Argentina Football
‘They robbed us with 3 goals disallowed in the first half’
Argentines in Buenos Aires watched in disbelief the bitter 2-1 loss by their national team against Saudi Arabia at the World Cup in Qatar on Tuesday. “To begin with, they robbed us with the three goals that were disallowed in the first half. Another thing, it was an injustice because they reached (the goal) twice and scored each time, and in the end, they dropped back and (we could do) nothing,” Nicolas (last name not given), an Argentine fan lamented.
Read More: From Jordan to Qatar, Arab fans celebrate Saudi victory over favourite Argentina
Hundreds of people dressed in blue and white gathered to watch the match on a giant screen in a public park.
“It’s a surprising result but I have hope that Argentina can be the champion because we are one of the candidates (to win the World Cup), having the best player in the world, Lionel Messi,” Margarita Albornoz, another Argentine fan, said.
Argentina took an early lead with a 10th-minute penalty by Messi. But goals by Saleh Alshehri and Salem Aldawsari in a five-minute span in the second half gave Saudi Arabia the win.
Read More: Fracturing jaw during World Cup match vs Argentina, Saudi footballer al-Shahrani says he’s ok
FANS UPSET OVER MATCH
In Buenos Aires, hundreds of people dressed in blue and white met at a public park very early in the morning to watch the match in a giant screen.
Messi’s quest to win the one major title to elude him got off to a shocking start and brought back memories of Cameroon’s 1-0 win over an Argentina team, led by Diego Maradona, in the opening game of the 1990 World Cup.
Argentine fans are still upset about three disallowed goals against Saudi Arabia, which resulted in a 2-1 defeat in their Qatar 2022 debut.
Read More: World Cup: FIFA brings charge against Ecuador over 'discriminatory chants' at match vs Qatar
2 years ago
Argentina equal Brazil’s unbeaten record with a thumping victory over Jamaica
Argentina registered another stupendous victory in an international friendly, taking their unbeaten streak to 35 to match their arch-rival Brazil’s record. The Albiceleste comfortably overcame Jamaica on Tuesday evening, beating the Caribbean side 3-0 in front of a packed Red Bull arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
Argentina vs Jamaica: Match Report
Lionel Messi scored twice after coming from the bench in the second half to complete the scoreline at 3-0. But even without him in the first half, Argentina had shown real promise in front of the opposition.
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2 years ago
Argentina National Football Team close to breaking longest unbeaten record
Argentina's three-year winning streak indicates that Lionel Scaloni's team has played with discipline. Argentina's national football team has won two major titles during this time, the Copa America 2021 and 2022 Finalissima, and has gone undefeated in 34 games. They are currently all set to smash Italy's footballing record for longest undefeated streak.
Argentina's performance from the 2019 Copa America until the present
Argentina's national football team’s unbeaten run in international football started back on July 6th, 2019 Copa America when they beat Chile 2-1 to finish third in the tournament. The Argentina senior men’s team’s last defeat was against arch-rival Brazil in the first semifinal match of the 2019 South American Football Championship. The Selecao overcame the Albiceleste by 2-0 to seal a place in the final.
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Since losing to Brazil in a semifinal contest of the 46th edition of the Copa America, the Argentine national side has remained unbeaten in 34 matches over the last three years. During this period, Argentina won the 2021 Copa America, where they beat the host Brazil in the final by 1-0. They only dropped points against Chile in the first match of the group stage but later went on to win six matches to seal the championship for the first time in 28 years.
On June 1 this year, Argentina's team also registered a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Italy in a one-off Finalissima contest. In the South American World Cup 2022 Qualifier, Argentina managed to win 11 matches and drew 6 in 17. Besides, they have won five and drawn two in international friendly contests. The Albiceleste’s latest victory came against Honduras (3-0) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on September 23.
How many victories would it take for Argentina to surpass Italy's longest unbeaten streak?
Eight teams have managed to remain undefeated in 30 or more matches in international football. Among them, Italy's and Argentina's national sides have managed to do it twice in their football history.
Read: Argentina and Brazil's international football schedules for September 2022
The Italian national side recently set a new record by remaining unbeaten in 37 matches from October 2018 to October 2021. It all started when the Azzurri held a 1-1 draw against the Ukrainian national team at home on October 10, 2018.
After remaining undefeated for almost three years, the Italian side eventually suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Spanish national team in a semifinal match of the 2020–2021 UEFA Nations League. Before that, Italy managed to win UEFA EURO 2020 and didn’t lose a game for 37 games to set up a new world record.
Italy's record for the longest unbeaten streak is now in jeopardy, as Argentina is only three matches away from matching it. If Argentina's national men’s football team remains unbeaten in the next four matches, they will set a new record. The Albiceleste’s upcoming football fixtures are comparatively easier in quest for breaking the record.
Argentina’s next five international fixtures
Date: September 28 | Opposition: Jamaica | Start Time: 6 a.m. (BDT)
Date: November 16 | Opposition: United Arab Emirates | Start Time: TBD
Date: November 22 | Opposition: Saudi Arabia | Start Time: 4 p.m. (BDT)
Date: November 27 | Opposition: Mexico | Start Time: 1 a.m. (BDT)
Date: December 1 | Opposition: Poland | Start Time: 1 a.m. (BDT)
Apart from Argentina and Italy, the teams that have more than 30 undefeated winning streaks are Brazil, France, Spain, and Algeria. Here is the list of the longest unbeaten records (at least 30 matches).
The top eight longest unbeaten streaks in football history (as on September 23, 2022)
Team
Games Unbeaten (Win-Draw)
Run Started
Run Ended
Italy
37 (30-7)
10/10/2018
06/10/2021
Algeria
35 (26-9)
18/11/2018
16/01/2022
Spain
35 (32-3)
07/02/2007
24/06/2009
Brazil
35 (28-7)
16/12/1993
21/01/1996
Argentina*
34 (25-9)
02/07/2019
Continue
Argentina
31 (21-10)
20/02/1991
15/08/1993
France
30 (20-8)
16/02/1994
26/06/1996
Italy
30 (24-6)
24/11/1935
12/11/1939
Source:https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/argentina-unbeaten-run-italy-world-record-streak-messi/bmcsegbknr7e0comxmoojrtf
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Bottom Line
Argentina's style of play has proven to be quite successful under head coach Lionel Scaloni. The team is more cohesive than it was a few years ago. Everyone on the team is aware of their responsibilities, and the players communicate well with one another. Overall, the Argentine national football team appears to have a tendency to not lose games and a belief that they will win games regularly. Therefore, the Albiceleste senior side is getting closer to breaking Italy's longest undefeated streak during the Qatar World Cup 2022 since their next five international matches feature fairly weaker opponents.
2 years ago
Argentina and Brazil's international football schedules for September 2022
Argentina and Brazil will play two matches each in the September window for international friendlies. They are two of the hot favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2022. Therefore, these fixtures will act as a preparation for both teams for the upcoming 2022 Qatar World Cup. Let’s have a look at Argentina and Brazil's international football schedules for September 2022 and their announced squads.
Who will Argentina and Brazil play in September 2022?
The international friendly window in September (September 19–27) will be crucial for all of the countries competing in the Qatar World Cup 2022, since this will be the final international window before the World Cup’s main event. The teams will thus be eager to put some of their players to the test who have the talent but aren't certain guaranteed spots in the squads.
Two of the hot favourites for the upcoming World Cup event, Argentina and Brazil, will also try to seize the opportunity in order to find the perfect team combination.
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Argentina’s national men’s football team’s international fixtures on September
Date: September 23 (Friday) | Match: Argentina vs Honduras | Time: TBD
Date: September 28 (Wednesday) | Match: Argentina vs Jamaica | Time: 6 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time)
Brazil’s national men’s football team’s international fixtures on September
Date: September 24 (Saturday) | Match: Brazil vs Ghana | Time: 12.30 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time)
Date: September 28 (Wednesday) | Match: Brazil vs Tunisia | Time: 12.30 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time).
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Brazil and Argentina’s squads for the international friendly matches in September
Since the upcoming international window will be the last before the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, the fixtures will be important for both the Argentina and Brazil teams to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, these games will give the coaches a better sense of their favourite starting XI and important backup players. Let's take a look at the players that were named to the Brazil and Argentina teams.
Argentina
Argentina have been playing excellent football under head coach Lionel Scaloni. They haven't lost a game since their 2019 Copa America semifinal defeat to Brazil, going 32 games without a defeat. The Argentina team under Scaloni is well aware of their aims for the game. Under his leadership, Argentina won the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 Finalissima. They now want to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Argentina have the players and the right balance to win football’s biggest event this year. However, there are some areas where Argentina still needs improvement. Besides, the coach wants to test some of the fringe players in the upcoming fixtures.
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That is why he included some fresh names and also excluded a few names who have failed to live up to the expectations at the club level. The expected names who failed to make the squad are Marcos Senesi, Giovanni Simeone, and Alejandro Garnacho.
Argentina’s 32-member squad for September friendlies
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez, Franco Armani, Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso;
Defenders: Nicolas Otamendi, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nahuel Molina, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Facundo Medina, Nehuen Perez, Lucas M. Quarta;
Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Alejandro Gomez, Giovani Lo Celso, Alexis Mac Allister, Marcos Acuna, Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Enzo Fernandez;
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Julian Alvarez, Angel Correa, Nicolas Gonzalez, Joaquin Correa, Thiago Almada.
Read Stadium 974: FIFA’s Qatar World Cup 2022 brings world’s first transportable stadium
Brazil
Brazil’s head coach, Tite, has been known for not appointing any particular player to be the permanent captain of the national side. Tite has named more than 15 different captains since taking over as head coach of the Brazil national side in June 2016. Under his guidance, Brazil won their ninth Copa America title in 2019. The current Brazilian side is very talented and is one of the strong favourites to win the Qatar World Cup 2022.
There are some surprises in Brazil's squad for the friendly international matches in September. Some well-known names who didn’t make the cut in the squad are Arsenal’s three Brazilian footballers – Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Gabriel Martinelli.
Besides, Philippe Coutinho of Aston Villa and veteran Dani Alves weren’t included in the squad. Apart from them, all the expected names were included in Brazil’s 26-member squad.
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Brazil’s 26-member squad for September friendlies
Goalkeepers: Ederson, Alisson, Weverton;
Defenders: Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Eder Militao, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Alex Telles, Bremer, Ibanez;
Midfielders: Casemiro, Fabinho, Lucas Paqueta, Everton Ribeiro, Fred, Bruno Guimaraes;
Forwards: Neymar, Raphinha, Vinicius Junior, Roberto Firmino, Pedro, Matheus Cunha, Rodrygo, Richarlison, Antony.
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Bottom Line
Argentina and Brazil were supposed to meet in a postponed qualifier in September, but both teams turned it down. Argentina and Brazil's September 2022 international football schedules will help to assess both the teams' current state. Another important goal for both sides would be to evaluate the talent of a few young players. The fringe players will have one more chance to impress their respective coaches and earn a spot in the World Cup squads.
2 years ago
Diego Maradona: A year without the Argentine Legend
Diego Armando Maradona is the name of a football legend. This extraordinary talent from Argentina died on November 25, 2020, due to cardiac arrest. His demise took everyone by surprise and stunned the entire world. Those who saw Maradona play during the 1980s and early 1990s know what a tremendous footballer he was. His amazing dribbling, ball control, on-field foresight, and leadership ability were unrivaled. This diminutive Argentine was always in the spotlight because of his on- and off-field activities. In honor of Diego Maradona's one-year anniversary, let's take a look back at his life.
Early life and family of Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona was born into a humble family on October 30, 1960. He was his parents' first boy after four girls. His father was a chemical factory worker. Maradona was discovered by a talent scout while playing in his hometown club Estrella Roja at the age of eight. As a ball boy, he used to amuse fans by demonstrating his magic with the ball during halftime of first-division games. He made his full debut with Argentinos Juniors a few years later.
Maradona was romantically linked to several women over his long professional career and after retirement. He had a large family as a result. He was the father of eight children with six different women. Except for Gianinna and Dalma, Maradona initially denied parenthood to any other children. He has two children with Claudia Villafane, whom he divorced in 2003 after almost two decades of marriage. Later, he acknowledged six more children: Diego Junior from Cristiana Sinagra, Jana from Valeria Sabalain, Diego Fernando from Verónica Ojeda, Joana, Lu, and Javielito, Santiago Lara, and Magali Gil from unidentified women.
Read: Diego Maradona: Argentina legend dies aged 60
Among his children, Diego Jr. is a full-time manager who used to play professional football in Italy. Giannina Maradona was married to retired Argentine footballer Sergio Aguero, and the couple has a son named Benjamin Aguero. The couple got divorced in 2012.
2 years ago
Argentina vs. Italy Super Cup: All You Need to Know
There is currently no one-off match competition in international football. However, the European Football Associations and the South American Football Organizations have agreed to hold a competition between the continental champions. As a result, the winners of the Copa America 2021 and the UEFA EURO 2020 champions will meet in a championship match next year. The match will take place in June 2022 if all goes as planned. The initial details of Argentina vs. Italy Super Cup match are discussed in this article.
Read:South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers: Argentina, Brazil to face Uruguay in October
The Preliminary Specifics of Argentina vs. Italy Super Cup match
On September 28, UEFA announced its agreement with the South American football organization to hold a competition between the two continental champions. Since Italy won the Euro 2020 and Argentina won the Copa America 2021, they will face off in the inaugural edition of the competition in June 2022. However, the venue and the date of the match have yet to be announced.
UEFA stated in a media release that the two organizations' agreement presently covers three editions of this match between their respective continental winners, as well as the establishment of a joint office in London to manage projects of mutual interest. Women's football, futsal, junior categories, referee exchanges, and technical training programs will be incorporated into the partnership between the two continental bodies.
Read:Ballon d'Or 2021: Five favorites to win the coveted award
Argentina vs. Italy Super Cup: Who is favorite to win the Match?
Argentina and Italy are two of the most powerful football nations in the world. They have faced off 15 times in a head-to-head contest. Italy have won five games, four by Argentina, and four have finished in a draw. In their last meeting, Argentina won 2-0 in a friendly match against Italy in 2018 at Manchester's Etihad Stadium.
Argentina have won 17 major international tournaments, including two World Cups (1978 and 1986). On the other hand, Italy have won six major titles, including four World Cups (1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006).
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Argentina won the Copa America for the first time in 28 years last July, defeating Brazil in the final by a score of 1-0. Prior to this tournament, Argentina had won the Copa America in 1993.
On the other hand, last July, Italy won the UEFA EURO 2020 tournament for the second time, overcoming England in the final on penalties. Italy won its first European Championship in 1968.
Considering the overall strength of both teams, it can be predicted that Italy is going to dominate Argentina. Though Italy have some of the finest players in the world, Argentina have great team chemistry. Argentina's team is capable of thriving against any opponent despite its lack of quality in the squad. However, the Super Cup will be a one-off contest, thus the team that performs best on the day will likely be the winner.
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Bottom Line
The details of the inaugural edition of the competition between the two continental champions will be announced later by UEFA and CONMEBOL. According to some sources, Argentina vs. Italy Super Cup match will be named after football legend Diego Armando Maradona. The main purpose of this match is to enhance the tie between the two continental boards. Because no other team has won the World Cup outside of these two continents. Many believe that the actual motive for this movement is to form a powerful ally against FIFA. Because FIFA prefers to have World Cup tournaments every two years, but UEFA and CONMEBOL are both opposed to the idea.
3 years ago
Maradona Super Cup: Argentina vs. Italy
We are all familiar with a one-off contest between the champions at the club level. However, international football does not have such a competition, with the exception of the confederations cup, which is contested every four years. A 'Super Cup' between the Copa America 2021 and UEFA EURO 2020 winners is now being proposed. If all goes according to plan, we may see a match between South America and European football champions later this year. The Maradona Super Cup would be the name of the trophy. The Prediction of the one-off tie between Argentina vs. Italy is discussed in this article.
Argentina vs. Italy: Who is favorite to win Maradona Super Cup?
Argentina and Italy are two of the world's football superpowers. So, they always enter any competition as title contenders. Argentina have won 17 major trophies at the international level, including two World Cups (1978 and 1986). On the other side, Italy, have won six major trophies, including four World Cups (1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006).
Argentina and Italy have met each other 15 times in a head-to-head battle. Italy have won five times, Argentina have won four times, and four games have ended in a tie. Argentina haven't lost a match against Italy since 1987.
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They have met five times in the World Cup. Argentina won a match against Italy at the 1990 World Cup, while Italy have won two matches against Argentina. In their last meeting on March 23, 2018, Argentina defeated Italy 2-0 in a friendly match at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
Argentina have won the South American Championship for the first time in 28 years, beating Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America 2021 final. Argentina had previously won the Copa America in 1993. Argentina appeared in five finals despite failing to win a trophy in the previous three decades, including four Copa America (2004, 2007, 2015, and 2016) and the 2014 World Cup.
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On the other side, Italy have won the European Championship for the second time after defeating England in a penalty shootout in the Euro 2020 final. Italy won its first European Championship in the year 1968. Aside from that, the Italian national team were having a difficult time following their 2006 World Cup victory. They have gained a lot of confidence after winning a major tournament for the first time in 15 years.
Given the overall strength of the two squads, Italy will edge over Argentina. Because Italy have some of the best footballers in the world while Argentine have a fantastic team understanding. Led by Messi, the relatively less talented Argentina team is capable of flourishing against any opponent.
Read:EURO 2020 Final: Italy Seal European Football Championship
Because the Maradona Super Cup will be a one-off affair, the side that can perform at its best on any given day will be crowned champion. The ideal playing XI for both teams if the match is held in the near future.
Probable Starting XI (Argentina)
Emiliano Martinez (GK), Molina, Pezzella, Tagilafico, Romero, Rodríguez, Paredes, Di María, Gómez, Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez
Probable Starting XI (Italy)
Donnarumma (GK), Di Lorenzo, Spinazzola, Chiellini, Bonucci, Jorginho, Barella, Verratti, Chiesa, Insigne, Immobile
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Verdict
In honor of the late football legend Diego Armando Maradona, the proposed Maradona Super Cup between Argentina and Italy will most likely be held in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples. The associations of European Football and South American Football are already in talks to arrange a date for the showdown between the Copa America 2021 and UEFA EURO 2020 champions. Italy will be a strong candidate to win the one-off contest as they have a more balanced squad than Argentina. However, Lionel Messi's Argentina will do everything to win the tie as a homage to Diego Maradona. It will definitely be a fascinating contest.
Read Copa America 2021 Final: Di Maria’s Early Strike Sinks Brazil
3 years ago
Copa America 2021 Final: Di Maria’s Early Strike Sinks Brazil
Argentina clinched the Copa America 2021 after beating Brazil 1-0 on Sunday (11th June) in front of nearly 5,000 spectators at the Maracana Stadium. Albiceleste adopted a cautious approach to the game after Di Maria gave them an early lead while Brazil did their best to cut the lead but were unable to do so due to a determined Argentine defense.Messi had a golden opportunity to score in the final towards the end of the match but instead blew it because he couldn't keep control of the ball. The match report of the Copa America 2021 final is discussed in this article.
Read:Messi’s Argentina beats Brazil 1-0, wins Copa America title
Match Report of Copa America 2021 Final: Argentina vs Brazil
Argentina won the Copa America for the first time in 28 years courtesy of Angel Di Maria's stunning first-half goal.Argentina took an early lead in the 22nd minute of the final match at the iconic Maracana Stadium as veteran attacking midfielder Angel Di Maria put the ball into the Brazil net after receiving a perfect cross from midfielder Rodrigo de Paul.
Before Di Maria's goal, both teams tried to play a little more carefully. But after falling behind by one goal, Brazil began to dominate the game and had complete control of the ball. They were creating opportunities, but a tenacious Argentine defense denied them.
Read:Brazil and Argentina both have keys to win Copa America
Brazil ramped up the heat in the second half and despite putting all of their best-attacking players on the field they were unable to equalize against an Argentine defense led by two great midfielders, Rodrigo de Paul and Paredes.
Messi was unusually silent throughout the contest. He squandered a wonderful opportunity to put the game away from Brazil with two minutes left in the game. However, Brazil were unable to score in the end, and Argentina won the championship.
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Messi finished as a joint top scorer with 5 goals and won the best player award along with Neymar.
The referee issued nine yellow cards In the Copa America 2021 final. Brazil got four yellow cards, while Argentina received five.
This was Brazil's first competitive loss since the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia when they were defeated by Belgium while Argentina have gone undefeated in 20 games under head coach Lionel Scaloni.
Read: Brazil and Argentina clash in a soccer final for 5th time
Bottom Line
Argentina won their record 15th Copa America championship thanks to an early goal by Angel Di Maria. Neymar's Brazil put forth a valiant effort throughout the match, but the Argentine defense held firm for the majority of the time, and Brazil was unable to score. This is Argentina's first major trophy in almost three decades.
Prior to this year's edition, they last won the Copa America in 1993. Football sensation Lionel Messi also earned his first major title with the Argentine national team after appearing in five finals, including four Copa America and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The Copa America 2021 had seen some incredible individual performances, and the best team ultimately won the tournament.
Read Copa America 2021: Lionel Messi vs Neymar da Silva
3 years ago
Copa America 2021 Match Preview: Argentina vs Brazil Final
The semifinal round of the ongoing South American Championship came to an end on Wednesday (July 7) morning. Brazil eliminated Peru 1-0 in the first semifinal, while Argentina defeated Colombia 3-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in the second semifinal.We will be witnessing an Argentina vs Brazil final for the first time in 15 years on Sunday, July 11th at 6 a.m. (BST). They last met in a final in 2007, where Brazil crushed Argentina 3-0 in the Copa America. Prediction of the Argentina vs. Brazil final of this year’s Copa America tournament is discussed in this article.
Read:Copa America 2021: Martinez the Hero as Argentina Advance to Final
Argentina’s Chances of Winning the Copa America 2021
Argentina is often considered one of the world's greatest footballing nations. So, they've always been a favorite in any major tournament. They haven't won a major championship since 1993 despite reaching the 2014 World Cup final and South American championship finals in 2004, 2007, 2015, and 2016.
Argentina should win this year's championship in tribute to Lionel Messi as it is almost certain that this will be his final Copa America competition and, realistically, his last chance to win a major title with Argentina. That's why the Argentine team will be pumped up to win Copa America this time.
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Argentina's defense is fragile as usual, but goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's heroic performance against Colombia in the semifinal helped Argentina reach the final, and he will give them extra confidence ahead of Argentina vs Brazil final. They have some talented strikers and midfielders. Among them are Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, and Lautaro Martinez, all of whom are world-class players.
One of the most essential things is consistency. Argentina were shaky at first, but they have subsequently played with a lot of confidence in the ongoing competition. Moreover, this group of players firmly believes they can finally win Copa America.
The main worry is that Argentina are unable to cope with the strain of the final. They will have to play smart in the final to win the South American Championship for the first time in 28 years.
Read Italy beats Spain on penalties, reaches Euro 2020 final
Key Players Who Could Make the Difference
Emiliano Martinez (GK), Lionel Messi (Goals: 4; Assists: 5), LautaroMartínez (Goals: 3), Alejandro Darío Gómez (Goals: 2), Angel Di Maria
Probable Starting XI
Emiliano Martinez (GK), Tagilafico, Romero, Molina, Pezzella, Rodríguez, Di María, Paredes, Lionel Messi, Gómez, Lautaro Martinez
Read:Argentina advances on penalties to Copa final against Brazil
Brazil’s Chances of Winning the Copa America 2021
The defending champion Brazil will be the favorite against Argentina in the championship match. This Brazilian team features a lot of standout players who may create a real problem on the opposition defense.
The Brazilian team is quite strong in every department. Brazil will win the South American Championship if they can play sensibly in the final against arch-rival Argentina.
Neymar is at the center of the Brazilian attack. They generally attack the opponent's area while keeping the ball in their possession. Taking control of the game against Brazil is always difficult for the opposing side.
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Neymar, Ederson, Paqueta, Casemiro, and Captain Thiago Silva are playing well for the Brazilian national side. The Seleção have done well so far in this competition. They had shown more promise in the semifinal encounter against Peru, despite winning by a lone goal. This performance will certainly boost their confidence ahead of the Argentina vs Brazil final.
Key Players Who Could Make the Difference
EdersonMoraes (GK), Neymar (Goals: 2; Assists: 3), Lucas Paqueta (Goals:2), Everton Soares (Assists: 1), Fred (Assists: 1)
Probable Starting XI
EdersonMoraes (GK), Thiago Silva, Danilo, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro, Everton, Casemiro, Richarlison, Fred, Gabriel Jesús and Neymar
Read:Brazil edges Peru to reach Copa America final
Verdict
The Argentina vs Brazil final will take place at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, and the football world is anticipating an exciting contest between these two teams. Neymar's Brazil won the Copa America 2019 tournament and will be a strong contender to defend their title. Interestingly, only Lionel Messi is competing in this year's South American Championship among the players from both teams that competed in the 2007 edition. Messi's last genuine chance of winning a major tournament with Argentina is likely to be this one. So, they will play their hearts out to win the competition.
Read Argentina beats Ecuador at Copa, plays Colombia in semifinal
3 years ago
Copa America 2021: Martinez the Hero as Argentina Advance to Final
Argentina have advanced to the Copa America 2021 final after defeating Colombia in a penalty shootout in the early morning of Wednesday (7th July) in Brasilia. After taking an early lead in the contest, Albiceleste struggled throughout the match against Colombia, and within the first 20 minutes of the second half, Colombia had equalized. The match finished in a 1-1 draw, and the winner was determined in a penalty shootout, which Argentina won 3-2 to proceed to the final. The match report of the second semifinal of Copa America 2021 is discussed in this article.
Match Report: Argentina vs Colombia
Argentina advanced to the Copa America 2021 final after holding their nerve from the penalty spot to beat Colombia 3-2 in a shootout after a thrilling 1-1 draw at the end of Wednesday's second semifinal.
The Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was the match's hero, saving three penalties in the penalty shootout. Martinez saved penalty kicks from Davinson Sanchez, Yerry Mina, and Edwin Cardona. On the other hand, Lionel Messi, Leandro Paredes, and Lautaro Martinez all scored from the penalty spot to send Argentina to the final.
Read:Argentina advances on penalties to Copa final against Brazil
Argentina haven't won a major tournament since 1993, thus this will be another excellent opportunity for Messi and Argentina to win a big championship.
Lionel Messi had played in 149 international matches for Argentina before this encounter. Messi is now only the second South American player to play more than 150 international matches, behind Iván Hurtado (168).
Messi has 76 goals in 150 appearances for Argentina, the eighth-most in international football history. He only needs one more goal to surpass Pele as the South American continent's all-time leading scorer.
Read:Brazil edges Peru to reach Copa America final
Despite the fact that Messi did not score in the encounter against Colombia, he had a key role in the game's opening goal, which came in the seventh minute. Messi handed the ball to Lautaro Martinez after rushing through Colombia's defense. Martinez made no mistakes and slammed the ball into the back of the net.
Argentina adopted a more defensive strategy after taking a 1-0 lead early in the game. On the other side, Colombia got anxious to score.
They continued to press the Argentine defense, especially in the second half, and Luis Diaz's stunning run down the left-wing helped them score in the 61st minute. He runs with the ball quickly before putting it in the bottom right corner of the net to cut the lead. It was a fantastic effort on his part.
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Colombia played carefully after leveling the game, but Argentina made a valiant effort to retake the lead. Lionel Messi twice came close to scoring the second goal for Argentina, but the Colombian defense prevented him both times and the match ended 1-1. After winning the penalty shootout, Argentina secured a place in the championship match against Brazil.
Meanwhile, Argentina are unable to attack efficiently due to a lack of quality in the midfield. They try to charge with two wings, but thus far it hasn't worked well. If Argentina fails to fix this issue before the crucial championship match against Brazil, they would be in serious trouble.Argentina and Brazil will play the final match at the Maracana stadium on Sunday 11th July(6 a.m. /BST).
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Bottom Line
In the second semifinal, Argentina and Colombia had a reasonably decent match, and the best team eventually advanced to the final. Albiceleste captain Lionel Messi has now earned 150 caps, making him the first Argentine and only the second South American to do so. But it was goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez who emerged as the match's true hero.Argentina progressed to the Copa America 2021 final thanks to his excellent performance in the penalty shootout.
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3 years ago