Lionel Messi and Argentina are only one win away from matching Spain’s report of three consecutive main titles.
“This team’s achievements are extraordinary; what the Argentina national team is accomplishing is beyond words,” Messi mentioned Tuesday evening after scoring his 109th worldwide aim, securing a 2-0 victory over Canada and a spot on this weekend’s Copa America last. “For those of us from the old guard, it’s incredibly impressive to see the national team in another final.”
Julian Alvarez put the Albiceleste forward within the twenty second minute, controlling an extended move from Rodrigo De Paul, taking two touches to get away from Moïse Bombito and slipping the ball by means of the legs of goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau for his ninth worldwide aim.
Messi redirected Enzo Fernandez’s shot following a poor Ismael Kone clearance in off the face of Crepeau from 4 yards within the 51st for his first aim of the match. Messi has 28 objectives in his final 25 matches for Argentina and 14 in Copa America play, three shy of the report. He has scored towards 38 totally different nations.
“I wasn’t sure if Enzo’s ball was going to get in,” Messi said. “It was a reflex.”
Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, with 130, has extra worldwide objectives than Messi, who turned 37 on June 24. Iran’s Ali Daei had 108 or 109 from 1993 to 2006, with a lingering dispute over whether or not a aim towards Ecuador in 2000 occurred in a full worldwide match.
With a victory on its Independence Day, Argentina prolonged its unbeaten streak to 10 video games. The Albiceleste search a report sixteenth Copa title after they play Uruguay or Colombia on Sunday at Miami Gardens, Florida.
“We have to enjoy every moment of what we’re living,” Messi mentioned. “I’m aware that these are the final battles.”
Trying to string collectively Copa America titles across the 2022 World Cup championship, Argentina hopes to match Spain’s feat of successful the 2008 and 2012 European Championships together with the 2010 World Cup.
“These are statistics. I’m not really interested in them,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said through a translator. “The most essential factor is to win.”
Making his thirty eighth Copa America look, Messi had missed Argentina’s group stage finale with a leg damage and was subdued whereas enjoying 90 minutes within the quarterfinal win over Ecuador. He was far more agile and shot simply huge within the twelfth and forty fourth minutes.
Messi had 45 touches and a 79% move success fee.
“They make us pay on small particulars,” Crepeau mentioned.
MetLife’s momentary grass floor appeared heavy, with water splashing and sand popping up throughout dribbles.
“It has been a very difficult Copa America,” Messi said. “Very aggressive, dangerous surfaces, extreme warmth.”
Argentina followers gathered in Times Square on the eve of the match and crammed the streets of Manhattan earlier than heading to MetLife Stadium. The crowd of 80,102 on an evening with an 82-degree temperature and 82% humidity was overwhelmingly pro-Argentina, with only some sections dominated by red-clad Canadian supporters.
It was among the many greatest video games for Canadian soccer, which went 0-6 in its solely World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022 and received its solely main title on the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Argentina had overwhelmed Canada 2-0 within the match opener on June 20.
“The tournament caught up with us a little bit,” Canada coach Jesse Marsch said. “There’s been warmth, there’s been journey, there’s been a whole lot of challenges. … We’re nonetheless on the beginnings of our course of, proper? Argentina’s perhaps had eight years collectively, seven years along with this crew, and so we have to develop extra gamers that may contribute in order that we are able to additionally rotate in match play as a result of ultimately the physicality and the fatigue can meet up with you.”
Canada star Alphonso Davies limped off within the 71st minute after his proper leg was caught in a clear problem with Gonzalo Montiel.
“He’s getting an X-ray, so we’re hopeful he’s OK, but we’re not sure,” Marsch mentioned.
Canada had two photographs on track: Jonathan David was thwarted by Emiliano Martínez from shut vary in first-half stoppage time, and Martínez made a kick save on Tani Oluwaseyi within the 89th.
“We began getting sloppy. We began getting away from the sport plan,” mentioned defender Derek Cornelius, who exchanged jerseys with Messi.
While Messi referred to “final battles,” Scaloni and followers maintain out hope Argentina and Messi will return to MetLife for the 2026 World Cup last.
“We will never be the ones to close the door,” Scaloni said. “He may be with our crew for so long as he needs to be.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com