Lionel Messi scored as world champions Argentina showcased their talents to defeat Canada 2-0 on Tuesday, securing a spot in the Copa America final.
Argentina, aiming for their third consecutive major title, will face the winner of Wednesday’s semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia in Miami on Sunday.
The 15-time Copa champions delivered their finest performance of the tournament at the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium. As with their 2022 World Cup victory, the team appears to be hitting peak form at the right time.
“It’s incredible what this group has achieved, what the Argentina national team continues to accomplish,” Messi told TyC Sports after scoring his first goal of the tournament.
“It’s not easy to reach another final, to compete for the championship once again. I’m experiencing this just like I did in the last Copa America and the last World Cup. These are my final battles, and I’m enjoying them to the fullest,” said the 37-year-old.
Canada, making an impressive run in their first Copa America appearance, reached the semi-finals but found Messi and his team to be an insurmountable challenge.
“The tournament took its toll on us,” said Canada’s American coach Marsch, noting that his players appeared fatigued midway through the first half.
“Eventually the physicality and fatigue can catch up with you, and that was a big part of what happened to us tonight,” Marsch added.
Marsch’s team advanced by playing high-energy football from the start, but after an early chance for left-winger Jacob Shaffelburg, who shot wide after cutting in from the flank, the South Americans took control and never relinquished it.
Veteran wide-man Angel Di Maria, playing in his final tournament for Argentina, was heavily involved down the right and gave an early warning of his threat when he picked out Messi, who narrowly missed the post with his shot.
The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Rodrigo De Paul picked up the ball at the halfway line, glanced up, and lofted it over the top to Julian Alvarez. The Manchester City forward, recalled to the starting lineup ahead of Lautaro Martinez, delivered a deft first touch to evade Moises Bombito and found just enough space to drive the ball home.
The classy triangle of Di Maria, Messi, and De Paul constantly threatened Canada’s back line, with Di Maria coming close to a second goal with a chip that floated over the bar.
Argentina’s build-up play reflected the confidence of coach Lionel Scaloni’s team, a well-drilled unit that balanced organizational solidity with creativity.
Two minutes before halftime, Di Maria provided a precise pass to Messi, who created space for a shot with his right foot, but he narrowly missed Max Crepeau’s right-hand post.
Marsch had plenty of work to do during the interval to get his team back on level terms, but any strategy fell apart when Argentina doubled their lead just six minutes after the restart.
The excellent De Paul pulled the ball back from the byline to Enzo Fernandez, whose side-foot shot was directed home by Messi in front of the goal.
For a moment, Canada hoped Messi might have been offside, but a VAR review showed that defender Derek Cornelius had played him onside.
With a two-goal cushion, Argentina sat back to conserve energy and invited Canada to attack. It wasn’t until the final minutes that Canada troubled Emiliano Martinez, with substitute Tani Oluwaseyi forcing the keeper into action after some sloppy defending.
But it was a comfortable victory for Scaloni’s men, leaving them one win away from a record 16th Copa America triumph.
