For lengthy stretches of its 2024 Copa América opener, Argentina seemed shaky. The defending champions — of South America, and of the world — labored at instances throughout a battle with Canada. They performed some fluid, dynamic fútbol, but in addition some very lax soccer. At halftime, they very simply might have been behind.
However 4 minutes into an action-packed second half, Lionel Messi unlocked Canada — with a move that was both ingenious or inadvertent.
Did he see Alexis Mac Allister, and feed the midfielder’s run? Or was he in search of Julián Álvarez’s toes, earlier than Álvarez ran elsewhere? The reply hardly issues. Solely the conclusion does. Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau clattered into Mac Allister, who’d latched onto Messi’s move. Crépeau’s foul would have yield a penalty, however Álvarez rendered that pointless.
Within the waning minutes, Messi undressed Canada once more. Lautaro Martinez completed. And Argentina exhaled.
Martinez’s 88th-minute aim sealed a 2-0 Argentina victory in Thursday’s opener. But it surely — and the flurry of probabilities that Argentina created and missed within the second half — additionally masked a really imperfect efficiency.
In the long run, Argentina deserved its victory. Messi and Co. are nicely on their strategy to the match’s knockout rounds after only one evening. However they benefitted from Canadian misses and success. They’re, on Matchday 1, clearly not but in high gear.
So they may certainly have to enhance to defend their title captured three years in the past in Brazil. They might want to show that their core has not aged to the darkish facet of its peak.
You’ll be able to relive Thursday’s sport because it occurred under.
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FINAL: Argentina 2-0 Canada
The reigning champs sit atop Group A with 3 factors!
Martinez places Argentina up 2-0 after one other crisp help from Messi!
Canada’s substitutions for the ultimate 10 minutes or so of the match: Richie Laryea on for Cyle Larin, Jacen Russell-Rowe for Liam Millar and Jonathan Osorio for Ismael Kone.
Bombito’s slide sort out had Messi writhing in ache on the sector, however he is again up and again in motion after a short pause in motion.
Tons of probabilities, nonetheless 1-0 — by some means
After the newest missed likelihood, Lionel Messi went down.
Canadian heart again Moïse Bombito flew right into a sort out, and caught Messi flush within the ankle.
Messi is up now, however limping. He’ll doubtless keep in, however that’ll harm. And it was scary.
Messi will get one other 1-on-1 however as soon as once more misses the goal
Substitutions Nos. 2 & 3 for Argentina with Nicolas Otamendi changing Leandro Paredes and Lautaro Martinez coming in for Julian Alvarez. Earlier, Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg changed Tajon Buchanan.
Canada howls for a penalty…
Jacob Shaffelburg dipped previous an Argentine defender into the large, and acquired taken down.
The referee appeared to convey his whistle midway to his mouth … then did not convey all of it the way in which.
On replay: It was completely a foul, however in all probability simply exterior the field, so there’s nothing the VAR might do.
Scaloni makes the primary substitution for Argentina as Giovani Lo Celso replaces Angel Di Maria.
Probabilities at each ends!
Bear in mind when Pelé wowed on the World Cup even when he despatched photographs vast? Messi simply did one thing related. He sat two Canadian gamers down with one feint on a break, and almost scooped the ball right into a gaping web, however his intelligent shot was blocked.
On the different finish, Jonathan David simply flashed a header just a few yards excessive and vast.
Nonetheless 1-0 to Argentina.
Messi magic nonetheless loading …
Di Maria a tad bit late right here:
On Argentina’s aim: Messi magic? Or a bit of fine fortune?
To the untrained eye, Argentina’s aim was the umpteenth instance of Lionel Messi’s greatness. His through-ball to Alexis Mac Allister was one which no one else on the sector might see.
However I am unsure Messi noticed it both.
He gave the impression to be in search of Julian Álvarez’s toes. Alvarez, although, made a diagonal run, so Messi’s move went into no-man’s land … which Mac Allister occurred to be operating into.
*whispers*
I don’t assume Messi meant this.
He was in search of Julian Álvarez’s toes. Alvarez made a distinct run. Mac Allister simply occurred to be operating into the area the place the move ended up. pic.twitter.com/5S95v4gUXA