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Hernan CRESPO on Argentina: “AGÜERO and MESSI don’t help out defensively”

Hernan CRESPO was interviewed by TyC Sports where he spoke about both Lionel MESSI and Sergio AGÜERO.

CRESPO, a current coach himself, knows a thing or two about the Argentina national team. Scoring in multiple different tournaments, CRESPO also played alongside different managers. And in his interview, he stated that both MESSI and AGÜERO do not help out the team. Here’s what he had to say:

“Argentina can’t manage to find a balance because you have two players who don’t help out defenaively like AGÜERO and MESSI. The last meters on the pitch, they can cause a disaster. But when it’s time to track back…

“They are important players but they always make you try and look for the defensive balance. There’s no defensive pressure from those two and it’s not easy to cover the pitch defensively when there’s no initial pressure.”

Argentina captain Lionel MESSI: “We have to lift our heads up”

Argentina captain Lionel MESSI spoke to the media following his team’s 2-0 loss to start their Copa America.

Speaking to the media following the defeat, MESSI mentioned that they have to take away some positives going into the Paraguay game. Here’s what he had to say:

“We have to take some positives, lift our heads up and continue. It just started and there’s a lot left.

“We didn’t want it to start this way but there’s a lot of chances. It will be difficult for us to accept this defeat but when we arrive to Belo Horizante, we have to think about what is coming.

“In the first half, even though they had a lot of the ball, they didn’t generate chances. In the second half it was us but they scored a great goal.”

Rodrigo DE PAUL, Milton CASCO, more changes to Argentina team

Following the 2-0 defeat against Colombia, Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI could make changes to the starting eleven which will play against Paraguay.

A few names are being mentioned as possible changes. Per a report by TyC Sports, Rodrigo DE PAUL, Roberto PEREYRA, Milton CASCO, Matias SUAREZ and Marcos ACUÑA all have a chance of making the starting line-up.

Out of the potential changes, the two main chances could be Milton CASCO for Renzo SARAVIA and Rodrigo DE PAUL for Angel DI MARIA.

Argentina lose Copa America opener 2-0 against Colombia

Argentina lost their Copa America opener 2-0 against Colombia.

In what was a dull first half which saw Colombia play better but unable to score, the second half had Argentina creating a few chances but Colombia scoring. Angel DI MARIA was substituted off after a poor first half for Rodrigo DE PAUL.

The Udinese man was much mpre vibrant and was arguably his team’s best player in the second 45 minures. Nicolas OTAMENDI and Lionel MESSI both had chances to give Argentina the lead but both missed from close range.

The breakthrough would finally happen for Colombia. MARTINEZ finally made it 1-0 following a shot from ARMANI’s right side which went to his left. Colombia finally made it 2-0 after a low cross was sent into the area and ZAPATA was the first onto it.

Lionel SCALONI’s team play Paraguay next.

Argentina vs. Colombia, Copa America Match Thread

Argentina play against Colombia in their opening match at the Copa America.

With the press conference done and the starting eleven announced, we know it will be the veterans Lionel MESSI, Sergio AGÜERO and Angel DI MARIA leading the attack. Here’s the starting eleven:

ARMANI; SARAVIA, PEZZELLA, OTAMENDI, TAGLIAFICO; LO CELSO, Guido RODRIGUEZ, PAREDES; MESSI, AGÜERO, DI MARIA