Lionel Messi expects a troublesome check in opposition to Chile as Argentina look to take care of their unbeaten begin on the 2024 Copa America.
Argentina play their penultimate Group A match on the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Wednesday in opposition to La Roja, having crushed Canada on matchday 1.
The Albiceleste impressed of their opener in opposition to the Canucks, registering 19 photographs on aim, surpassing the mixed whole of 18 photographs taken by Chile and Peru within the different Group A gathering.
Messi, who broke the Copa America look file throughout that match, expressed the significance of their victory within the opening recreation however is aware of his aspect are in for a aggressive encounter with Ricardo Gareca’s aspect.
“Yeah, we’ve all the time identified how robust the opening recreation is. A very powerful factor is to get off to a successful begin,” Messi stated.
“It’s not occurred beforehand below [Lionel] Scaloni, in order that calms issues down since you undergo quite a bit whenever you begin off dropping.
“However we all the time play the identical method. We’re in a troublesome group, and now we have now to face an excellent and aggressive group.
“Ricardo Gareca’s arrival has given them one thing else as nicely.
“So yeah, we’re completely happy to have began with a win, however we’re now going to relaxation and put together for Chile.
“We all know that we have now to be a group and obtain our objectives in the fitting method.
“We all know that the one path to take action is in our personal method. So we are going to proceed with the identical humility and need to win.”
#SelecciónMayor Imágenes de los tripulantes de la #Scaloneta pic.twitter.com/EVm9PsZeVj
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) June 24, 2024
In the meantime, Chile shall be hopeful of bettering their latest file in opposition to Argentina, having didn’t beat their opponents for the reason that Copa America ultimate in June 2016, although they wanted penalties to get the victory on that event.
La Roja kickstarted their marketing campaign with a goalless draw in opposition to Peru on the AT&T Stadium in Texas, managing to register only one shot on the right track from the 11 they tried – the joint-fewest the Blanquirroja have confronted within the competitors for the reason that debut of goalkeeper Pedro Gallese within the competitors (2015).
Gareca’s aspect have now failed to attain of their final three video games within the Copa America, a run of 378 minutes with no aim.
Nevertheless, the 66-year-old believes their lack of menace in entrance of aim isn’t a problem forward of their showdown with the Albiceleste.
“We weren’t capable of create many performs and execute them. We had been below lots of stress, and typically we weren’t correct in our passes,” stated Gareca, who grew to become the tenth coach to have managed totally different groups in consecutive editions of the competitors.
“I’m not involved. I believe this shall be helpful for us to analyse our recreation to enhance our recreation.
“We, in fact, hoped to win the match. However I believe it’s essential that we’re capable of take some extent, and we nonetheless have two matches forward of us.”
Primer entrenamiento en New Jersey #SomosLaRoja pic.twitter.com/7hG8YuCv6I
— Selección Chilena (@LaRoja) June 24, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chile – Victor Davila
Victor Davila shall be hoping to rediscover the goal-scoring contact he skilled earlier than the Copa America forward of arising in opposition to the World Cup champions.
Having scored three objectives and supplied one help in his earlier three worldwide appearances heading into their opener in opposition to Peru, the CSKA Moscow striker confirmed glimpses of his attacking menace.
The 26-year-old has the joint-most photographs (three) and essentially the most touches within the opposition field (5), however didn’t register a shot on the right track, coming off within the sixty fifth minute with an anticipated objectives (xG) whole of 0.22.
Argentina – Lionel Messi
Messi has performed in 35 out of 36 matches for Argentina within the Copa America since his debut. The one match he missed was a 2-1 group stage victory in opposition to Tuesday’s opponents in 2016.
The Inter Miami star registered an help for Lautaro Martinez’s late aim, reaching 50 direct aim involvements in official competitions for membership and nation on U.S. soil (30 objectives and 20 assists).
Nevertheless, Messi shall be hoping so as to add to his 108 worldwide objectives on the MetLife Stadium. Ought to he rating, it might take his Copa America tally to 14, degree with Chile’s Eduardo Vargas and Peru’s Paolo Guerrero, three away from equalling Norberto Mendez’s file (17).
MATCH PREDICTION: ARGENTINA WIN
The Opta supercomputer is closely backing Argentina to take care of their unbeaten begin on the 2024 Copa America. They received 66.5% of the pre-match simulations, whereas Chile received simply 15.1%.
Argentina come up in opposition to a well-recognized foe in Chile on the match, with this their thirtieth assembly on the Copa America. La Roja are the third-most frequent opponent for Lionel Scaloni’s aspect, behind solely Brazil (34) and Uruguay (32).
La Albiceleste stay unbeaten in opposition to Chile in these encounters (21 wins, eight attracts). Nevertheless, La Roja clinched their two titles by defeating Argentina in penalty shootouts within the 2015 and 2016 finals.
Since 2011, Argentina have the fewest losses (two) amongst groups which have performed in a couple of Copa America version. La Albiceleste additionally boasts essentially the most victories within the match throughout this era (18).
Chile, nevertheless, shall be trying to upset the percentages. La Roja are on the lookout for their first win in video games between the 2 groups since June 2016. Throughout that point, Argentina have outscored the Chilean aspect 7-4, one thing that might want to change to extend their probabilities of development.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Chile – 15.1%
Argentina – 66.5%
Draw – 18.4%
