which should make the Argentine's life a little bit easier. Basile persuaded Riquelme to return to the national team after he had guided Boca to victory in the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of the Champions League.

Since then, the former Barcelona player, who could move to Internazionale this month, has been the inspiration behind such results as their 3-0 semi-final victory over Mexico. Moreover, he is the tournament's second top scorer with five goals, one fewer than Brazil's Robinho.

Riquelme himself remains as modest as ever. "For me it's a lovely thing to be back, " he says. "I don't feel like I owe anything to anyone. I'm really happy to be here. Every time I saw the guys playing [without me] I wished I was out there with them.

"I'm happy right now and things have gone how I wanted them." He might well repeat that statement if he guides Argentina to their 15th Copa America and first in 14 years. It would make them the most successful team in the tournament's history and would certainly take a few minds off that snow.

COPA AMERICA FINAL ARGENTINA V BRAZIL

Jose Pachencho Romero Stadium, Maracaibo Tonight, 10.05pm Live, Sky Sports 1, 9.30pm