Argentina has secured its place in the Copa América 2024 final after a 2-0 victory over Canada in the semifinals on July 9 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The win extends Argentina’s impressive streak to four consecutive major tournament finals, positioning them as strong favorites to clinch another title.Julián Álvarez opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with an assist from Rodrigo De Paul, while captain Lionel Messi added the second goal in the second half. This marked Messi’s first goal of the tournament and his 14th in Copa América history, equaling the record alongside Paolo Guerrero and Eduardo Vargas.However, amidst the celebration, Messi hinted at potential retirement, emphasizing that these are his ‘last battles’ with the national team. He urged fans and teammates to cherish these moments, stating, ‘I’m living it like I did in the last Copa América, in the last World Cup… It’s the last battles and I’m enjoying them to the maximum’.Messi also criticized the tournament conditions, citing poor fields and high temperatures as challenges. He stated, ‘This is a very difficult Cup, with very bad fields, very high temperatures, and very strong teams’.The victory was particularly emotional for Ángel Di María, who confirmed this would be his last tournament with the national team. Di María expressed gratitude towards his teammates, saying, ‘Without each one of them, I would never have been able to win what I’ve won’.The final is scheduled for July 14 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where Argentina will face either Uruguay or Colombia. A victory would secure Argentina’s 16th Copa América title, potentially making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history.
Key points
- Argentina defeated Canada 2-0 to reach the Copa América 2024 final.
- Lionel Messi hinted at potential retirement, referring to these as his ‘last battles’.
- Messi criticized tournament conditions, citing poor fields and high temperatures.
- Ángel Di María confirmed this would be his last tournament with the national team.
