Argentina secured a spot in the Copa América 2024 semifinals after a nail-biting penalty shootout victory over Ecuador, with the match ending 1-1 in regular time. The drama unfolded as captain Lionel Messi, who had been training ‘with lots of fear’ due to a thigh injury, surprisingly missed Argentina’s first penalty attempt. However, goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez emerged as the hero once again, saving two crucial Ecuadorian penalties to clinch a 4-2 shootout win.Despite the victory, Argentina’s performance raised concerns. Coach Lionel Scaloni expressed mixed feelings about the win, stating, ‘I didn’t enjoy it at all, this time. I think winning like this doesn’t feel good’. He praised Martínez’s crucial role, acknowledging that ‘the team has complete confidence in its goalkeeper’. Messi, reflecting on the match, praised Ecuador’s resistance and effort, saying, ‘We knew it was going to be a game like this, where we would have to fight a lot’.The match had its share of controversy, with Ecuador’s equalizing goal initially reviewed for a possible offside position. However, VAR official Leodán González confirmed that there were no evident reasons to disallow the goal. In the aftermath of the defeat, the Ecuadorian Football Federation announced the departure of coach Félix Sánchez Bas, who had been leading the team since March 2023.Argentina will now face either Venezuela or Canada in the semifinals on July 9th at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. As the team prepares for their next challenge, they will need to address the inconsistencies in their performance, with some analysts expressing concern about their struggle against Ecuador despite being heavily favored.
Key points
- Argentina advanced to Copa América semifinals after a tense penalty shootout win over Ecuador.
- Lionel Messi missed a penalty but revealed he had been training with fear due to a thigh injury.
- Coach Lionel Scaloni expressed mixed feelings about the win, praising the team’s resilience but admitting he didn’t enjoy the match.
- Ecuador’s coach Félix Sánchez Bas departed following the team’s elimination.
Contradictions👾While Argentina won the match, there are conflicting sentiments about the team’s performance.
Scaloni’s statement that ‘winning like this doesn’t feel good’ contrasts with the celebration and relief expressed by players and fans.
