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The Argentina Copa America goal of the tournament

Roy Nemer
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While Lionel Messi was the Copa America top scorer with five goals, there were some gems which found the back of the net for Argentina.

It was Lionel Messi who scored the first Argentina goal of the tournament but it was one of the tournament hero’s Angel Di Maria who scored the last one. Lionel Scaloni’s team had six different goal scorers.

Messi scored his first of two free kicks at the tournament in the team’s opening match vs. Chile. Guido Rodriguez, who was in and out of the team throughout the Copa, scored a header in the 1-0 win vs. Uruguay.

Alejandro “Papu” Gomez managed his first of the tournament following a great pass by Di Maria in the win vs. Paraguay.

After that came the four goal fest vs. Bolivia. Gomez managed his second after great work by Angel Correa and the assist by Messi. Speaking of Messi, he got his second and third goals of the tournament in the win vs. Bolivia, a penalty and a chip goal with Aguero getting the assist. Lautaro Martinez broke his duck with a close range effort.

One of the players of the final Rodrigo De Paul managed his only goal of the Copa in a 3-0 win vs. Ecuador. An assist by Messi and a cool finish by De Paul gave Argentina their first goal of the match.

Lautaro Martinez added a second goal to his name at the Copa America, once more from close range as he placed the ball into the top corner of the net. Messi added the third, an incredible free kick from the edge of the penalty area.

Again it was Lautaro scoring, this time for the third straight match as Gio Lo Celso played a ball into Messi who assisted Lautaro with his first time finish.

That match also saw Emiliano Martinez become a national hero saving three penalty kicks vs. Colombia in the penalty shootout.

Angel Di Maria wrote his name in the history books as he not only scored at the Maracana but scored Argentina’s winning goal vs. Brazil at the Maracana in a Copa America final, a chip one at that.

Of the 12 goals which were scored by Argentina at the tournament, which one was your favorite?

Emiliano Martinez comments on Lionel Messi, Cristian Romero and Copa America final

Roy Nemer
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Emiliano Martinez has emerged as the number one goalkeeper for Argentina. Despite making his national team debut last month, he has solidified his position. Following his penalty shootout heroics vs. Colombia, Dibu, as he is known, kept a clean sheet in the Copa America final.

In addition to winning the final, Martinez was also named as the goalkeeper of the tournament. But even after the final, Martinez made time for the media. Speaking to TyC Sports about what Lionel Messi told him after the Copa America final. Here is what he had to say:

“The captain who told me that today you gave me the Cup… When he wrote on (Messi put a picture on Instagram), he put a picture with me, that gave me strength. I have a daughter I haven’t hugged yet.”

Martinez was also very confident in himself:

“Today, whoever was going to kick, it wasn’t going to go in… I was very confident.”

“Cuti did the impossible to play. After the semi final, he told me he wouldn’t leave me alone. They injected him before the match, during the match… If I’m crazy, what is he?”

Dibu spoke about Cristian Romero and what he had to do to get to that Copa America final:

“The captain who told me that today you gave me the Cup… When he wrote on his Twitter, he put a picture with me, that gave me strength. I have a daughter I haven’t hugged yet.”

Lionel Messi showing the Copa America winning medal to his family: “Ciro! Look!”

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Finally, Lionel Messi was able to win a title with his national team. No less than winning the final against Brazil, at the Maracanã Stadium. A dream come true for the best player in the world and his teammates.

Messi, who finished the Copa America as the top scorer with four goals and top assists with five, was unable to celebrate with his family in person because of protocols. However, that doesn’t mean he was not able to celebrate with them at all. Here, we can see Messi talking by video call with his children, after the game:

 

“Ciro! Look!”

Antonella Roccuzzo, Messi’s wife, posted via her Instagram account their children’s reaction:

From left to right: Thiago, Mateo and Ciro

Antonella also uploaded the following picture, where we can see her and Lio during a video call after winning the trophy:

“Your joy is mine! Let’s go my love!!!!!”

 

 

Lionel Messi on Argentina Copa America win: “The happiness is immense”

Roy Nemer
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82

Lionel Messi captained Argentina to their first senior international trophy since 1993 and did it in style.

Finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals and most assists with four, Messi Argentina’s star man throughout the tournament. But he, along with Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero are the only one’s to have taken part in Argentina’s last three finals. Messi was also there when the team lost 3-0 to Brazil back at the 2007 Copa America.

However, Messi was able to captain Argentina to glory. Speaking after the match, here is what he had to say:

“It’s crazy, the happiness I am feeling is not something that could be explained. I needed to get that thorn out regarding winning with the national team. I’ve left sad before but I knew that at one point it was going to happen.

“I had a lot of confidence in this group which got stronger since the last Copa America. It’s a group of very good people, that always pushes forward, that never complains about anything.

“It was a lot days where we were closed but the goal was clear and we were able to become champions. The happiness is immense. I’ve dreamed of this many times.

“We are still not aware that we are champions, of what we have achieved. But I think it will be a match that will last in history, not just because we are champions of America but because we beat Brazil in their country.

“We have to take advantage of this, of this new pack. I told them that they were going to be the future of the national team and I wasn’t wrong. They showed that and today we are champions.

Regarding his family:

“I thought of my family when the game ended. We have suffered many times, we we would go on vacation and spend the first few days sad. This time it’s different.”

In addition, Messi also commented on what he told Di Maria:

“I told Fideo (Angel Di Maria) that today was going to be his revenge and it was. I want to share this with the team mates I have had and got so close with and it didn’t happen. This is also for them.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni on Copa America win: “These guys leave it all on the pitch”

Roy Nemer
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Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has done what seemed to be the impossible when he first took over as coach of the team three years ago.

Lionel Scaloni took over an aging team that was in need of a change and he did just that. His first major tournament was the 2019 Copa America where he took his team to the semi finals and lost in controversial fashion against Brazil. Two years later, he was able to coach the team to a trophy.

Scaloni is the first coach to win a trophy for Argentina since Alfio Basile did it back in 1993 where he won the Copa America. Speaking at a press conference, here is what he had to say:

“It was a very difficult Copa America. Thankfully, it was ours. I’m convinced that any coach in my position would have made the generational change. These guys leave it all on the pitch every time they go out.”

In addition, Scaloni revealed this about the captain:

“Lionel Messi played against Colombia and Brazil with hamstring problems.”

As for the Copa itself and the team:

“I would like to dedicate this win to my mother, to my entire family, to my people and not to forget the guys that tried to win the Copa. This is for them too.

“When we all move forward, it’s difficult for things not to go well. We have a footballing culture that is difficult to see in other countries. When everyone is aligned, great things can happen. You have to let things happen naturally.

“The matches are all difficult, there will be a lot of obstacles and that cannot be an excuse.

“Logically, it’s a great title, especially for the people. I hope Argentine’s can enjoy it. I think they feel an identity with this team that never gives up.”

 

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