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Copa América: Lionel Messi unlocks Canada, Argentina opens with a shaky victory

Copa América: Lionel Messi unlocks Canada, Argentina opens with a shaky victory

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Vaseline

For long parts of the 2024 Copa América opener, Argentina looked shaky. The defending champions – of South America and of the world – worked at times during a battle with Canada. They played fluidly and dynamically football, but also very lax football. They could very easily have been behind at half-time.

But four minutes into an action-packed second half, Lionel Messi unlocked Canada – with a pass that was either ingenious or accidental.

Did he spot Alexis Mac Allister and fuel the midfielder’s run? Or was he looking for Julián Álvarez’s feet, before Álvarez fled elsewhere? The answer hardly matters. Only the conclusion does that. Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau crashed into Mac Allister, who had grabbed Messi’s pass. Crépeau’s foul would have resulted in a penalty, but Álvarez made it unnecessary.

In the final minutes Messi undressed Canada again. Lautaro Martínez finished. And Argentina exhaled.

Martinez’s goal in the 88th minute sealed a 2-0 win for Argentina in Thursday’s opener. But it – and the flurry of chances Argentina created and missed in the second half – also masked a deeply imperfect performance.

In the end, Argentina deserved its victory. Messi and Co. are well on their way to the knockout rounds of the tournament after just one evening. But they benefited from Canadian misses and luck. They are clearly not yet in top gear on matchday 1.

So they will certainly have to improve to defend the title they won in Brazil three years ago. They will have to prove that their core has not aged to the dark side of its peak.

You can relive Thursday’s match below.

LIVE DECLARATION IS OVER47 updates

  • END: Argentina 2-0 Canada

    The reigning champions top Group A with 3 points!

  • Martinez puts Argentina up 2-0 after another sharp assist from Messi!

  • Canada’s substitutions in the final ten minutes of the match: Richie Laryea for Cyle Larin, Jacen Russell-Rowe for Liam Millar and Jonathan Osorio for Ismael Kone.

  • Bombito’s slide tackle left Messi writhing in pain on the pitch, but he is back in action after a short break.

  • Tons of chances, still 1-0 – somehow

    After the last missed chance, Lionel Messi went down.

    Canadian central defender Moïse Bombito flew into a tackle and hit Messi close to the ankle.

    Messi is up now, but limping. He’ll probably stay inside, but that will hurt. And it was scary.

  • Messi gets another 1-on-1 but misses the target again

  • Substitutions Nos 2 and 3 for Argentina, with Nicolas Otamendi replacing Leandro Paredes and Lautaro Martinez coming on for Julian Alvarez. Previously, Canadian Jacob Shaffelburg replaced Tajon Buchanan.

  • Canada cries for penalty…

    Jacob Shaffelburg dived past an Argentinian defender into the big one and was brought down.

    The referee seemed to bring his whistle halfway to his mouth… and then not all the way.

    To repeat: it was definitely a foul, but probably just now off the beaten track, so the VAR can’t do anything.

  • Scaloni makes the first substitution for Argentina, as Giovani Lo Celso replaces Angel Di Maria.

  • Opportunities on both sides!

    Remember when Pelé impressed at the World Cup, even when he shot wide? Messi just did something similar. He set up two Canadian players with one feint during a break and almost scooped the ball into a gaping net, but his smart shot was blocked.

    At the other end, Jonathan headed David only a few meters high and wide.

    Still 1-0 for Argentina.

  • Messi magic still loading…

  • Di Maria a little late here:

  • On Argentina’s goal: Messi magic? Or a bit of luck?

    To the untrained eye, Argentina’s goal was yet another example of Lionel Messi’s greatness. His through ball to Alexis Mac Allister was one that no one else on the pitch could see.

    But I’m not sure Messi saw it either.

    He seemed to be looking for Julian Álvarez’s feet. However, Alvarez made a diagonal run, so that Messi’s pass ended up in no man’s land… which Mac Allister happened to bump into.

  • The 24-year-old Álvarez continues to contribute for the Albiceleste

  • Breakthrough Argentina!

    Messi against Mac Allister, who is cleared by Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau.

    It would have been a penalty, but Mac Allister’s ball fell straight to Julian Álvarez, who finished well.

    1-0 for Argentina.

  • The second half now starts after a longer than usual rest period (20+ minutes).

  • Can Canada hold on?

    In Canada’s two pre-tournament friendlies, they also held their elite opponent scoreless for 45 minutes.

    In the first inning, they were eliminated by the Netherlands after halftime and lost 4-0.

    In the second inning they held on for a 0-0 draw against France.

    This third such game could really go either way. (Or it could very easily go to Canada.)

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