The attacking trio all start for Argentina in the semi-finals of the Copa America.
Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI has repeated the same line-up for the first time as the attack will be lead by Lionel MESSI, Sergio AGUERO and Lautaro MARTINEZ. Here’s the starting eleven:
ARMANI; FOYTH, PEZZELLA, OTAMENDI, TAGLIAFICO; DE PAUL, PAREDES, ACUÑA; MESSI, AGUERO, Lautaro
Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI held a press conference before his team’s game against Brazil at the Copa America and confirmed that Sergio AGUERO will start.
Speaking before the game, SCALONI commented on AGUERO, Lionel MESSI and more. Here’s what he had to say about the semi final game:
“We will play more in the way we want to play and not think about the opponent. It’s obvious that they are going through an important time, they are playing together and it’s been a while that they have the same coach and that obviously gives Brazil the advantage. But we believe we can do well and go through.
“But it’s obvious that they are a great team, playing at home in their Copa America. Logically, we will try to make things difficult but the numbers are there and you have to respect that.”
Regarding the numbers, SCALONI was referring to Brazil’s record under coach Tite which includes 30 wins, six draws and only two defeats.
SCALONI also confirmed that Sergio AGUERO will start:
“There’s word going around that there will be a change in the team and that it would possibly be AGUERO who would be out of the team. They always say “AGUERO is out, AGUERO is out”. I’m confirming that AGUERO will start. I don’t know why the word is always that AGUERO is the doubt and he will be out of the team.”
Lionel MESSI also has the support of coach SCALONI:
“We are used to him scoring three goals per match or for him to take out five players from the opposition but I am more than happy with him. We and it goes without saying, have confidence in him and he is our banner.
“I believe that the players have so much support for Leo that at times they say that they want to be champions more for him than for themselves, but here, everyone wants to be champion because Argentina wants that. There’s no doubt that the best player in the history of football is missing a trophy with the Argentina national team and it’s for that reason that his team mates say things like that. It’s obvious that we all want to win something with this shirt, there’s no one that wants to win more than someone else.”
The last time Argentina participated in a semi final of a Copa America was in the tournament’s last edition which came in 2016 in the United States.
It was Argentina against the host nation and Argentina were on some roll. An appearance in the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup was followed by another final appearance, this time the subsequent year at the Copa America. In the 2016, the team had another go at making a third consecutive final.
Lionel MESSI took matters into his own hands or in MESSI’s case, left foot to ensure that his country would qualify for the final of the 2016 Copa America. Against host name United States in the semi finals, despite only scoring one of the four goals, MESSI stole the show with one swift of his magical left foot which resulted in a goal.
It took Argentina less than three minutes to open the scoring. Ever BANEGA passed the ball over to Lionel MESSI who sent a cross in to Ezequiel LAVEZZI who headed it past the goalkeeper to give Argentina the 1-0 lead.
MESSI would go on to score arguably the goal of the tournament and one of the best of his career. Argentina were awarded a free kick and there was only one person who was ever going to take it. MESSI steps it up does only what Lionel MESSI can do. It’s a free kick you must watch to understand as words cannot do it any justice.
At 2-0, Argentina were cruising and in the second half, MESSI passed it out wide to LAVEZZI who crossed the ball into the penalty are to Gonzalo HIGUAIN. The number 9 had his shot initially saved but he would get his own rebound and score to make it 3-0 and put the match out of reach.
Argentina would go on to make it 4-0 after Javier MASCHERANO pressured the United States, the ball fell to MESSI who passed it to HIGUAIN who would go on to score his second of the game.
Argentina has a positive record when it comes to semi finals in senior tournaments.
When Argentina play against Brazil in the semi finals of the 2019 Copa America, their track record in that stage of the two largest tournaments is very much on their side. Argentina have played in 13 semi finals when it comes to both the Copa America and the FIFA World Cup and have won 12 of their 13 games.
The team’s only defeat in a semi final has to be traced back all the way to the 1987 Copa America when they lost 1-0 against Uruguay. The rest have all been victories or victories through a penalty shootout.
Olympic Games, 1928: A 6-0 win vs. Egypt
FIFA World Cup 1930: A 6-1 win vs. United States
FIFA World Cup 1986: A 2-0 win vs. Belgium
Copa America 1987: A 1-0 loss vs. Uruguay
FIFA World Cup 1990: A 0-0 draw, 4-3 win on penalty kicks vs. Italy
FIFA Confederations Cup 1992: A 4-0 win vs. Ivory Coast
Copa America 1993: A 0-0 draw, 6-5 win on penalty kicks vs. Colombia
Copa America 2004: A 3-0 win vs. Colombia
FIFA Confederations Cup 2005: A 1-1 draw, 6-5 win on penalty kicks vs. Mexico
Copa America 2007: A 3-0 win vs. Mexico
FIFA World Cup 2014: A 0-0 draw, 4-2 win vs. Netherlands
Copa America 2015: A 6-1 win vs. Paraguay
Copa America 2016: A 4-0 win vs. United States
The veteran Argentina striker spoke to the media following his team’s 2-0 win against Venezuela where he commented on the upcoming game vs. Brazil.
Sergio AGUERO has been a regular starter for coach Lionel SCALONI at the Copa America and brings a lot of experience to the team. Having faced Brazil several times in his national team career, AGUERO knows what it is to be both on the winning side and on the losing side of these games.
Speaking to the media, here’s what he had to say:
“We will try our best like we just did to make the shirt mean something. Argentina vs. Brazil is not played every day and even more so in a tournament like this. A lot of expectations are generated, not only in our country but in the world.
“We know that this game will not be easy but we are happy for having made the semi finals. Little by little we are becoming more comfortable.”
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