The Argentina national team will play Canada on Thursday in the opening match of the Copa America and some names are being mentioned to start.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has not confirmed the starting eleven but per a report, we do know that Leandro Paredes is set to start. According to ESPN Argentina, here is the starting eleven vs. Canada on Thursday:

Emiliano Martínez, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister; Ángel Di María, Lautaro Martínez and Lionel Messi.

Nahuel Molina would start in place of Gonzalo Montiel and Nicolás Tagliafico in place of Marcos Acuña. Leandro Paredes and Alexis Mac Allister would start with Enzo Fernández on the bench. Up front, Lautaro in place of Julián Álvarez.

The Argentina national team continued training in Atlanta before their Copa America opener.

Argentina will play Canada in the opening match of the Copa America on Thursday. The reigning World Cup, Copa America and Finalissima champions trained for 90 minutes at the University of Kennesaw stadium.

Lionel Scaloni had his team do five rounds of mobility exercises with the ball and a 10 vs. 10 match with the addition of three jokers and a small goal. They also played 11 vs. 11 on a 70 meter pitch and the goalkeepers did work with Martín Tocalli and Daniel Canuhé.

Thiago Almada also visited the team, a resident of Atlanta and an Atlanta United player.

Not even 48 hours remain until the World Cup, Copa America and Finalissima Champions play! 🇦🇷pic.twitter.com/1VXUWoy4Jj

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) June 19, 2024

Lionel Messi spoke about the 2024 Copa America.

Messi spoke in an interview with Marcelo Tinelli of America TV where he discussed the 2026 World Cup in the United States, winning the World Cup, playing with the Argentina national team at his age and what he thought about during Gonzalo Montiel’s penalty in the 2022 World Cup final. In the same interview, he also commented on the 2024 Copa America. Here is what he had to say:

“Argentina are always favorites. I think it is going to be a very eventful tournament because national teams are becoming better and better.

“Argentina is always the favorite, we are like that and we take things for granted, that’s why we took so many blows. Today we are the best because we won the World Cup, but the Copa America is going to be difficult.

“Feeling loved by the entire country is the best, the greatest thing one can achieve as an athlete and as a person.

“I want to thank you and tell you that this continues and that we are going to try to win the Copa America again but let’s remember that not everything is about winning.”

“I love them all”.