Lionel Messi has broken the Copa America all time appearance record.
Messi has now played the most Copa America matches. Argentina vs. Canada was match 35 at a Copa America for Argentina, making him the player with the all time most appearances.
He was previously tied on 34 matches with Chile’s Sergio Livingstone.
The Argentine has now played in seven Copa’s America, having played his first match in 2007 against the United States.
Julián Álvarez was named the Man of the Match for the Argentina vs. Canada game at the 2024 Copa America.
Álvarez scored the first goal for Argentina in their 2-0 win vs. Canada in the Copa America opener. The 24 year old started, scored and played 76 minutes for the reigning Copa America champions.
The match vs. Canada was the first time that Álvarez started a Copa America match and it was his first Copa America goal.
Congratulations to Julián Álvarez on winning Man of the Match for Argrntina vs. Canada! 🕷 pic.twitter.com/82X4vniL4l
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) June 21, 2024
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke about the team’s 2-0 win vs. Canada at the Copa America.
The Argentina national team won their Copa America opener in a match that saw two goals in the second half. Speaking to the media after the match, here is what Lionel Scaloni had to say:
“The important thing is that the team always responds, no matter what the game is like. This team generates goal situations and defends like lions”.
“As a negative aspect, I am left with the chances they created. We will analyze them in detail later. Winning always reinforces a lot of things. Yesterday I said that Canada was a tough opponent, it was a good test.”
Lionel Scaloni also spoke about the pitch:
“We knew we were going to play here seven months ago and they changed the turf two days ago. I’m very sorry for the show, it’s not suitable for this kind of players.”
Scaloni commented on the next match vs. Chile on Tuesday:
“We play based on how we can hurt the opponent. We always do that, and it will be the same in the next match.”
Lionel Messi commented on Argentina’s 2-0 win vs. Canada at the Copa America.
Messi had an assist in Argentina’s 2-0 win vs. Canada in the Copa America opener. Messi spoke to the media after the match. Here is what he had to say:
“We knew it was going to be a tough match, very physical, in the first half there was little space. Luckily we found the goal quickly in the second half, but it was still complicated”.
“We have the patience to have the ball, to move it from one side to the other. Most opponents play differently against us, we have to stay in control.”
Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez both scored for Argentina in their 2-0 win vs. Canada in the first match of the Copa America.
Lionel Scaloni’s team won their opening match at the Copa America in a match which saw Argentina have much of the ball.
The first chance of the game fell to Angel Di Maria. He would block a pass inside his own half and would start a run clear on goal but his effort was saved by the goalkeeper.
Argentina would see much of the ball and try to get behind the Canadian back line but was unable to score. Canada would have an effort on goal but their header was saved by Emiliano Martínez.
The first half would end without a goal but the second half saw more chances from both sides. Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni did not make any changes to start the second half.
Lionel Messi would receive the ball very early in the second half and he would play a through ball in to Alexis Mac Allister who would get a touch on it and it would fall to Julián Álvarez who would score to give Argentina the 1-0 lead.
Julián Álvarez started his first match for Argentina at a Copa America and that was his first Copa America goal.
Scaloni would bring in Gio Lo Celso for Ángel Di María to change things around for Argentina who was seeing more Canadian attacks. Nicolás Otamendi was substituted in for Leandro Paredes and Lautaro Martínez on for Julián Álvarez.
Messi had a big opportunity as he dribbled the goalkeeper but his effort was blocked by the defender. Lautaro Martínez had a chance on goal minutes later but his effort was saved by the goalkeeper.
Both teams were creating chances but it was Lionel Messi playing a through ball to Lautaro Martínez and Martínez would roll the ball into the back of the goal to give Argentina the 2-0 lead. Both of Argentina’s forwards scored in the same match.
Nicolás Tagliafico was on for Marcos Acuña and Gonzalo Montiel was brought on for Nahuel Molina.
Argentina play Chile on Tuesday.
JULIÁN ÁLVAREZ! 🇦🇷pic.twitter.com/zU243CsSyt
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) June 21, 2024
LAUTARO MARTÍNEZ SCORES FOR ARGENTINA! 🇦🇷pic.twitter.com/HrYgmRkk8L
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) June 21, 2024
