Lionel Messi mentioned he was left in awe after Argentina and a few of its remaining “previous guard” defeated Canada 2-0 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to qualify for the 2024 Copa América last.
Messi scored his first objective at this yr’s Copa and the 14th of his profession within the second half to double the lead Julián Álvarez staked Argentina to along with his first-half strike.
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“What this group has carried out, what the Argentina nationwide group has carried out, as a result of after this everybody provides extra significance to all of the finals that me and the ‘older guys’ have performed,” Messi mentioned after the match. “Me, Fide [Angel Di María], Ota [Nicolás Otamendi], and that Argentina can play one other last is wonderful.
“To be trustworthy it has been a tough event, the extent has been as equal as ever, very dangerous surfaces, excessive temperatures that make it exhausting to play, very powerful rivals. So the actual fact we made it and we’re right here once more taking part in a last is one thing to get pleasure from and spotlight.”
La Albiceleste returns to the ultimate recreation of the event for the second consecutive time, after that includes within the 2021 version, and stands on the point of profitable the nation’s sixteenth Copa América title — which might pull them forward of Uruguay for essentially the most all time.
Supervisor Lionel Scaloni expressed pleasure over reaching this level of the competitors, earlier than warning of the difficulties that lie forward for Argentina.
“It is one thing to be happy with and grateful to the gamers for,” Scaloni mentioned. “Yesterday, a colleague requested me if we normalize this, however the query was good and I wasn’t clear. It is tremendous tough to be in a last, particularly coming in the way in which we did with earlier success and triumph. It is double as exhausting.
“Those on the within understand how tough it’s to succeed in this level. It is a sensation of happiness, but additionally fear as a result of it prices extra.”
Argentina topped Group A by beating Canada, Chile and Peru, earlier than happening to beat Ecuador in a shootout to succeed in the semifinal. Messi and Co. dispatched Canada within the semifinal by the identical scoreline because it did in group play at 2-0 to place the group within the last.
Now, the group prepares to face both Uruguay or Colombia in what may very well be the ultimate recreation for Di Maria and Messi.
“You know the way I feel, we wait and see how he performs,” Scaloni mentioned of Di Maria. “We can’t retire him early earlier than the sport, then the tears will begin and everybody, his household, will get melancholic. We’ll see later if we persuade him or not persuade him, however for now we let him play.
“It is the identical case for Messi. We depart them calm from our half, we cannot be those to shut the door on them. He will be with us till he desires, and even after he retires he can be a part of me if I am nonetheless coach. And if not I am going to take him the place I’m going. He can be an ideal assist.”
Argentina will journey to Miami, Florida — the place Messi performs for membership facet Inter Miami CF — to play the ultimate match at Arduous Rock Stadium on July 14.
Info from The Related Press was used on this story.
