After 22 years and plenty of heartbreak and disappointment, La Albiceleste arrive in Chile with perhaps their best chance to end this barren spell. Driven on by the optimism of last year’s World Cup campaign which was only ended by Germany and led by the world’s best player, who is coming off the back of a treble-winning season with Barcelona, confidence and expectation is high.

Caution of course must be exercised after watching the wonderful team of 2006 fail at the World Cup and then suffer penalty agony in the 2007 Copa América but there is much to be positive about going into this year’s competition in Chile.

Such was the level of pessimism before the World Cup in Brazil that few supporters were able to get truly excited about the tournament until after the 1-0 Quarter Final win against Belgium. It hadn’t been since 1990 that La Albiceleste had progressed so far and so there was a genuine sense of relief when Alejandro Sabella’s side reached the semi final. An apparent psychological barrier had been broken and it could be felt from the supporters in Buenos Aires to the players in Brasilia.

As we know all too well, the World Cup ultimately ended in disappointment but there was a weight lifted and there is now a belief that Argentina can win the international tournament that it craves and warrants.

The preparation for Chile may not have been perfect with captain Lionel Messi, deputy Javier Mascherano, Carlos Tevez and Roberto Pereyra arriving late after the Champions League final and Sergio Romero, Lucas Biglia and Pablo Zabaleta picking up slight knocks but La Selección are in good shape.

Once Messi, the star-attraction, arrived at the squad’s base in La Serena, fresh from helping Barcelona to the Champions League he assessed the difference in the squad between 2014 and today. “We’re going into this in better shape than we did at the World Cup because we had a few players injured. It’s important for us, and for Argentina because it’s been a while since we last won it.”

Any injuries the squad currently have are minor and in many ways the impression is more that the players are in better psychological shape than before. Martino opted to keep most of the squad together from the World Cup with a few very useful additions and although there were some calling for the likes of Paulo Dybala, Mauro Icardi or Luciano Vietto, there is a sound logic behind wanting to retain that spirit from the squad from Brazil, who now have the belief that they can capture a trophy.

Messi spoke about this desire: “I’d love to win the Copa America for everything it would mean for us after enjoying a spectacular World Cup and coming so close.”

“This Argentina generation wants to win and we’re aware that we are the favourites. As a team, we deserve to win something. We know that it would be the best thing ever to end the season by lifting the Copa America.”

In Messi, Argentina have perhaps the best footballer of all time at the peak of his powers and while for many whatever he does will never be enough to deserve this lofty title, winning a major title internationally will further boost Messi’s claim.

However, he will be ably assisted by a cast of other world-class performers. Martino’s options in attack are deeper than any side in world football and although Messi’s roommate, Sergio Agüero looks likely to get the nod as the central striker which will leave Gonzalo Higuaín and Carlos Tevez on the bench and does not even take into account those players mentioned earlier who did not even make the 23.

The inclusion of Javier Pastore after an outstanding season with Paris St Germain brings a new dimension to the midfield and the hope is that he will provide a link to the attack that was perhaps not so evident in Brazil. Still anchored by Javier Mascherano there is steel in the centre and between whichever three are selected there looks to be a decent balance to control possession a little more than Sabella’s Argentina did.

There is a very familiar look to the defence that performed admirably in Brazil but with another world class addition in the shape of Nicolás Otamendi. Diego Maradona looked as though he might have ruined young Otamendi’s international career when he left him isolated at right-back for the embarassing World Cup defeat to Germany in South Africa but a breakout season in La Liga with Valencia has seen the 27-year-old establish himself as an elite centre-back. His inclusion in the back four is a step-up from either Federico Fernández or Martín Demechelis, who both played in Brazil.

It is possible to grumble about certain players not being called up by Gerardo Martino but in general the squad is stronger than it was last year and are certainly better prepared for winning a major honour for the first time in 22 years.

On Saturday evening against Paraguay the talking stops and the pressure increases. A good start is required not only to settle the nerves but also to have three points on the board before the trickier second match against Uruguay. In 1993, Argentina did not have the most auspicious of starts after narrowly beating Bolivia before drawing with Mexico and Colombia to qualify in second. Martino and the Argentine public will not want something quite so nervy in the group stages this time and should have more than enough to progress.

If reaching the final in Brazil was a milestone then winning a major title is the next and anything less than that is likely to be viewed as a failure given that Argentina arrive in Chile as favourites. Lifting the trophy would not only give some of the veteran members of the squad a medal that they deserve, it would provide the ideal platform platform to go one further in Russia than they managed in Brazil.